We've all seen this picture. It may have been in some grade school classsroom along with the picture of George Washington. Archibald Neal Willard painted this famous Revolutionary War painting. Fittingly it was called "The Spirit of 76."
In a July 4th parade reenactment of this scene a little boy held his father's hand as the three patriots marched by. The boy said, "Who's the man with a terrible headache carrying the flag?" A great many of us ask that question this July 4th. It isn't only that we are supposed to stay home month after month. Our hospitals are full and running over. The dreaded virus has struck down over 127,475 of us. Every day brings more and more gloomy news about this pandemic. And most of us live in fear. For ourselves and our family members. For our friends. For that long list of faces and names in the obituary pages of the paper. Millions are still out of work and many of the places they worked for will not be coming back. We are divided about just about everything--race, monuments, masks, opening businesses, that too-long list of funerals where black people--many of them young--shot and killed by some of those who are pledged to protect us all. You probably read the other day about the little black boy who saw a policeman and asked his father, "Is that man gonna kill me?" We have a Presidential election coming up soon and things are getting uglier out there. Medical folks are sadly predicting that this virus might get worse in the future.
I have no answers for this. I do know that out there around this country are those warriors in every field--nurses, doctors, aides--and churches that reach out. And those individuals that make sure those kids that count on their meals at school will not go hungry. Maybe you heard about the retired furloughed retail worker who took his stimulus check and made 1200 pans of lasagna for his whole town.1200 lagsagnas! His kind actions has opened the door to many others who have stepped forward to do what they can. Kindness do not forget is infectious.
There is a great divide out there and I wonder how we can ever build a bridge across our enormous differences. But I still count on all those that do not give up on the principles that made us great. They really are letting their little lights shine and those lights are healing and they are hopeful despite the darkness.
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| photo by DJDANDYW.com AKA NO / flikrdifferences. |
On this July 4th weekend we need to ponder how far we have come as a country. That does not mean that we do not have miles and miles to go before we sleep. Yes. But we must remember that we have been governed since our beginnings by flawed creatures. Most if not all were far from perfect. And that beat still goes on. We are governed by human beings much like ourselvers. We are children of our time and all those that came before were children of their times.
The late Bill Coffin fought many battles for peace and justice. In a time of unrest and flag burnings he wrote:
"How do you love America? Don't say, "My country drunk or sober"; it doesn't get you anywhere. Don't just salute the flag, or burn it either. Wash it. Make it clean."
That's our job for these hard days and those days that will come when we will have the hard task of rebuilding. Reaching for the Tylenol will not do this. We all know by now there are no easy answers and no quick fixes. But a recommitment "to the patriot's dream that sees beyond the years, her alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears." Let it be Lord, let it be.
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| In Rockaway Township, New Jersey members of American Post #344 replaced all the
tattered flags at the foot the each of the Memorial trees of those lost service people
in their town. Photo by Picatinny Arsenal / flikr
--Roger Lovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com
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