Rebirth of a Nation :: July 6th, 2002 ::
I know it’s late, but happy Fourth of July.
Jessamyn and I were in Montpelier on the Third of July, watching the Capital’s annual parade. Though the Military made itself known there, peace activists were in the parade as well. They made clear their dissent from, and criticism of, the violent, obfuscated, and ultimately (I would argue) unpopular aggression toward not only an undefined external enemy, but also anyone within the borders who might choose to take a critical tone with them. Activists were encouraged and cheered on by those of us watching the parade. No one called them infidels, no one made the suggestion that they were aiding terrorism by questioning the government. I was surprised at the scene, then found I was disappointed by my surprise. Part of celebrating US Independence means celebrating our ability voice our beliefs, especially if they go against those of the people we ostensibly put in power.
We spent the past days meeting two (almost) entirely different shifts of friends, some new and some old, grilling a coop’s-worth of chicken, watching thunderstorms, and subsequently feeling the temperature drop dramatically. We drank beer and enjoyed each other’s company. We ignored the increasingly intolerant and violent news, as well as the rabid nationalism and chest-beating that has become synonymous with US politics over the past eighteen months. We maintained our criticism of, and our distance from, the actions of our doubiously-elected leaders. And we’ve been happy. I hope you have been, too.
