Celebrating Independence Day: a Call to Conscience and Unity
As our nation marks the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Progressive Mariposa / Yosemite Area Indivisible join millions of Americans in honoring the enduring promise of liberty, justice, and equality before the law. We gather in celebration, not just of our nation’s founding, but of its continuing evolution.
The words “all men are created equal” remain among the most powerful and aspirational in our country’s history. Yet we cannot ignore the fact that those words have not always included everyone. Our country was founded on ideals of freedom, but also on the realities of enslaved labor and the exclusion of women. These truths, painful though they are, are part of our national story, and reckoning with them is essential to writing a better future.
We do not speak these truths to diminish our patriotism, but to deepen it. True love of country demands honesty, courage, and a commitment to grow. Denying the injustices of our past and present does not honor our heritage, it weakens it by ignoring the struggles of countless Americans. But when we face them together, we live up to the very best of what America strives to be.
We are a diverse and resilient nation, built by immigrants, strengthened by community, and driven by hope. The forces of racism, misogyny, and economic injustice have long challenged our ideals, but so too have generations of Americans risen up to defend and expand them.
This Independence Day, we recommit ourselves to building a country where all means all, Black, Brown, Indigenous, White, Asian, Latino, Female, Trans, Queer, Disabled, Undocumented, DREAMer, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Atheist, and every person who calls this beautiful country home.
Our vision is rooted in compassion, equity, and solidarity. Regardless of how you came to be here, you are our neighbor. You belong.
We believe that patriotism is not about perfection, it is about progress and standing up for our values when our government has gone astray. Together, we will continue the work of ensuring that the promises of July 4th ring true for everyone.
Forever In liberty,
Progressive Mariposa/Yosemite Area Indivisible
