Happy(?) 4th of July

July 4, 2022 will not go down in history as the most fervently celebrated Independence Day in history.

My social media gatherings are rife with posts about a Black man being shot 60 times by 8 policemen in pursuit. Wondering why Proud Boys wear masks if they are really so "proud." And most significant of all, bemoaning the fact that Roe v. Wade was overturned on June 24, in the case Dobbs v. Jackson. One searing pinpoint result of this is the oft-referenced 10-year-old girl who was raped, now pregnant, denied an abortion, and advised to view this as an "opportunity." But across the country, millions of women are angry, anguished, and uncertain about their future. Significant bodily autonomy has been taken from them. They do not feel independent or free to live their lives as they would like. So...why celebrate a day of independence?

Events like these have been weighing on me lately. The Supreme Court, once viewed as "above it all," kind of like the reigning monarch in Britain, has been sullied tremendously. It used to enjoy the best reputation of the three branches of government—not that that was a particularly high bar to clear, but it used to clear it with ease and aplomb. Now it is a very partisan court, divided ideologically. In that respect, at least, it appears to resemble the nation. That's not necessarily good; after all, again, the Supreme Court used to interpret law from on high, and we could take their judgments accordingly, without (much) consideration of political leanings. Not so anymore. My confidence in this court is shaken terribly. Congress has been dirty for decades...I kind of think that is its role, unfortunately. The President is the symbol of the nation more than anything, probably because we as human beings just like to have 

I could write about this all day. How abortion supporters are cheering and what their rationale is, how it affects me as a gay man, what it means for the nation as a whole. But alas...maybe for another time.