What Frederick Douglass Helped Me Realize

Firstly this reading was one of the most powerful speeches I’ve read (not that my speech reading is especially extensive). It did make me think about the modern day Fourth of July celebrations that people practice every year. I started thinking what was I celebrating and do I agree with what is going on in this country, because I am celebrating by lighting fireworks or partying etc. I also realized that civil disobedience could be protesting the 4^th of July, which it seems is similar to what Fredrick Douglass is doing in his speech. I wasn’t born here, I don’t live in an area of the U.S. that is patriotic or connected to the old area of the U.S. in any way. I am in fact in one of the most secluded areas of the U.S., however the 4^th of July is one of the biggest celebrations of the year.

I’m celebrating the freedom the that U.S. gives to it’s citizens compared to other countries, even the other countries in the western world. Compared to most countries in Europe and the Canadian provinces, the U.S. citizens pay a significantly less amount of money towards income taxes. I am celebrating the capitalist society our country was founded on. I’m celebrating the ease and safety which I can walk through the streets at any time of day, and the security I have over my own possessions. I celebrate our higher education system as well as our lower school system (even though it is greatly flawed) compared to other countries we have it so well. I celebrate how grateful I am to have been born into these circumstances and made possible by the policies and laws set in place by the U.S.