July 4th Myopia

Through the eyes of this grandfather and military veteran of the U.S. war against the people of Viet Nam, the celebration of July 4^th 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 4^th 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.