Today is July 4th, Independence Day, the day we stop to enjoy a summer picnic or barbecue and celebrate our great nation with a parade and fireworks, yay us! Only not so much anymore. It no longer feels like we're the home of the free and the brave. The United States of America is now a place of hate, greed and ugliness.
I've never been a big flag-waver, but at least I felt some pride in what my country stood for ("in our America"), what the generations that came before fought for. Now I fear for what the generations coming after are going inherit. This America is no longer one I recognize.
What does this photo have to do with the day? Nothing really. Other than I've always loved her expression. She knows bullshit when she hears it. She suffers no fools. She knows what really matters. BTW, this is not one of the many plant-based black and white photos Andrew has given me over the years. Nope, I picked up this one up myself, back in my 20's. She looked like the kind of older lady I hoped to become one day.
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Although I recognized that it was almost inevitable, I was particularly disappointed to launch the holiday with the orange guy's bloated bill favoring billionaires. Thankfully, it's been relatively quiet (albeit not silent) on the local fireworks front so far even if California's already had at least 3 major firework accidents, each apparently resulting in one or more deaths.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same. I'm not celebrating the fourth either. I love this country and its ideals, but more and more I am coming to realize that, despite the mythology, this nation was founded with the idea that might makes right and that everything is permissible if you have enough guns and money. It saddens me to see that Americans are so glib about giving up their civil liberties in exchange for cheaper eggs (which they still don't have.) They are going to learn the hard way that those with money and power have nothing but contempt for those who don't. I keep telling myself that the darkest hour is before the dawn. These are dark times, but hopefully a better construct will emerge eventually. Even the most brainwashed of Americans will take note when their belts keep getting tighter and tighter.
ReplyDeleteHello from the pizza oven that is Phoenix right now. I noticed that one of my garden watering pails was a frequent stop for birds, so I’m setting up a fountain for them (and of course, for me). I was looking for inspo and came across your website. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised or disappointed that you made a political statement here. But I am. I’m not a fan of this administration either. But I also was not a fan of the last one, and our government in general. But having now visited or lived in over 50 countries now, including some extended stints overseas, I’m very grateful to be here. We are blessed to live in the USA. Happy 4th!
ReplyDeleteNo celebrating here either although we rarely do. I detest noise and fireworks anyway. Phillip
ReplyDeleteThat is 1 great photo. The cleared land, the shovel laying on the ground behind the lady, the trunk-protecting tube at the base of the little tree, the carefully made--windbreak? Sun protection? for the newly planted--Avocado(?)--is it the first tree of their new orchard? The lady's expression--is she looking at her husband? Her child? A newspaper reporter? She seems to be waiting patiently, privately bemused, as if the photographer has to fiddle with the camera. She did not plant the tree--the knees of her pants are clean. Is it spring and a bit chilly, because of her warm sweater? Is it Sunday after lunch, and the massive job of planting out the orchard begins Monday morning?
ReplyDeleteSo many questions!
As to celebration, me neither.