Our Dumb Country

It’s the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (kind of, mostly) and I’m just not feeling it this year. Is it just me, or do things seem kind of “off” in the United States these days? Can’t put my finger on it. Normally I try to do my optimistic thing where I stress that it’s the idea of the country that we celebrate, not the reality of it. I even made a go of it at the end of May. But it seems especially hollow now, when ICE raids are still happening all across a nation founded by immigrants, and built on the idea of welcoming anyone who wants to participate in the ideals of the country, regardless of their ethnicity. We keep hearing story after story of people who’ve been living and working in this country for years, who keep being betrayed by this country’s corrupt government. Often abducted and taken from their homes and families while they’re reporting to immigration offices, trying to do it the so-called “right” way. It’s an atrocity every day, but especially on a…