“As the bells ring in our third century, as millions of free men and women pray, let every American resolve that this Nation, under God, will meet the future with the same courage and dedication Americans showed the world two centuries ago.” — Gerald Ford (Bicentennial Proclamation)
I was almost 8 years old when America celebrated its 200th birthday. I remember it vividly.
It began in 1975, and, of course, included massive commercialization of the event (which was inevitable in a capitalist economy.) Auto makers produced commemorative vehicles, Coke has a huge advertising campaign, and products everywhere were packaged in red, white, and blue.
However, the sales pitches were really an insignificant part. The public was heavily, and sincerely, involved – flags flying, parades, and being the mid 70’s, you’d see the occasional customized van with a patriotic mural painted on it. The Spirit of ‘76 was everywhere for the year leading up to America’s 200th birthday.
The country itself was battling rough weather. The past decade had experienced political assassinations, racial tensions, leftist terror attacks, and the stench of hippies (the residual of which we can’t seem to wash off.)
In ’75, the end of Vietnam was in motion, Nixon had resigned in ‘74, and the ’73 gas crisis was still fresh in the collective memory, but there was a different air about the national mood.
Overall, the American people cared about their country. There were 14 million WWII vets alive, and the Greatest Generation was still in charge.
The nation was also still homogeneous, the vast majority white and Christian. But, even the citizens of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent were (mostly) from families that had lived in America for generations. They had skin in the game (pun unintentional) and considered themselves Americans. Many may have desired political change, but few were interested in outright destruction of the nation.
The same is not true, today – and it is glaringly apparent!
The melting pot/assimilation ideal has long been abandoned. Over the past 40 years, the mass of those who have forced their way illegally into our population have no interest in the history, founding, or ideals of America.
Combine that with a full court press of public-school indoctrination regarding the “evils” of our nation, and three generations of fatherless children and welfare state, and what we’re left with is almost half of the nation’s occupants using, abusing, and/or cursing and undermining, America. And that includes most of congress, the senate, and government employees.
They only celebrate chaos and destruction.
And even the left leaning “normies” can’t seem get on board with the anniversary just because its occurring while Trump is president. “Orange man bad, therefore everything he promotes is bad.”
The mood is strange. But, I suspect it’s reminiscent of the mood that permeates any nation right before the occupants realize the damage is far worse than they ever imagined, and that they’ve wasted years of time pretending the demise wasn’t happening.
I originally was going to write up a history lesson on July 4th. I suppose, I still did. However, the historical point isn’t what I first set out to make. History is, however, the topic, and at the present rate, 50 years from now, July 4th will represent exactly that, history. A date and holiday no longer significant or celebrated. As I sat writing this, today, the city council of Buffalo, NY, which is comprised completely of Somalis, raised the Somali flag over city hall and announced the cancellation of 4th of July fireworks.
We’ve been invaded, and we’re being conquered. And we don’t have 50 more years to fix it.
So, how do we reverse course? That should be the topic of discussion this 4th of July with all willing.
“Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction,” — Ronald Reagan
