In the summer issue of Harper’s Bazaar with the theme of Freedom editor-in-chief Samira Nasr quotes former president Barack Obama:
“Progress is bumpy. But because of dreamers and innovators and strivers and activists, progress has been this nation’s hallmark.”
Freedom from fear. Freedom from scarcity. Freedom from poverty. Freedom from having a broken brain.
We do not have these freedoms in America today. The one freedom we have courtesy of our founding “fathers” is the right to “the pursuit of happiness.”
Everyone living in America can be happy regardless of our circumstances. You and I don’t have to like the hardship we face. Yet we can be happy even in the throes of pain.
This is not to excuse injustice. However it really was revolutionary that happiness was written into the original American contract for our new country.
Today each of us can and should declare our independence from the hate, fear, judgment, resentment, jealousy, and anger that dots our landscape and how Americans have interacted with each other for too long.
For the 250th birthday of America it’s time to write out a new contract that is a bolder, more equitable Declaration of Independence to abide by.
I hold this truth to be self-evident: That everyone living on earth is equal to each other. I don’t think I’m better than others, and no one’s better than me.
I also believe that Patti Smith got it right decades ago with her song title “People Have the Power.” Like Smith sang we have the force within us to dream.
And I have the dream that the coming 250 years in America–if our civilization on earth is here that long–will be better. That America will really be “America the Beautiful” for everyone living in the U.S.
We cannot forget the past. To guarantee a future where we don’t repeat the past each of us is beholden to create via our own just efforts the change we seek today.
Flying under the radar is the way to effect positive change before anyone can stop us.Because really putting our faith in elected leaders is over. I’m done with political reporting.
Think of flying to the moon for the first time. Then think of your own brave acts that changed your life for the better for the first time.
In one week Americans celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday that was an achievement at long last. Now it’s time to get our hearts and minds centered on what we can do to be on the right side of history in how we act towards each other right now.
I’m hopeful. We have so much to celebrate even with the ongoing setbacks in America at the hands of those in power.
Happy Birthday to everyone living in America!
Left of the Dial 