What a great Fourth of July this year. A day that many associate with flag-waving, parades, and fireworks means so much more this year. Most years we hear speeches regarding the ideals on which this country was founded, liberty and equality, and often those recycled platitudes leave many of us – those who see the inequality and lack of liberty for so many in our society – with a bad taste in our mouths. And though too many Americans still struggle under the weight of intolerance, discrimination and bigotry, this year we can truthfully say that our nation has seen an advance in our ongoing battle to make our reality match those fundamental principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence.
Sure, some folks – okay, people like Texas Governor Abbott – have a wee problem with justice for all, but for many, many Americans this is a particularly good year to celebrate our nation’s founding ideals. Of course, the drafters of the Declaration omitted and overlooked large numbers of people in their proclamation that “all men are created equal.” And it has taken far too long to make up for those omissions. Indeed, we still have not advanced far enough. But I can honestly say we are slowly moving toward freedom and equality for all people. For example, I never thought as a young man that the right of a person, any person, to marry the man or woman of their choice, even if that person shared the same gender as them, would ever be recognized in my lifetime.
So, for the benefit of Governor Abbott, let me off this rebuttal to his statement, courtesy of Blue Nation Review:
