When deciding what to write about for my next column, basic journalistic instinct reminded me that everyone enjoys a patriotic love story about our great nation. And with the Fourth of July coming up, I figured I would follow that instinct. However, this is not just some fluff piece about how great America is. Rather, I want to inform everybody of some things they should think about when celebrating the holiday this year. I ask readers to really think critically about what it means to be American and truly understand what we are celebrating this year and why. The United States is facing some of its most trying times, and in this day and age, I believe the American spirit has been lost.
Last week, I was walking through the Capitol building, specifically through the old Supreme Court Chamber, something I do once or twice a day. It is the very chamber where the highest court in the land made landmark decisions such as McCulloch v. Maryland and Dred Scott v. Sandford. These decisions don’t necessarily reflect the brightest side of our history, but how far have we really come as a country since those decisions were made? Segregation has ended, but racism still ensues. The fact that movements such as Black Lives Matter even exist reflects the distance that separates us from true peace and equality. If you’ve read a few of my previous columns, you know that I, like many, don’t even know what to do about the upcoming election because neither candidate seems like they can move the country very far forward.
So, why should we even celebrate our nation’s birthday if that birthday doesn’t necessarily reflect true and important progress? Well, first of all, fireworks and beer are just fun. But more importantly, there are many good things to look back on and forward to. Though we may never again have statesmen as brave and intelligent as our founding fathers, at least our modern-day politicians don’t own slaves. Although new and unpredictable challenges face us on a daily basis, our advancement as a people and a country has equipped us with the tools necessary to adapt. As other nations face their own new challenges, America has not only been a nation of help, but has still stood atop the globe as the only true superpower. Politics have reached an all-time high state of division, but it’s not as if this hasn’t been going on for 200-plus years in the first place.
If there’s one thing that people know about me, or that you can hopefully tell from my previous columns, I’m an optimist. Pessimism about our country’s future will only fuel beliefs that we can’t become “great again.” Optimism mixed with reasonable skepticism and an open mind can make one realize that things aren’t as bad as they seem. My generation is one of misunderstanding and fear, cast by both improper portrayals of issues but also of reasonable doubt. My hope is that this Fourth of July, people will look at a country that has come very far but still is not done. America is great, but not as great as it could be. We have moved forward, but we’re not quite forward-thinking. Take time during the long holiday weekend to remind yourself of why we hang up the red, white and blue decorations, fly our flag and celebrate our birth as a nation. For God and Country, I think we’re still pretty damn awesome.
Kyle Campbell is a junior government and politics major. He can be reached at kcampbelldbk@gmail.com.
