Today marks 250 years since a small group of newspaper editors, farmers, and soldiers signed a document declaring our nation’s independence — a truth that feels self-evident now but was revolutionary then.
What a privilege us Americans have, to live in a nation that every one of its inhabitants can shape. What an honor us New Yorkers have, to look out over our city’s waters from the shores where so many Americans bravely entered their country for the first time.
Today and all days, let us remember that patriotism is not pretending our nation is without flaws. Patriotism is every act of righteous dissent — because loving our country means fighting for the best version of it.
Happy Fourth of July, New York City.
It’s like that season of Game of Thrones where there’s 1,000 King Joffreys and they all keep winning and torturing their people and raping children and Israel gets to keep committing genocides
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
— J.R.R. Tolkien
May try this new workout trend that everyone’s doing nowadays where I spend $350/month for a gym membership only to walk on one of the only available treadmills at zero incline for an hour and a half while talking on the phone and burn 100 calories.