What 4th of July means as an Immigrant

To people who have immigrated from other countries, 4th of July is more complicated than hotdogs, popsicles and fireworks. These last several years have felt very fraught with political turmoil in the United States, to put in mildly. As a result, some of the important freedoms that make people feel fortunate to become citizens of the U.S have fluctuated to a state of nonexistence. Yes, the United States is a haven for many people from extremely tough situations in their country of origin. The 4th of July may give some folks pause to consider America's role in the making of the problems in their country they had to escape. Who financed what weapons or political party and why... of ten the answers are major MAJOR bummer.

There are light sides of perspective, we won't dive that long dark tunnel. As we know, the spirit of the United States at it's inception was undeniably immigrant made. The settlers and the legends that surround them have given us United States dwellers the romantic notion that immigrants are the core of the country. We are a clean slate with an entrepreneurial opportunity and a white picket fence for everyone. We pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and put our best foot forward into the world of democracy, choice, justice and fairness.

Like I said, romantic notions. We can choose to see the immigrant point of view that is the Statue of Liberty, instead of the inside of a container truck. The feeling of hope, not the desperation of giving one's last breath, just to make the attempt, to cross the border. It's hard to hold both realities at the same time. Nevertheless we do, because it's complicated. 4th of July, independence Day, what it means to be an American is a lot to chew on these days.

If you believe your vote counts and will be counted, if you believe the systems in place really work to represent the people's wants and needs democratically, if you have faith, wealth and corruption haven't drowned out the voices of we the people, those hot dogs and hamburgers taste a lot better.

We are largely very fortunate to live the place we do, to get to live the way we do, without fear of

starvation or genocide. Maybe we can remember that to balance the jaded feeling so many people

wrestle this July 4th.

Enjoy your BBQ, be grateful for your loved ones and live in the moment. After all, beer that hasn’t gotten 3 times more expensive due to wild inflation, just doesn’t taste as good. Have a couple more, and you might actually believe that.