Today in the United States, we celebrate Independence Day. This should be a cause for celebration, recognizing that we threw off the yoke of a tremendous colonial power and forged an entirely new path in terms of government. Right now, however, we see our country experiencing considerable civil unrest in the streets and enormous division on social media and, in some cases, in our families and workplaces. I find this heartbreaking.
My family has always been interested in genealogy, so I know quite a bit about our family tree on both sides. For example, one of my ancestors commanded a militia that fought against the British at Saratoga, a turning point in the American Revolution. Another ancestor, from the same side of the family, was a Union soldier who was killed at Gettysburg.
Until recently, I never thought much about either of those ancestors. Today, however, I am acutely aware of the fact that those ancestors fought and died for our country. They helped shape the United States that exists today and paved the way for later ancestors of mine to come in the 20th century. Their contributions enabled me to have the opportunities that I enjoy today. Perhaps I will be cancelled for writing this, but I am proud of my ancestors and their commitment to the ideals of this country.
I myself have had the privilege of living in several other countries, including developing countries and some former communist and socialist countries. I have dual US/Slovenian citizenship. With my language skills, I could choose to live in any number of countries. Yet, for now, I choose to live in the United States. Why? Because I have more freedom and opportunities here for self-actualization and prosperity than anywhere else. And I want the same for all Americans.
Many years ago, at a social event, my father was chatting with a retired European diplomat, who remarked, “The United States is like a big piece of Swiss cheese. There are a lot of holes in it, but in between those holes, there is a lot of good cheese.”
Having spent a good portion of my adult life living outside of the US, I agree with that statement. Is the United States perfect? No. Are there things we need to improve? Absolutely. The United States of America is a work in progress. And as Frederick Douglass said in 1857, “I know of no soil better adapted to the growth of reform than American soil.”
To make changes, we must work together. In an 1858 speech, Abraham Lincoln (also currently under threat of being cancelled), said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Despite our current divisions, it is now time for us to take up the mantle from previous generations and work together to make a better country for all and continue to fulfill the vision of the Founders.
Stay tuned for my future posts on where I think we need to focus our efforts.
© 2016-2023 Katharine Spehar. All rights reserved.
Image by Shutterbug75 from Pixabay