I don\u2019t understand the Fourth of July.<\/p>\n
In its purest form, it is a day to celebrate our independence from colonial rule and the birth of our nation while remembering everything we have sacrificed to ensure that we remain free of monarchs and dictators. Yet somehow it seems to have morphed into an over-the-top nation-wide chug-fest while completely ignoring the humility that such a holiday deserves\u2014demands, even. Too often I hear toasts \u201cto the greatest nation ever, fuck yeah!\u201d without the follow-up of \u201cwe\u2019ve lost so many already, how do we ensure that we stay great without sacrificing our young men and women?\u201d<\/p>\n
Alas, we only seem to care about people who stand up for this country when we can turn it into a meme to share or when we can use such sacrifice in an attempt to shut down (and sometimes start) an argument.<\/p>\n
Every year, when the Fourth of July rolls around, we celebrate our freedoms by doing something that harms many of these defenders and protectors: We light mini bombs and toss them into the air so everyone within a few miles of our party is forced to celebrate with us. We intentionally create sharp, loud, booming noises and sparks of fire and heat that emulate explosions, reminding the very people we are holding up as heroes of the trauma, destruction, and death that they have spent months and years coming to terms with.<\/p>\n
Hey, you wonderful heroes, we love you so much, we are going to intentionally and willfully retraumatize you for days on end to prove to you how great you are.<\/p>\n
What the fuck, America?<\/p>\n
And to add insult to injury (because this is America and we really do have to be the best at everything), we are retraumatizing a population that has historically avoided seeking any kind of help for those internal battle scars. Many of our heroes still see mental health-related issues as a weakness instead of a strength\u2014an idea compounded by the fact that our healthcare system often sweeps mental health issues to the back burner until it is too late and someone \u201csnaps\u201d (assuming we can even get in to see a mental health specialist!). I am heartened to see more and more people talking about the stress and traumatization fireworks caused their loved ones, but again, it is the loved ones, not those affected, spreading the word. In other words, never assume that silence is tacit acceptance (much less approval) of your actions.<\/p>\n
Take a few minutes and put someone else\u2019s needs above your own wants this year. After all, that is what we ask our heroes to do every day.<\/p>\n
Let me take a moment here to say that I am grateful to anyone who stands up for the ideals behind this country so that others do not have to worry about their freedoms. In this group, I include veterans, EMTs, firefighters, police officers, Peace Corps volunteers, legal aid volunteers\/public defenders, public healthcare workers, and so many more. Some use guns, others use words, and still others use their expertise, but they all put their lives on the line in some way to ensure that the rest of us can live our lives as we choose. They may not agree with our beliefs or choices, but they fight to ensure our right to have those beliefs and make those choices on a daily basis.<\/p>\n