Social issues weigh heavy amid holiday

US to celebrate the nation’s 242nd birthday

BOSTON — In these complex times, a simple question about the quintessential US holiday of fireworks, cookouts and parades isn’t always so simple.

As the United States was preparing to celebrate the nation’s 242nd birthday, some feel a deeper sense of patriotism. For others, the social issues roiling the country weigh heavy this Independence Day.

Standing in front of Boston’s Faneuil Hall on Tuesday, tour guide Cara McIntyre said she takes special pride this time of the year in recounting the courage of US colonists like Samuel Adams, who called for rebellion against the English crown in fiery speeches at the historic hall.

But she laments that US people’s ability to respectfully debate the toughest issues of the day and to disagree without being disagreeable seems hopelessly lost.

“This bitter divisiveness of the last decade, I think the Founding Fathers would be really sad about that,” said the 57-year-old Massachusetts native as she greeted passersby in her floral-print, colonialera dress.

“Social media has made bullies of all of us. People say things there that they’d never say to someone’s face.”

In Chicago, Philip Wiley, a 77-year-old retired public school counselor, is blunt about what’s ailing the nation.

“A lot of it has to do with the present administration in Washington,” Wiley said as he stopped to admire a massive flag hanging from the city’s iconic Wrigley Building on Tuesday.

Best of times

But in Alabama, retired truck driver Floyd Champion is downright upbeat. He views these as the best of times in the country.

Champion plans to mark the holiday the way he spends most days — selling watermelons, tomatoes, corn, plums and other produce from the back of his truck along a highway about 50 kilometers south of Birmingham, Alabama.

“I know it’s a big holiday and I love the holiday because it’s our independence,” said Champion, 77, of rural Shelby County. “But I have to sell this stuff, and I make money.”

Angela Limb was born and raised in Alaska’s largest city, but because of her Mexican heritage, she said she’s had strangers come up to her at the supermarket and tell her go back to her own country.

She’s happy to be a US citizen and plans to observe July 4 accordingly.

“I celebrate it,” she said. “I’m wanting my kids to have pride in their country and to treat everyone the same.”

Vietnam War veteran and retired US Air Force colonel Thomas Moe, in Lancaster, Ohio, said the holiday should be a day to appreciate the differences that make the nation great.

“At a time when we seem to be at each other’s throats more than ever, I think we need to step back a little bit,” said the 74-year-old.

In Portland, Maine, chef Brad Messier agreed with the sentiments, but said the country’s tribalism is too great to ignore.

“This is a holiday that, in theory, brings us together as a country but, in reality, we’re still camped out on our two very separate sides,” he said at a downtown Portland farmers’ market. “For me, it seems to illustrate the glaring divides that we have. What we come together for is very superficial. How much does going and seeing fireworks really bring people together?”

What we come together for is very superficial. How much does going and seeing fireworks really bring people together?” Brad Messier,