On the Fourth of July
Why 2020’s celebration is (or should be) the same as every other year
Each year, when June comes to a close, I begin to think of how I’ll be recognizing the anniversary of our country’s independence. For some folks, the Fourth of July is best represented by cookouts and fireworks – I can certainly attest to having spent part of the day that way in years past. For others, it is a day of solemn reflection. For others still, it is a day of shame or anger or disgust – depending upon which side of the social equation one is coming from – and generally worthy of mockery and scorn. Any one of these methods of acknowledgement taken in isolation falls short of the complexity which the day requires. The Fourth of July should be an opportunity for recognizing where we started, where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.
One need not be a jingoist to note and appreciate the high-minded ideals at the foundation of our republic. Likewise, one need not be anti-American to recognize latent and blatant flaws which have consumed much of our history, up to and including today. Unlike what much of both the left and the right would have you believe, it is indeed possible to love vigorously a nation founded on the noble lie of equality (more on this later), while also appropriately admonishing that which is shameful in our past and seeking to do better. The common misconception which I’ve found, especially on the left, is that a celebration of the United States of America is intended to either excuse or deny past and present injustices; quite the contrary. While I’m sure that that position is held by some, I would posit that the celebration of our Declaration of Independence is the celebration of a “first step.” The first step of a country, much like the first step of an infant, is inevitably followed by many falls. As time goes on, the steps become steadier and more successive, eventually evolving into walking, jogging, running, and sprinting. The notion that an infant would stand, take one step, and then run a marathon is both comical and unrealistic. Likewise, the founding of a nation with such idealistic goals is bound to produce innumerable blunders, especially with a government whose decisions are made democratically by citizens of vastly varying politics and interests.
Consider the founding through two concepts: perhaps obviously, “foundation”; and, as an old political science professor of mine called it, the “founding lie.” Folks often confuse the founding of our country with the successful execution of all of its ideal. As the word “foundation” suggests, the founding only sets the framework, and a damn good framework indeed: equal in creation; inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What does not follow from this equation is that such a framework would be tangibly true, which brings us to the “founding lie.” When Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and the rest proclaimed the “self-evident” truths contained in the Declaration of Independence, it was not a statement of then-present daily reality, but rather a “founding lie.” The underlying moral veracity of the founding lie can be accepted by all, even if it is not the concrete reality of the moment, as a goal towards which society shall work. The concept of a founding lie is at the base of many societies throughout history, where it serves as a universal truth which binds together a society in common cause. Jefferson, et al. proclaimed “all men are created equal” as a belief, not as a statement of everyday life in the Thirteen Colonies. There were, of course, innumerable examples of inequality all around them; some externally imposed, some internally perpetuated.
What, then, is unique about the Fourth of July, the Declaration of Independence, and America in general? When we consider the world in the late 18th century, the idea that a group of people (yes, men; yes, white; yes, aristocratic; but nonetheless, a group of mere humans) could sit in a room and compose a document which proclaimed universal, self-evident truths on which to build a society was absolutely beyond the pale. A country founded not on the basis of a monarchical family bloodline or an exclusionary tribe, but on a set of ideas which could be adopted by anyone, anywhere, at any time. It is important to remember and recognize that that is what the Fourth represents and celebrates: the glorious founding ideals which form the concrete foundation of America.
For those who have been grinding their teeth this entire time, here comes the part you’ve been waiting for. Inevitably, in 18th century society and in a country which, as a colony, had massive ties to the slave trade, our high-minded ideals were weakened by the roots of reality cracking through that concrete foundation, the most prominent and shameful being the purchase and sale of black bodies. Slavery being intrinsic to the life and economy of the southern colonies, it became clear that, in order to gain their assent, a paragraph condemning King George for the institution of slavery would have to be excised from Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration. This was the first of many subsequent affronts to concepts of life, liberty, and equality which our young nation would accept in order to allow the nation to progress. While there is of course nothing commendable or defensible about this action or similar moves which would follow it (such as the Constitution’s compromise not to discuss ending the slave trade until 1808), it is impossible to run the experiment any other way than the history we have inherited. Thus, the best one can do is to recognize the beauty of the document alongside the fundamental political and societal flaws which followed it, coupled with the personal flaws of the men who wrote it.
Anyone who has studied politics globally and historically ought to understand that ideals are exactly that. While we must never cease pushing to bring society closer to those ideals, an ideal is necessarily impossible to reach. Humans are flawed; we are poorly evolved primates with too much adrenaline and undersized prefrontal lobes. As such, we will always imperfectly execute our plans, despite potentially having the best intentions, clear morals, and pure hearts. To expect a document forged in a time of great backwardness to produce overnight a perfect society is to set oneself up for disappointment. What we must do, then, is to reframe the way we think about the Declaration to instead recognize it as 1) an excellent effort for its time 2) in the context of a society which was not at all ready for it and which 3) remains woefully lagging.
When I subtitled this piece, I meant what I said: this year’s Fourth of July celebration should be, in principle, no different from any other year – provided you’ve been celebrating in a comprehensive way in the past, and that you continue to do so in the future. Our country, you don’t need me to tell you, is in serious turmoil at the moment, brought about by perennial issues: not enough equality, in the form of police violence against people of colour; too much selfishness, in the form of apathy towards the health of one’s fellow citizens; too much provincialism and anti-democratic sentiment, in the form of support for President Trump and the fundamentally corrupted Republican Party; and not enough compassion, as evidenced by any of the previous examples. I return to the word “perennial” – there is now and there will always be some confluence of events which will induce feelings of national shame or embarrassment. On the Fourth, we are provided with an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to those ideals which are fundamentally beautiful and virtuous. Past and present failures to carry out those ideals to their fullest extent is not a reason to shirk away from them in shame, but rather to double down on their importance; to proclaim them louder and more vigorously than ever before; to promise and to insist that must do better for today and for the rest of time. As I’ve said, we won’t get it perfect; but we must try, evermore.
This all may leave you asking: what is the appropriate way to celebrate our national historical inheritance, in light of the ailments enumerated above? Well, I have a few suggestions.
First, read the Declaration. It’s online, it’s free, and it’s always worth returning to. I’ll even do the work for you: it can be found here, and for those interested in reading the original Jefferson draft, that can be found here.
Second, read something by an author you disagree with. Personally, I find this very important and try to do it every day. I generally try to find a couple items, either something too far to the left and something too far to the right, or perhaps two items from the same angle about a particular subject which I disagree with the authors on. For a country founded on discourse and disagreement, this is the least you can do to carry on the tradition.
Third, call someone you care about and have a conversation about the Fourth and what it means to you, perhaps in light of some disagreeable reading. This particular action will kill two birds with one stone: given our current national lockdown, this will provide you the opportunity to connect with a friend or loved one, while also exchanging reflections on the meaning of the day.
Fourth, cook yourself (and others, if you don’t live alone) a nice meal. Regardless of who you are and how current events are affecting you, the act of preparing and eating food is nearly always a welcome palliative in a world that often feels like it is “too much.” [A note: if you are reading this and experiencing food insecurity, please feel free to get in touch with me and I’ll do what I can to help you out.]
Finally, if you aren’t precluded by location or weather conditions, do try to get out for a walk in the evening and enjoy the sunset and, if you’re a night owl like me, the full moon just after the night ticks into July 5th. More than Americans, we are all humans, lucky enough to have a few brief spins around the Earth and to witness all the glories of the natural world; enjoy them while you can.
Aaron Clarke
July 4th, 2020
