Today, nearly 250 years from the day the Declaration of Independence was signed and equality was promised to all Americans, many are wondering why we still celebrate this day. The promise of equality and freedom, after all, only extended to white, landowning men, leaving out women and people of color. Whose independence are we celebrating, exactly?
Our founding promise has never been guaranteed. Each generation has been called to bring us a little closer to our highest ideals—and history’s calling on us right now. So let’s all do whatever we can to help @JoeBiden expand that promise to all Americans. https://t.co/5zby4l3W5H
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 4, 2020
Unlike Donald Trump, who has tried to turn the civil unrest into an argument about statues and his same brand of “us versus them” politics, President Obama praised young Americans for working to make their communities and their country better. It is true that July 4, 1776 was never really an Independence, but the ideals written out in the U.S. Constitution can still be fulfilled. We can make gains in that direction by voting in November 2020.
Black Lives Matter protests are happening across the country and have been for some time, but at no time more pronounced as following the death of 46-year-old man and father of two at the hands of police. While support for the movement is at its highest, Trump’s need to ensure his white, racist fanbase that they’ll stay in a position of privilege over those “thugs” and “lowlifes” demanding equality for all.
Fulfilling the promises of the Constitution does not have to fall on Congress, the president, or the Supreme Court. The promises that this country was supposed to be founded upon are up to the people to fulfull.
Twitter misses having a president with empathy and grace. Read some of their comments below:
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
