Through the eyes of this grandfather and military veteran of
the U.S. war against the people of Viet Nam, the celebration of July 4th
is myopic and hypocritical.
If you are a rich, light skinned male who has staked a claim
in a land stolen from indigenous people and built on the backs of dark skinned
people, then wave the flag, explode the fire works. All others, step to the back of the bus.
There are those who say, “that was a long time ago, forget
it”. I remind them that 1776 was a
long time ago, yet every year this very selective piece of history is
glorified.
On this July 4th I suggest that you read the
Declaration of Independence (including the part that refers to indigenous
people as “the merciless Indian savages”) through the eyes of a female, or a person
with dark skin, or from the perspective of a resident of one of the many
countries that the U.S. has invaded and plundered – including this one. If you want to remember the past, then
remember all of it.
