It is with divided sentiments that I awake early this 2025 Fourth of July and set the table for our little Independence Day breakfast.
Last evening Robert and I went over to daughter Amy’s for a family cookout and to watch incredible day-early fireworks from her lovely Moon River-facing balcony.
Glorious Beauty.
But as I stood behind my husband Robert and my ex-wife Donna, as they leaned on the railing toward the patriotic display …
… and as I listened to Lee Greenwood iconically singing from my son-in-law‘s speakers:
… I wondered, in the midst of the firework’s bangs, crackles, whistles and sizzles, if Lee’s words still ring true. Does the flag still stand for freedom under the current fascist regime? And if so, freedom for whom? For me as a married gay man? For my daughters and granddaughters to have autonomy over their own bodies? For my trans friends to live without threats of discrimination or even murder? Etc. Etc.
But Lee would have nothing of that viewpoint, as he continued to sing …
That absolute “knowing” of freedom in the USA has faded somewhat for me.
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I love yesteryear Kate Smith’s rendition of “God bless America,”
This morning, her phrase “through the NIGHT” emanates new meaning for me. For we are living/trying to live through a Darkened Night Phase of our beloved country, with democracy under attack from within by our own leaders. A democracy which my husband Robert spent nearly 30 years in the Army trying to defend. A democracy which many of his comrades gave their lives to defend.
So why do I display the flag this Independence Day morn?
And why do I still feel a measure of pride as I take my morning walk and see all of this in my Savannah neighborhood?
Because I hope and believe that God (or whatever force you believe is greater than evil) Will Bless the True America and grant us a new Dawn of Democracy after this Darkness.
I especially like this darkened black and white version of Kate Smith’s “God bless America.”
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Now that it has brightened up a bit, I’m going to sit down with HR (Hubby Robert) for breakfast.
NealEnJoy 
Neal, That was the perfect post to wake up to on this 4th. I too have very mixed emotions as I know millions of Americans do today. We will, we must, fight this evil. But today, perhaps we can take a moment to remember the country we once knew and believed in, and stop and eat a burger. Hang in there! the country needs al of us!
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Aww, McKenzie, thank you. And you are so right.
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I understand your sentiment. You are not alone.
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Thanks, Don. Hope you guys are doing well on this 4th.
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I agree, it is a challenging 4th. Thank you so much for the Kate Smith “God Bless America.” No voice quite like hers before or since!
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Thank you for posting this. You are absolutely right!! I might add that I feel as if our country is growing smaller by the minute.
In terms of values, behavior, respect, etc., everything my parents taught me about being a civilized human being, that my husband and I taught our children, those children taught our grandchildren, and that our grandchildren are now teaching our great-grandchildren (all five of them) has been spat up, sullied, held up to ridicule and generally called nonsense. (I’m trying very hard here not to swear! It ain’t easy!!) You are preaching to the choir, Neal, but please don’t stop. Maybe, just maybe, someone in the back row will hear you.
Claire
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You are so right, Claire. It’s just heartbreaking. But I hope you are somehow having a good day.
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