I didnāt post anything for 4th of July this yearā¦ Pretty weird for a āpoliticalā blog huh? Well to be honest, I was struggling with what to say. I sat down to write the day of, and hereās what came outā¦
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America, land of the FREE, home of the BRAVE.
Itās pretty hard for me to feel āhappyā this year.
I had a hard time figuring out where to start with this post, so Iāll just get to the point: Iām not very proud of where we are as a nation today. I do not believe we are upholding the ideals that our founding fathers signed into the Declaration of Independence 242 years ago.
I donāt think they pictured imprisoning children or, banning people due to their faith or, allowing troubled youth to shoot up schools every other week. Ā Ā Ā
Donāt get me wrong, I know we have an insane standard of living here in the United States and that most of us are privileged beyond measureā¦ But those of us who are lucky enough to experience that bubble of comfort, also have a duty to remain vigilant and aware and speak out on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. We have to use the right to vote as a tool to elect people who share our values as a country.
When our grandfathers marched off to Europe and Asia in World War II, they went to fight AGAINST things like loading people like cattle into detainment centersā¦ They fought against this exact type indecency. Thatās why that war was ājustifiedā and they are the āgreatest generation.ā They risked their lives, and many paid their lives, all to protect our basic human valuesā¦ Right to life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness.
Thatās all an immigrant really wantsā¦ A chance to pursue happiness. A place where their kids can be safe and free. Thatās what we are SUPPOSED to stand for.
I know, we have seen a lot of ranting on the internet latelyā¦ Namely on social media. So I apologize if I am exhausting you with yet another lengthy monologueā¦ But I spent a long time pondering what I could write about today for the 4th and decided that if I were to do a historical piece or something light-hearted, I would be doing much more harm than good. Turning a blind eye to issues like this is what perpetuates themā¦ Itās complacent. And so, with that, I would like to say, I am not complacent. You shouldnāt be either.
I hope we can all enjoy a day of rest but maybe use this time to plan how we want to make America actually great again.
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THAT was what I wrote on the actual fourth of Julyā¦ Pretty sad huh? The truth isā¦ After watching a ton of peopleās posts on my newsfeed flicker by, I didnāt feel much better. Until my family busted out the home moviesā¦ I started to remember why we came to this country in the first place as immigrants.
We watched my Aunt Marie-Anneās wedding from 1953. My Aunt Paula was a baby and my grandpa? He was a suave young man in a well-fitted suit carrying his lace-wrapped baby so proudly.
My grandpa was a pureblood Italian man from Sicily. He immigrated to this country with his parents and helped start a family restaurant that still operates today in Arkansas. I know they had one thing in their hearts when they came to our shores: they wanted a better life. Why, otherwise, make the harrowing journey over here? Why endure humiliation of Elis Island officials changing our last name? Why suffer anti-Catholic hatred at the hands of KKK? Why go through all of that, if there wasnāt something here that they wanted for my grandfather, my dad, and for me? My family moved here because they had a dream of safety and a dream that we could dream at all.
And really, THIS BLOG?! It was a dream for so long. For YEARS. And now itās real! Because I live in this country, had the FREEDOM to pursue my dream. And make no mistake, I live in this country because of the BRAVERY of my great grandparents who came here with nothing.
So, today, I celebrate America, land of the free and home of the brave because of my family of immigrants, not because of those who hold elected office right now.
America is a place where young women like me can go and get whatever we want. We can fight against prejudice, we can say #metoo, we can start businesses, we can start families, we can be the breadwinners, we can be teachers, lawyers, doctors, we can really and truly do ANYTHING we want. We can paint, we can skydive, we can drive a car, we can VOTE, we can choose who to be with, we can be INDEPENDENT.
So for Independence Day, I am celebrating being independent, running this business, and above all, being grateful for the people who brought me here and gave me the chance to build my dreams.
xx
Antigone.