It’s warm outside, which is a nice change from our long winter, but I’m grateful for AC. There’s over-the-top hot and humid! We are in the doldrums time for flowers.  Peonies and other spring flowers have bloomed, and late summer blossoms haven’t yet matured.  I keep thinking I’ll add more biennials to the garden for this in-between time (canterbury bells, foxgloves, hollyhocks) --- but somehow, I have fragmented follow-through.  The grasses along the roadsides are ripening; ranging in color from ivory to bronze.  And standing tall above them are the wild parsnips with lacy golden flowers.  Some find the sap of this plant painful to their skin.

Our lives are opening back up now that more and more of us are vaccinated.  We recently spent an afternoon with Kerm’s siblings, chatting and sharing stories; catching up from over a year of not seeing each other.  We were grateful to be together; four had been ill with COVID, one very seriously.  So being together in person and sharing laughter was a gift.  Another bright spot is coming soon; some of my high school classmates will be gathering for a mini-class reunion this month.  It will be good to see whoever is able to come.

The 4^th of July is a time for fireworks, parades and flag-waving.  It is a celebratory time when we sing “This land is your land; this land is my land, from California to the New York Island…..”  or “This is my country, land of my birth…” (but fail to learn the second verse, “This is my country, land of my choice…..”).   I do feel love for country and am filled gratitude that I have been privileged to live here. But love for country does not mean approving always of what my country does, just as loving a child doesn’t mean approving of all that child’s behavior (though some doting parents as some patriots, haven’t learned this!).  I have been appalled in the past few years, and even more so lately when I learn more about some of our hidden history. And I’ve been angry and unbelieving at some of the distasteful attitudes that not only linger but find excuses for doing so.

It is always distressing when illusions are shattered and innocence lost. There is much that we just never learned in class, that now has come to light.  And often the mistaken and bigoted actions we were allowed to hear about were diminished and made to seem like way-past history.  It takes seeing the situation through another’s eyes ---- to realize truths that have been veiled by our own sheltered lives and to realize how wrong we’ve been.

245 years ago, when our country was created from a rebellion of settlers against tyranny from afar, there were high hopes for democracy and freedom.   A new and wide country sparked new and brave thoughts and desires.  We were an admired prodigy among European countries.  France followed soon thereafter with its own revolution.  But our elevated ideas didn’t include the native Americans who had lived here for centuries.  Nor did they include those brought from Europe as indentured servants or from Africa as slaves.  Oppressing and enslaving people was, is, and ever will be wrong.  Equally wrong is a class structure that disregards some and values human worth by wealth, heredity or fame.   As we learn about our past, we tend to be highly critical of these glaring commissions and omissions from back then.  And we often let the bad overshadow the good things that happened.  This shows a lack of critical thinking on our part!   

First of all, we have many of the same problems today including our own misguided attitudes.  Then, to expect “normal” of 245 years ago, to be the human rights norms that we now know, is unrealistic.  Think how much has changed in just our lifetimes.  Discarding all that George Washington or Thomas Jefferson did that was good because they owned slaves, is trying to re-write history to please ourselves.  The same applies to white-washing their lives and pretending they were perfect   Most humans are a mixture of admirable and unbecoming behavior and are products of their time. We can’t change who people were, but we can sift out the good and discard the bad and make sure our “times” don’t produce the same bigotry and oppression.  It is our responsibility to make sure that we have learned to know better and do better.

Our country’s birthday is only three days away.  While fireworks can be enchanting for humans (not so much for pets) perhaps a truer way to celebrate would be to give our citizenship some serious thought. We have more freedom here than most other places in the world.  It is not the sort of freedom the undisciplined desire --- to always act as they are so inclined and never be held responsible for anyone else or told what to do ---- but we do have freedom to seek our own futures, to have good friends and to live much as we choose.  Our artists are not imprisoned.  We are not being bombed by our own government or any other.  We have recourse if we are hungry.  I do not have to fear the police, the FBI or the CIA.  This has been true for me ---- but not everyone.  And until it is true for any law-abiding citizen of this fine land, it cannot be totally true for me.  Thus, my question on this July 4th would be, will what I say and do encourage good change?  That question can be the symbolic candle on our nation’s symbolic cake.   A problem child can become a prodigy once again!

As we express our own love of country, we need to remember that other people love their birth countries too, while not necessarily liking their governing bodies.  Many of what we call “third-world” countries have longer histories by far, than ours.  Their governments may be unacceptable to us; often they are unacceptable to those living there, even while they love their countries.    Several years ago, a friend shared with me a small hand-written book of poetry that he found while he was a soldier in Viet Nam.  It was written by an “enemy” soldier.  The poetry revealed that this North Vietnamese soldier had the same feelings that any soldier would have ---- he wanted to go home, he missed his girl, he loved his country, but…….    It brought tears to our eyes as we read the very human feelings of someone who was an enemy only because of his country’s political choices.  Love for country is an honorable emotion but it should never blind us to the understanding and love of humanity.  Viewing an entire country-full of people as enemies is both foolish and inhumane.

When I was in high school, a 4-H exchange student from the Philippines lived with my family for six weeks.  Justa broadened my cultural awareness immensely.  Later I had a pen pal, also from The Philippines --- Rebecca.  She later came to the United States, entered nursing school and we met in person.  Our family hosted a young man from Mexico who sang with “Up With People”.   We have family members who have lived in Kenya.  It has been one lesson after another that though someone comes from a far-away land, has different customs and a different physical appearance --- we are all experiencing similar fears and hopes, and find fun in many of the same activities.  We were, and are, humans together, trying to cope with a diverse world.  Respect for what makes people feel comfortable and happy and what feeds their spirits even if it seems odd to us, is something we all need to achieve.  Humans need community.

Speaking of community, one of the July traditions I remember from growing up was the Victor Grange picnic.  There were grilled hot dogs of several kinds on an open-pit fire, corn on the cob and all sorts of dishes to pass. People sat around on planks propped up on bales of straw and enjoyed being together.  I miss that kind of community.   Here in Spencer, the Grange existed for many good years, and came to an end only a short time ago.  This organization still provides considerable legislative clout for rural areas, but I fear that will diminish, for when a grass-roots movement wanes, the influence for the cause grows less.  There is an unfortunate trend nation-wide; more and more people are not joining anything.   There is a frightening lack of volunteering and regard for community.  Not only does this indicate less responsible citizenship, but those who do not belong to any organized service group like the Grange --- or Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis ---- or churches ---- will be unaware of the camaraderie that they miss as well as the satisfaction of contributing to something that blesses the whole.  There is much room for thought when we consider our responsibilities as citizens as well as human beings.

Meanwhile it is time for this summer’s picnics, sweet, juicy watermelon, and lemonade.  We awake to warm, clear mornings, bask in days of brassy sunshine and are rejuvenated by occasional thunder storms.  It is swimming weather, water-skiing weather, lazy afternoons weather.  And it is a short-reprieve-from-the-garden time.  Plants are growing but not ready to harvest.  It’s a great time of the year for a little idleness at dusk.  “Evening, and all the birds/In a chorus of shimmering sound are easing their hearts of joy/For miles around.”  *  Enjoy!

Carol may be reached at: carol42wilde@htva.net.

*”This Land Is Your Land” ---- song by Woody Guthrie; American singer-song writer who epitomized the fold song era.  1912-1967.

**”This Is My Country”  --- written in 1940.  Lyrics by Don Raye and Music by Al Jacobs.  Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians were the first to play and record this song in 1942.

*** poem “Dusk In June” by Sara Teasdale (also in July!) ---- Sara Teasdale was an American lyric poet.  1884-1933.