Here I am, just finished reading the news about celebrations on the National Mall in Washington, DC, at Mount Rushmore, at Colonial Williamsburg, and in New York City. Exciting!
Wow! 250 years old. Happy birthday to every American and those around the world celebrating with us.
At the same time, we are celebrating our anniversary; some of us are also fortunate to celebrate other noteworthy current events. I doubt our parents or grandparents could ever have imagined that the wedding of a well-known athlete and a billionaire singer-songwriter could upstage the 250th anniversary of the USA. Yet they did! Happy wedding.
While we celebrate our birthday, the world (including me) is watching the biggest sports event in history: the FIFA World Cup, with 48 countries competing for the title of World Cup champion of soccer, also known as football or futbol. Incredible, a world united as it watches a black-and-white ball kicked from one end of the field to the other. Yes, I love soccer and the fans who are celebrating their teams.
Of course, politics, deportations, the dangerously high temperatures on the East Coast, and the Supreme Court decisions (which I try very hard to avoid in my blog) are diminishing the significance of this historical day. Please do not misunderstand me; it is a privilege to be a part of everything happening on our planet. We do not always make educated choices, but we are human and subject to mistakes. We learn from our mistakes; that is the advantage of making them. Some of us do not watch TV or read, while others cannot exist without a TV remote in their hands or a book at their bedside. Newsflash: you can do it all or nothing. The all choice is much more stimulating.
The word 'multitask' did not exist 250 years ago, yet we have always juggled multiple tasks. We live in a democracy based on the United States Constitution, which established a government that derives its power directly from the citizens, rather than from a monarch or a ruling class. It serves as the supreme law of the land, organizing the federal government. We safeguard our freedom for today's and future generations. Maybe, maybe not. It's confusing- I admit I am worried. The concept is present, but life today is not as clear-cut as it was, even 250 years ago.
But it is July 4th, a time of reflection for many of us whose forefathers came to America in search of a new beginning. I wonder what the first settlers who arrived here would say if we could bring them back. Would we even understand them? Much has changed, yet some things remain the same.
AI, cars, planes, computers, space travel, occupations, medicine, and even trillionaires. As far as pandemics are concerned , we have survived many before COVID, even though we blame much on the COVID YEARS. The 1918-19 Spanish Flu, AIDS-1981-present, 1957-58- Asian flu, Swine flu-2009-10, Cholera, and Polio. Is there a pattern?
Music, entertainment, fashion, art, and the way we live have evolved. And yes, many of us follow traditions passed down from our families. It is important to share with our children the things we loved and what our parents taught us. I can never be without a garden, canning, baking healthy breads, and making yogurt.
I look forward to discovering my granddaughter's talents. Scientist, athlete, musician, actress, homemaker, scholar, teacher, member of the armed forces, politician… We live in America, where almost anything is possible. We are guides to the future generations. Let's not fall asleep after 250 years of building America.
250 years, and I am still fascinated by the past and present. I know of nearly a dozen shows that depicted time travel. The Time Tunnel, LA Brea, The Terminator, Timeless, The Time Machine, Back to the Future, Legends of Tomorrow, Outlander, Journeyman, Quantum Leap, and Twight zone all focused on the past, and sometimes the future. I enjoy reading historical novels, but I admit it would be incredible to travel back in time to relive what made America great. Slogans do not count, even if they are catchy. As for the present, we are the guardians for the future. Without us caring for our planet and our country, how many more years will we celebrate what our forefathers left us?