Independence?

 I have said “God” is a verb— the act of connecting, uplifting, enlightening, sharing, caring, loving, grokking— eternally. 

We need to work to “God” one another. It is not easy. But these bonds between and among souls are what bring meaning to our lives; they are what help us transcend the ordinary. From effort comes great reward. 

Independence, similarly, can be a verb. It is more than simply freeing someone. It is supporting one another in our journeys. It is helping everyone thrive, and not just survive. It is creating and recreating a land where everyone has what they need to create their own offerings to society, to find their own path to help, to know their days are meaningful and their unique gifts appreciated.

Independence doesn’t need to be just a dream. We live in a world of plenty, if only we take care of one another. We have brains with so much untapped potential, if only everyone had access to shelter, food, healthcare and education. We have a history of innovation, where new ideas can be forged when people with different histories connect. 

Right now, our independence is not “independencing” well. Greed is slowing down our nation’s mission. Fear is causing leaders to squash opposing views rather than enter into dialogue and meet with a shared vision. Anger is causing dialogue to shut down. Those of us who lead in our communities try our best locally, but the nation and the world are in a dangerous  and lonely spiral.

On a more mundane level, independence of the “we the people” type is also under threat. Look at the people afraid to go to work or school because of ICE round-ups and inhumane conditions in detention centers. This is not my America.

Look at the colleges where free speech is hampered but where DEI initiatives are shut down out of fear. We need to be united, not shut down. When college presidents are forced to resign due to supporting a diverse and inclusive community, this is not my America.

When hospitals are forced to close because they are no longer receiving funds to support the weakest among us, this is not my America.

When children hide in corners of classrooms in lockdown drills, this is not my America. 

I hear the fireworks right now. I know our world has changed in terms of technology since the Founders wrote our Declaration of Independence…. That paper set forth actions fighting for a vision of a country ruled by the people, for the people…. Back then, people didn’t have the artillery we have now. They didn’t have the 24 hour news cycle either. They didn’t have access to as many diverse viewpoints. But they had a vision.

They wanted a nation that would grow as the world grew. We have fought successive civil rights movements to expand what “we the people” means.  Sometimes we have fallen short. Sometimes we have taken strides forward.

Right now, we are failing. We are undoing independence in the doublespeak name of “making America great”. We are undoing the “God” (noun or verb) of the pledge of allegiance by denying liberty and justice for all.  

Independence deprived to one is independence deprived to all. This is not supposed to be a country of “liberty and justice for all the white skinned Christian straight men who can afford it.”  

America, I still believe in you. You, too, are a verb. You are the actions we take: the good, the bad, and the inbetween. You are the graduations and barbecues, the blood drives and naturalization ceremonies, the bake sales and gazebo concerts. You are the victory parades and the protest marches. You are the old man begging on the corner and the little kids with the lemonade stand. You are the Nobel prize winners and the aspirants (whether realistic or now.) 

But, America, you have to do better. If you value Independence, it must be more than parades and flags and fireworks. It must be the work of protecting and uplifting each and every one of us living here.