Guest Post: Frederick Douglass on the 4th of July and the American Dream, 1852

I hate to be "that guy" on a day of national celebration, pointing out the gross inequities and hypocrisies of an otherwise free and prosperous country. Frederick Douglass had no such qualms, however, in his scathing "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" delivered in Washington D.C. on July 5th, 1852, excerpted here:

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelly to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.

Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.

Is this sentiment only limited to historical American hypocrisy regarding the slave trade, which President Abraham Lincoln abolished after a bloody civil war? Nay - Susan B. Anthony was not to be outdone, with the National Woman Suffrage Association's "Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States" just 24 years later.

http://news.yahoo.com/y--big-story--lesser-known-truths-about-fourth-of-july.html

As I continue my series on Incarceration in America, here are a couple articles more, food for thought, on this day of liberty. Freedom isn't free - literally and figuratively:


Probation Fees Rise, Firms Profit and the Poor Go to Jail - NYT

Teen on American justice: 'I'm dead' - Sentenced to 162 years in Jail

CR 4TH OF JULY EDITION: 5 GREATEST MOMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY

A quick post this morning before everyone gets on with their 4th of July celebrations.  With America's mid-summer FESTIVAL OF FREEDOM occurring this year on a Wednesday, time is of the essence.  At least everyone agrees that Thursday, July 5, 2012 will be among the least productive days of the year.

Stephen and I may have our political differences, but as a band of one hit wonders once said, our mutual love for America is like a river running soul deep.  In preparation for the 236th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, we're ranking our top five favorite moments in American history.

These are issued with the qualifier that there was an incomprehensible amount to choose from in this assessment, so while I can't speak for Stephen, my list may be at least as reflective of the first five things that came to my head as it is of a carefully chosen five greatest moments. 

Without further adieu, then, counting down our five greatest moments:   

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Stephen: US victory over the Axis in WWII - triumph of freedom over fascism

Matt: Going a bit more unconventional with this one, because the Miracle on Ice deserves to be on here somewhere.  If there is one sports victory that symbolizes the story of America, it's the hockey triumph of a team of unheralded amateur Americans over the heavily-favored Russians in the 1980 Olympics.  That the game was in the dregs of the Cold War and had geopolitical significance, even only superficially, makes it all the better.

(4)

Stephen: Manifest Destiny.  The exploration and conquering of the West.

Matt: Building of the railroads, preceded by the building of the canals.  America's first major infrastructure projects, which set the stage for the United States to become an industrial powerhouse.

(3)

Stephen: "We hold these truths to be self evident" - the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and accompanying revolt of a small band of colonists against one of the greatest empires in the history of the world.  From day one it seemed nearly inevitable that this nation would be powerful, if just by the willpower of its people.

Matt: The progressive reform, women's suffrage, and civil rights movements of the 20th century. We've got more work to do, but the task of making good on America's political and economic promises began here.

(2)

Stephen: "One small step" - the NASA moon landing

Matt: Have to agree with Steve here, in addition to a psychological victory over the Soviet Union, the Space Race heralded unprecedented technological advances that remain with us today, including my #1...

(1) 

Stephen: "Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall" the winning of the Cold War, proving economic and political freedom > communism

Matt: The invention of the internet, right here in the United States.  No other modern invention has had such a political, cultural, and economic impact on the world, all while bringing people closer together than ever before.  

If there's something you think we left off the list, be sure to tell us all about it in the comments.   Wherever you are today, be sure to celebrate our great country - if you're looking for a little bit of musical Americana, I would recommend looking no further than one Ray Charles...

Happy Independence Day.