The Fourth Isn’t Even on the Fourth

/ howardshapiro
Patriotism Flagging

I just read David Brook’s column in the NYT reflecting on the state of our union on this fourth weekend. He calls it the “National Humiliation We Need”. It resonated with me in ways that are deeply troubling.

We have failed. Not maybe you and not maybe me but collectively we have shown the world and ourselves how meager our collective spirit is. In the face of a global health crisis we could not find the will to unite in common purpose with the goal of saving lives. I am not going to assign individual blame, but history certainly will. I am just sad that no one could galvanize us and offer a vision of hope and faith and a way out of this pit we are falling deeper and deeper into, uniting us with their words and their deeds. I am just sad that no voice could lift us up to see above the narrow horizon of political expediency. What I would have given for an “Ask not what your country can do for you …”. Where were our national dreamers who believed that as Americans “we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope”?

I don’t know where the Kennedys and Kings among us are. I am embarrassed (I’ll come to anger – don’t worry). I always thought we were a nation who believed in science and reason. Whose taglines were “Imagination at Work”, or “Better Living Through Chemistry”? It was GE and Dupont. There was a time when at least looking backwards that our country believed in science. There was a time at least looking backward that the promise of America seemed to soar and inspire and motivate. There was a time when we thought we could solve our problems by working together, arguing together, standing together. We believed in each other.

What do we believe in now? Do we believe that we have the national will to get this disease under control? Do we believe that we have the political mechanism and spiritual fortitude to resolve this virus of endemic racism that lives beneath the surface of our reality and can’t be sprayed away with a 60% solution of alcohol? We can’t let this American Dream slip away. We can’t let Netflix or Hulu or Amazon Prime lull us into believing that if we sit back and watch Hamilton on Disney Plus we will have celebrated the fourth.

The only celebration worthy of the “rockets red glare” is one that motivates us to action. This fourth we know we can’t rely on Washington. This fourth we know the power belongs to the people. This fourth we know it has to begin again with us. Vote. Donate. Sign Petitions. Protest. Call your Representatives. Wear a Mask of course. This fourth we know we only have each other.

26 thoughts on “The Fourth Isn’t Even on the Fourth”

  3. Who is reading rabbi unplugged? How do we get people who don’t wear masks or socially distance to read this edition.
    Everyone needs to forward this to friends and relatives and others. That’s what I’m doing.

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  4. Brought to mind the song “United we stand, divided we fall”. How far we have fallen, this is our collective chance to get our “backs up off the wall” I still have hope….. thanks for once again inspiring us to think more, do more!

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  6. Thank you for all you do and say. It is centering and heartening and reminds me of all that is and was good. Charlayne Hunter-Gault talked with David Brooks couple of days ago: https://www.pbs.org/video/race-matters-1593638124/ His narrative about the folks and communities he has called “weavers” is so touched with all that is good in us: honor, empathy, compassion, love, and his admiration for those he named.

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  8. You’re right, of course, but all these months of quarantining and still seeing Covid numbers rise has left many of us in a kind of emotional lethargy, while the dream that was America is being dulled by the politicians in Washington who were elected to preserve that dream. Hopefully things will change when November comes, but right now the “rockets red glare” comes only from anger at seeing peaceful protesters being forced from a public place for a photo op, and from seeing fellow citizens receive unequal treatment under the law just for the “crime” of looking different. Although personally grateful for my own liberties and blessings, and while hope for our nation’s future still lingers, I don’t feel much like there’s much to celebrate on this particular 4th of July.

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  10. Even from 30,000 feet, the view you take says that leadership does matter. In a democracy, we get the leaders we deserve. I hope that we are learning the humility it will take for us to change. It has certainly been humiliating. I am hopeful. There are a lot of good people in this country. .

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  12. Wow! You said this so eloquently… This motivated me to get back to letter writing campaigns.
    Thank you for being you, and pushing us to be our best selves

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  17. H writes when the spirit moves him. I think u sign up on this sight. Let me know if you have a problem.

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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