Thinking About the 4th of July

Photo by Meadow Marie on Unsplash

On July 5^th, I went to the Rokeby Museum to their annual community reading of Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" As in previous years, this event was very moving. Reading paragraphs aloud (I read twice) and listening to others read, I was reminded how relevant Douglass’ words are for today. When I mentioned this to others, people lamented that “nothing had changed.”

However, that isn’t true. Things have changed. There is no longer legalized slavery, for instance. My point about relevance is that there are still oppressive elements in this country based in racism, misogyny, and economic disparity. All these helped to ensure that slavery existed for as long as it did. And these belief systems (for that is what they are) continue to lead to oppression of people of color, women, poor people, and anyone else who is not among the elite.

Back then, the elite were white male property owners. These days the elite are the top one percent, millionaires and billionaires. With passage of the inaptly named “The One Big Beautiful Bill,” this group will receive even more advantages than they already have. The institution of slavery enhanced the wealth of property owners because they didn’t have to pay wages to the enslaved, and they could underpay white overseers by convincing them that their race was payment enough. Being White was its own reward. This new bill gives tax breaks to people who really don’t need it, at the expense of the 99 percent, most cruelly poor people.

People are being snatched off the street simply because of the color of their skin. They are assumed to be “illegals” and are harassed, held, deported, without due process. This is reminiscent of the environment during slavery when Black people (Free Blacks, as well as those who escaped slavery) were grabbed up because it was assumed that they were slaves. White people were not and, today, are not subjected to these acts as far as I can see, though there are – of course – White people who are illegal immigrants.

In addition, it is estimated that this “Beautiful Bill” will increase the national debt by three billion dollars. I don’t imagine cutting Medicaid, Medicare, or other social programs will come close to resolving that! Why not try having billionaires pay more taxes, rather than less?

Douglass said,

I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope. While drawing encouragement from “the Declaration of Independence,” the great principles it contains, and the genius of American Institutions, my spirit is also cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age. Nations do not now stand in the same relation to each other that they did ages ago. No nation can now shut itself up, from the surrounding world, and trot round in the same old path of its fathers without interference. The time was when such could be done. Long established customs of hurtful character could formerly fence themselves in, and do their evil work with social impunity. Knowledge was then confined and enjoyed by the privileged few, and the multitude walked on in mental darkness. But a change has now come over the affairs of mankind. Walled cities and empires have become unfashionable. The arm of commerce has borne away the gates of the strong city. Intelligence is penetrating the darkest corners of the globe. It makes its pathway over and under the sea, as well as on the earth. Wind, steam, and lightning are its chartered agents. Oceans no longer divide, but link nations together. From Boston to London is now a holiday excursion. Space is comparatively annihilated. Thoughts expressed on one side of the Atlantic, are distinctly heard on the other.

People across the globe are watching what’s happening in this country. Observing the government’s chaotic actions (federal policies) and the people’s focused reactions (protests against federal policies), what are other countries planning as they consider whether the United States of America is still a valuable ally or worthy opponent?

The wealthy one percent might believe they are safe behind their walls of money, but everyone pays for oppression at some point. In his New York Times opinion piece on July 10^th, Lawrence Summers wrote:

The cruelty of these cuts is matched only by their stupidity. Medicaid beneficiaries will lose, but so will the rest of us. The cost of care that is no longer reimbursed by Medicaid will instead be borne by hospitals and passed onto paying patients, only at higher levels, because delayed treatment is more expensive. When rural hospitals close, everyone nearby loses. Hospitals like the one where my daughters practice can no longer accept emergencies by air because those beds are occupied by patients with chronic diseases and no place to go.

Gathering to read Douglass’ speech, attending community forums, making art with friends, volunteering, teaching, family, these are the things that make this period less frightening. In fact, I am energized by them. I am also reminded that “This too shall pass.” I believe people can and do change for the better. We, the People, are not as cruel as federal policies that purportedly (but rarely) represent us, like slavery and the recently passed bill. I not only have hope that we will survive and thrive despite the cynical and greedy behavior of our federal government, I have faith that we will.