Bringing More Meaning to the Star-Spangled Banner.
Appreciate Those 4th of July Fireworks Even More
By Hanna Kim - July 2, 2018
July 4th lands on a Wednesday this year, and for many Americans, it is a much anticipated day off from work.
In a letter to John Adam's wife, Abigail, he described how the first Independence Day would be filled with "pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations.†We spend July 4th in a similar way today; many of us spending the day grilling food and watching fireworks with friends and family.
It can be easy to forget the intended purpose of this holiday marking the day the Declaration of Independence was published. With the current political climate, many of us experience mixed feelings towards America and some of us may even balk at the idea of considering ourselves patriotic. However, it is possible to love our country and celebrate its founding principles of liberty, equality, and individual rights.
With the current political climate, many of us experience mixed feelings towards America and some of us may even balk at the idea of considering ourselves patriotic.
How Can Make This Holiday More Meaningful?
Â- By being informed and active citizens, we support the values set forth in the constitution.
Participating in politics, including state and local elections can have more of a direct impact on you in many ways. It’s amazing to see more Americans today choosing to participate in the political process. The Hill's recent analysis of the 30 states’ primaries that have held contests up to Tuesday, June 26 shows a boost up in both Democratic and Republican voter participation  compared to the last two midterm elections.
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As we grow up, we realize the things we love are not perfect. We realize there may be flaws and instead of giving up on it, we remember the good and figure out where we can help things improve. As we love our country, we can also practice gratitude for the agency, we have to say and do what we believe in, in order to see the changes we want to see. We can be proud and have optimism that things are good, and will continue to get better.
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We realize there may be flaws and instead of giving up on it, we remember the good and figure out where we can help things improve.
- Being grateful for and celebrating what our country stands for.
Injustice is what drove the Founding Fathers to strive for independence. Thankfully with the hard work of many dedicated Americans, certain injustices have gradually been lifted over time, but problems still exist, leaving marginalized and oppressed groups. Hot-button issues such as sexism and racism linked to a history of unequal power dynamics, fear, and misunderstanding didn’t appear out of blue, but they are surely more visible with a shift towards greater media presence. We can be thankful we have the institutions in place with the space available for us as individuals to voice our concerns.
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Despite the constant bombardment of news highlighting the negative, there is a lot to celebrate and love about our country. We never hear about all the small acts of kindness or even about many of the larger-scale organizers efforts to ensure rights and equalities for all that help America change for the better everyday.
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Despite the constant bombardment of news highlighting the negative, there is a lot to celebrate and love about our country.
A good way to learn is to simply talk to our neighbors and get to know the community outside our immediate circles. Look at issues and how they impact different people. Listen to why someone might feel or think a certain way and open a path to them to listen to you too. We can celebrate the diversity our country’s founding principles have allowed for, and help diversity further flourish.
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All of us at LoDo Chair Massage wish you
and America a happy and patriotic Fourth of July!
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About The Author
Hanna Kim has been practicing massage therapy at LoDo Massage Studio since 2016. She ventured into the world of complementary healthcare through massage, after studying Advertising and Intercultural Communications in college. She enjoys combining her passions for writing and wellness, and loves sharing what she learns with others.