So as it turns out, this particular 4th of July is one in which I will be working a ton of hours. I work a part-time job on the weekends in addition to a full-time job working the overnights. it can be a real pain when I have to work both jobs, but this weekend will be a bit extreme. At least Saturday, the holiday itself, will be. My overnight job switches to 12 hour shifts for major holidays, and we all have to work some holidays. The first one so far this year that I will be working is this holiday, on a day that I otherwise would normally have had off with the alternating schedule. Instead of being off, I work Friday night into Saturday, then go to my weekend job from 7 until 3 in the afternoon, before starting the 12 hour special holiday shift at 6 that afternoon/early evening. When I get out of that shift the next morning, I will need to go to my weekend job. All of that leaves very little time off from 10pm Friday until 3pm on Sunday, but I will do my best.
Nevertheless, even if I was not working so many damn hours, I would not be celebrating this particular holiday this year. No barbecues, no fireworks shows, and nothing special.
Why?
Because frankly, I do not believe that there is much to celebrate right now in the United States. It feels like we have taken a very wrong turn and are doubling down on it, actually picking up speed down this dead end road. And again, to me, that is nothing to celebrate.
Now, I have met people who cannot fathom how I could possibly feel this way. They always feel that it is appropriate to celebrate, and especially on the occasion marking 250 years, the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence.
However, I do not feel that way. In fact, quite the opposite.
One of the major problems that I see in this country, in fact, is this alarming ability that Americans have to simply ignore the bad things going on around them in their country. To try and seek an escape, to try and have fun. Often, to celebrate themselves, to path themselves on the back for being Americans, for being part of what they never tire of telling you is the greatest country in the world.
And it is precisely this kind of thinking which is the problem. Americans already are too fixated on themselves and their own assumptions of superiority over the rest of the world. That is how we have come to stand out for all of the wrong reasons. That is how we get someone like Donald Trump to be the elected face and voice of a country.
Personally, I feel it is actually quite patriotic to reach a point when you recognize that it is probably best not to celebrate. When you love your country enough to think seriously about matters, and then recognize that things are actually quite bad at the moment. It is patriotic to recognize the reality, in fact, that things really are not that good. That, tempted as you may be to join everyone else, you probably should not join in those celebrations, especially when mindlessly celebrating our own perceived greatness itself becomes the problem.
But how can you say that? Some will ask such questions, of course. Things may not be perfect, they will say, but we have it better than most countries of the world.
Okay, but we are going in the wrong direction. Have been going in the wrong direction for a long time.
Yes, I am grateful for the relative stability that living in the United States for the vast majority of my life afforded me. Yet, it feels considerably less stable than I can remember it feeling ever before. And we keep insisting on getting the most polarizing and self-interested politicians possible into our highest offices. Trump is only the most visible and extreme example, but he is far from alone. That almost assures that things will just continue to get worse and worse for a long time to come before they ever really begin to get better. It is entirely self-imposed, collectively, by us. That is the tragedy of it. Things might still be relatively good, compared with much of the rest of the world. But this country has long been goin gin the wrong direction, for decades. And we are flooring the gas, putting the pedal to the metal to make things worse.
And worse they have gotten. Now, pessimism on both sides prevails. Here is a snippet from a recent article by Tim Reid & Joseph Ax of The Independent:
A Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that one in five Americans will not mark Independence Day this year, including a quarter of Democrats and 8% of Republicans. Furthermore, two in five respondents doubt the nation's ability to endure for another 250 years
Hardly makes you want to go out and celebrate, does it?
Nor am I alone. From the same article:
Beverly Gage, a Yale University historian, observes, "The very idea of celebrating has become political and partisan." She adds, "What is striking about our moment is how widespread the pessimism seems to be." This widespread sentiment is underscored by the Reuters/Ipsos poll, which found that one in five Americans will not celebrate Independence Day, and two in five question the country's longevity.
Yet, the celebrations of ourselves in our narcissistic echo chamber are growing ever more obnoxious and mindless. No longer are we collectively even taking pride in things worth taking price in. Now, it is always just loud and mindless. We have country singer Brooke Lee singing the traditional 1948 song "See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet" written by Leo Corday and Leon Carr. It sounds like a shameless corporate plug trying to sell products while selling mindless, kneejerk nationalism at the same time. She sings "America's the greatest land of all."
Another car company has come out with an even more crass, mindless, mind-numbingly stupid advertising line. Ram Trucks have their new "In Loud We Trust" commercial out, complete with real American Dana White showing the ultimate macho truck. The whole message is that we should embrace our collective American reputation for being loud.
Don't think. Don't you dare.
Just be loud and proud.
Doubling down on our collective national stupidity, which has frankly been in vogue now for entirely too long.
So with all of that, I have decided to sit this one out. To be sure, I was never much of a flag-waver. But now, I feel like participating in such mindless celebration of ourselves is a part of the problem. A huge part, and actively contributing to things getting worse here.
And to the extent that I am patriotic and want the best for my country, I will forego any mindless and loud celebrations like we are seeing, and which also are in vogue.
Millions say they won’t celebrate July 4 as poll reveals deep national pessimism Tim Reid & Joseph Ax Monday 29 June 2026
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/america250-independence-trump-divisions-pennsylvania-b3004933.html
Millions say they won’t celebrate July 4 as poll reveals deep national pessimism | The Independent
RAM TRUCKS | IN LOUD WE TRUST | FT. DANA WHITE: the most despicable commercial you will likely ever see
https://www.reddit.com/r/fuckcars/comments/1u66ikh/ram_trucks_in_loud_we_trust_ft_dana_white_the/?rdt=38767#:~:text=This%20is%20the%20second%20American,silence%2C%20or%20safety%20ever%20again.
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