Fourth of July

Last night, July 3rd, Hendersonville had their fireworks show. It was surreal to lay in bed and listen to those sounds while we got our three year old to sleep. Today also included the final Congressional vote on the Big Bogus Bill, which was passed. The sound of those fireworks and the way they made me feel was challenging to contend with.

My generation has historically viewed politics/ civic engagement through a relatively despondent lens. Feeling like politicians don't represent us, that the system is rigged, and that we are helpless to change it. I think some of us see now that we should have cared a lot more a lot sooner, and that we might have landed in a different spot if that had been the case.

I never realized how much I loved America until it wasn't America anymore. Like so many Americans, I took for granted that America was all-powerful and...forever. It was easy to feel like it was slow enough to make progress that I should feel frustrated with my country, and steady enough that I didn't need to worry about it. Then Trump won a second term.

When he took office in January, the catapult was loaded. A machine that thrust many of us who had been complacent or despondent into action. Sitting still became more uncomfortable than figuring out how to fight. One day I came across one of Indivisible's "What's the Plan" calls, and for the first time since November I had a sense of hope for our future. It wasn't an hour of someone telling me how bad things were. It was an hour of Leah and Ezra explaining why calls to reps matter. Talking long-term strategy. Making me feel like the people really are the ones with the power. They were pragmatic, and that spoke to me.

Things quickly snowballed as I became engaged and started organizing community actions. It was apparent how much of need there was for large-scale organizing in Middle Tennessee. I became connected to people who had been doing this work much longer than I had. Those people became the shores that guided me downriver while I was still finding my own paddles. And now there are more people in the boat with me. Hallelujah!

BUT- to quote JAWS- "We're gonna need a bigger boat." In fact, we need a whole fleet of boats.

Despite the upheaval, despite the heartbreak, despite the onslaught- I feel more patriotic than ever. I felt called to fly an American flag in front of our house for first time this fourth of July. The flag is now resonating with me as something really beautiful and symbolic.

This is the first year our son is old enough for us to begin to explain what Independence Day is. It's so complicated, though. I can't say it's America's birthday- this nation belonged to other peoples first. I can't say it's a celebration of freedom- not everybody is free here. Today is more of a day to recommit. To once again dedicate ourselves to a pursuit of true Independence and Freedom for all. A pursuit that is hundreds of years in the making. Instead of celebrating like the job is done, we celebrate that we still have a job to do.

Happy 4th-

Mandy Cook

Sumner Indivisible