slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Why Democrats are wrong about Trump’s politicization of the Fourth of July

Shira Lurie

President Trump has decided that the Fourth of July belongs to him. In February, he announced on Twitter that he was rebranding the day as a “Salute to America” that would feature “an address by your favorite President, me!” (Perhaps a necessary clarification.) On June 5, D.C. officials confirmed that Trump planned to speak from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, forcing the relocation of the traditional fireworks display to West Potomac Park.

In the hours after The Washington Post broke the news, Democrats pounced on Trump for politicizing the national holiday. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) denounced the president for “injecting partisan politics into the most nonpartisan sacred American holiday there is.” Three prominent congressional Democrats, including House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), wrote a letter to the president describing the Fourth as a “nonpartisan and apolitical” day. “It is, therefore, unfortunate that you are considering a conflicting event, which would create the appearance of a televised, partisan campaign rally on the Mall at the public expense.”

But these claims are wrong. The Fourth has never been apolitical or nonpartisan. Americans have always used Independence Day to disguise political messaging in the cloak of patriotism. And often, these messages have contained the d******eness and acrimony we have come to associate with Trump.

Politicization of the Fourth of July began even before the United States was a country. During the War of Independence, officials used the anniversary of Congress’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence as an opportunity to bolster anti-British sentiment. They rallied support for the Patriots’ cause with toasts, orations, m*****a drills and fireworks. In the postwar years, the day t***sformed into a civics lesson, with Americans extolling the benefits of republican government and, later, the Constitution.

As soon as political parties developed in the 1790s, partisans began capitalizing on the nation’s birthday as well. Local leaders hosted rival Fourth of July celebrations and positioned their parties as the “true” inheritors of the American Revolution’s legacy. Occasionally they came to blows as each side vied for control over the crowds and public spaces in their communities.

During the Civil War, even some Confederates celebrated the Fourth of July to reinforce their claim that secession constituted a renewal of the Patriot cause. “We are today engaged in the second war for independence,” a Confederate official declared at the Texas State Capitol on July 4, 1861. “We have asserted our independence of the old Union for causes before the magnitude of which the collection of a tax on tea dwindles into insignificance.”

Activists, reformers and interest groups have also used the holiday as an opportunity to link their causes to the revolution’s promises. In the 19th and 20th centuries, trade unionists, abolitionist societies, Sabbatarians, temperance advocates, antiwar demonstrators and civil rights and gay rights activists have all hosted demonstrations, protests and rallies on the Fourth of July.

Nor will Trump be the first president to give a Fourth of July address. Harry Truman, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford all did so.

Trump’s proposed Fourth of July speech, therefore, doesn’t pervert the holiday but rather keeps with its traditions. Since the Founding era, Americans of all stripes have used Independence Day as an opportunity to practice politics. Often they capitalize on the festivities by enveloping their particular message in the trappings of patriotism and claiming continuity with the nation’s revolutionary past.

The Democrats’ mistaken assertion that Independence Day is apolitical not only ignores this history, it also obscures the myriad ways in which our current celebrations carry political messages, even as they appear apolitical and nonpartisan. In particular, these festivities often equate patriotism with obedience to the state. From the first parades and fireworks of 1777 until now, the symbols of the day — the f**gs, colors and songs — have served to reinforce allegiance to those wielding political and military power.

For instance, Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the U.S.A.,” which first gained prominence at the 1984 Republican National Convention, frequently accompanies parades and fireworks displays on the Fourth. The song’s lyrics contain a multitude of political messages, including the glorification of the military, the assertion of an American monopoly on freedom and a link between patriotism and Judeo-Christianity. And Greenwood’s song is the norm, not an exception, on a day filled with music, parades and other symbols that celebrate the military, the f**g, adherence to traditional American norms and allegiance to the government.

As a result, a day intended to commemorate revolution instead reinforces the status quo. And this is the heart of the problem. Instead of celebrating self-government or considering what promises of the revolution remain unfulfilled, the Fourth’s political messaging often boils down to a brash, unsubstantiated assertion that the United States is the best country on Earth. The traditional Independence Day rites leave no room for the nation’s improvement.

Thus, while Trump’s Fourth of July address will probably extol his greatness, not the nation’s, his speech will be no more problematic or political than any other celebration.

Trump’s politics are undoubtedly abhorrent, and any chance to resist his dangerous speechifying should be taken up with enthusiasm. Still, rather than falsely accusing him of politicizing the Fourth, those bothered by his proposed rally might do well to consider the implications of their own celebrations. Perhaps the centuries-long, uncritical extolling of American greatness on Independence Day helps to explain the rise of Trump in the first place. After all, his nationalistic, xenophobic and bombastic rhetoric aligns with 2½ centuries of Fourth of July traditions.

Radiance3

===============
Sira Laurie is affiliated with the Democrat party. She wrote e.g. (1st paragraph) that statements with word revisions. That was not what president Trump had exactly said. Who revised that? The comment was revised to appear that the president claimed this celebration is for him solely.
Thus Shira Lurie's first paragraph statements are filled with lies and deceptions. Typical of democrats' brain.

https://nypost.com/2019/07/02/trump-shares-details-of-july-4-salute-to-america-celebration/

Thank you Mr. president. Patriotism will be revived on this historic day on our 4th of July. This is one of the most important events in our history that needs to be celebrated. Gain of our freedom, thru the lives and sacrifices of our Founders, braveries and sacrifices of our love ones, young and old, who until these days gave all that they have.

Our national f**g symbolizes who we are, our freedom, our constitution, and our patriotism which embodies all. Because of that, I am a very proud American. Grateful to all our heroes.

Our God is in control protecting our f**g, for the sake of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Happy July 4th, and to you Slatt, who've served our country well. Thank you.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

The 4th of July is a time to pat ourselves on the back for being a bastion of freedom, and a guiding light for the unwashed masses in the rest of the world, toasting to each other that our s**t don't stink. On July 5th, reality reasserts itself, and we rediscover that we are a selfish, self centered and self aggrandizing nation of people..............who actually expects the rest of the world to bow to our demands.

This reminds me of a people who felt their political leaders didn't really care about them, were abusing and using them, and objected to the high handed, elitist and arrogant attitudes of their leaders, who actually expected them to bow to their demands without demure. When those abused people had had enough, they began a revolution to throw off that onerous yoke. Those rebels eventually won their independence and became the Unites States of America.

We have become the 17th century British.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Thank you, Radiance, and a Happy 4th of July to you and all Americans

BTW, The quotes are as the president tweeted below, "And an address by your favorite president, me."

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump

HOLD THE DATE! We will be having one of the biggest gatherings in the history of Washington, D.C., on July 4th. It will be called “A Salute To America” and will be held at the Lincoln Memorial. Major fireworks display, entertainment and an address by your favorite President, me!

202K
7:43 AM - Feb 24, 2019

https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/Trump-Announces-Huge-4th-of-July-Celebration-at-Lincoln-Memorial-506294241.html

Radiance3

==============
A beautiful quote. Nothing is wrong what he stated, and to "address" the celebration. But he did not say he owns it. It is for all of us celebrating freedom.

Thanks Slatt.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Agreed...and, you're welcome, Dear Lady.

We're BBQ'g tomorrow.

Radiance3

-----------
I have Champaign with my good friends. Once again, you deserve it Slatt, enjoy. I think it is a beautiful celebration.

woodguru

Technically speaking that right there is an indicator of the partisan nature of his speech, because not even 50% of the american people consider him to be their favorite president, so he is openly referring to his base.

Radiance3

==============
There will be millions all over, and worldwide, who'll watch on July 4th.
Don't be jealous. This is celebrating history and the freedom that our brave men and women sacrificed and died for it. This is the holiday that deserves our utmost p***e and respect.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

To all OPP'ers: Have a great, celebratory 4th of July.

SEMPER FI

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, CO

Thanks slatts and I will because it's my birthday. It is indeed nice to have the whole country celebrating with me. Off to my daughters for burgers and brewski's. A happy 4th to all~

SEMPER FI~

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Your comment reminds me of the 1942 movie 'Yankee Doodle Dandy,' featuring a great Oscar-winning performance from James Cagney. In the opening scene, Cagney...as George M. Cohan...reminisced of (until he reached the age of twelve) him thinking the entire country was celebrating his birthday. He claimed to have born on the 4th of July, although records show his birth as July 3rd.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jake...along with the USA

SEMPER FI