Independence Day 2020

Today is the 244th anniversary of the United States becoming an independent nation. For the past two and a half centuries, the people of the United States have striven to recognize the self-evident truths that, “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

 

Since our independence was declared, a lot has changed. Things that were considered normal and customary in the 1700s are now abhorrent in today’s world. In the time of the Declaration of Independence, entire portions of our population were considered not to be people based on the color of their skin or their gender. This concept may have been accepted at the time, but we know better now. Though it may have been accepted at the time, it was never right and should never have been allowed.

 

Today, there are significant legacies of our past which are coloring our daily life. African Americans and all people of color face disparate treatment from their fellow Americans and even from their government at all levels. Truthfully, I can’t even imagine how it feels to be treated differently because of the color of my skin or my gender. I can’t imagine what it’s like to fear the police and other government agencies.

 

The seal of the United States and every piece of coinage and currency made by our country contain the phrase, “E Pluribus Unum” which translates to “From Many, One.” Whether the many are our fifty states, or the myriad cultures and peoples that have come together to form our nation, I strongly believe that our strength comes from our diversity. I believe that our diversity makes us better able to work overcome the challenges that we collectively are faced with. 

If you look at the reverse of the seal of the United States, you will see a an unfinished pyramid of thirteen layers. The unfinished nature of the seal is important, it shows that there is still, and always work to be done.  Today, the work is twofold, first ensuring that the guarantee of equal protection of the law, given to all Americans by the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, is truly applied to ALL people. Second, we must work to protect our community from the COVID-19 virus. 

I believe that we will come out of our current period of strife much stronger that we are now. I believe that we will come out a better nation and the we will grow stronger as we work through the difficulties we face today.