As an alternative, I used to be impressed by patriotic toddlers waving flags, singing and sharing their American desires. Eighteen rising kindergartners, palms over hearts, recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Then, they belted out each lyric of “This Land is Your Land,” Woody Guthrie’s World Battle II-era anthem adopted by my technology’s antiwar, civil rights activists.
They had been just like the Lady Liberty inscription wearing miniature caps and robes. Positive, not “your drained, your poor, your huddled plenty” (a personal preschool in one of many nation’s wealthiest counties), however a small world melting pot — not a Mary or John within the bunch. Adhavan, Aditya, Atticus, Blakely, Charvita, Christian, Claire, Colin, Everett, Fiona, Louie, Mars, Nishka, Noah, Samara, Arzoi, Shikhar, Viaansh. Newly potty-trained, totally variety skilled.
However then, Loudoun County was floor zero for petty squabbles about kids’s books and loos, hardly the oppressions that tossed tens of millions of immigrants to America’s shores.
Most heartening was listening to “A Scholar Commentary on the Future,” every 4-year-old declaring what they wish to be after they develop up. A builder, a zookeeper, two scientists. A number of extra referred to as into public service: police officer, firefighter, astronaut. Six medical doctors. One “child.” A “hospital,” and a financially savvy “plastic surgeon.” Three children surprisingly embraced rewarding, albeit boring, careers as dentists. One other: life within the wild as a tiger. Our granddaughter dreamed huge. A natural-born schmoozer, she correctly opted to not observe grandpa’s steps into lobbying. Once I questioned why she selected a career some may think about a stretch, she unhesitatingly, with out rationalization, doubled down on “unicorn.”
Some solutions sounded rehearsed, not surprising in a area the place excessive attaining dad and mom keep up all night time on elementary college science initiatives. As teenagers, these grads may finally aspire to grow to be the following LeBron James or Taylor Swift. Our resilient democracy can survive a number of further celeb heroes (please, no extra social media influencers).
America won’t be on the eve of destruction, however public opinion polls assist Merle Haggard’s view that the “good occasions” are “actually over for good.” I’m betting the opposite method, on these budding residents and their worthy dream jobs inside attain in what stays the land of alternative. If we are able to solely maintain the grown-ups out of the best way.
Simply because it’s been mentioned, “Dance as if nobody is watching,” have fun the Fourth of July as if it’s the final for the US. There will probably be no guard rails, nobody to say, “Sir, you may’t do that.” Armored autos will tear up Pennsylvania Avenue. Donald Trump’s generals will bow and kiss his ring. There will probably be no cause to have fun democracy, since it would now not exist. So Individuals of all beliefs, non secular or secular, patriots or MAGAs, “Embrace your independence” as a result of, come November, our democratic republic will probably be a MAGA autocracy, and all celebrations will probably be homage to the king. Except …
Constructing a ‘extra excellent union’
The Put up’s June 30 front-page article “As isolation and pessimism mount, trainer tries to get teenagers to the polls,” about Shannon Salter’s civics class in Allentown, Pa., paints a strong portrait. It highlights the challenges that our democracy faces, in addition to the challenges that educators face in a society the place belief has waned and the place the results of the pandemic linger on education. For the reason that article’s publication, civics educators have informed us they really feel heard and seen.
The skeptical youth of Allentown, together with the tens of millions who report feeling alienated from establishments, deserve pressing consideration. We’d nicely be dropping a technology’s need to assist construct a “extra excellent union.” Younger persons are withdrawing. They voice disappointment in the way forward for our nation’s prospects in lecture rooms similar to Ms. Salter’s on daily basis. Within the post-pandemic setting, our youths want quick, thrilling methods to take part. A strong civic training cultivates a collection of habits of citizenship — listening to others, realizing learn how to disagree productively, discerning reality and, after all, voting. These expertise, mixed with data and perspective, construct company and hope. Past that, we have to give younger folks alternatives to become involved in our constitutional democracy and present them that it may well work. The way forward for our nation is on the road.
Louise Dubè, Cambridge, Mass.
The author is chief govt of iCivics.
The Put up’s glorious article missed a vital level. Shannon Salter’s college students and different nonvoters have seen so many troubles persist for therefore lengthy that they don’t imagine voting could make a distinction. Nevertheless, latest occasions (particularly the Supreme Court docket’s selections over the previous a number of years and rising wealth inequality over many years) ought to make very clear that failing to vote invitations backsliding. It must be remembered that, when issues are dangerous, they will nonetheless worsen. Solely after guarding in opposition to backsliding can we aspire once more to make issues higher.
Judith Herzfeld, Newton, Mass.
Democracy v. the Supreme Court docket
Throughout final 12 months’s Fourth of July celebration, my 18-year-old daughter mentioned to me, “Why are we celebrating July Fourth? Our nation is so tousled.” I used to be very aggravated together with her for not being patriotic. The Supreme Court docket determination on presidential immunity, nonetheless, has brought about me to agree together with her.
The choice, disguised in authorized scholarship, demonstrates the court docket’s partisan ideology. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch mentioned this will probably be a choice for the ages, however it’s clear that this determination is for the advantage of one particular person: Donald Trump. The court docket mentioned a president deserves the presumption of innocence for official acts, whatever the intent or profit from that act. In sensible phrases, this might imply a president appoints a overseas ambassador, an official act, on a bribe. It might imply Mr. Trump’s actions — telling the Justice Division to conduct investigations into bogus claims of election fraud or telling states to submit pretend electors — are thought of official acts.
To cite Justice Sonia Sotomayor in her dissenting opinion: “This new official-acts immunity now ‘lies about like a loaded weapon,’ for any President that needs to put his personal pursuits, his personal political survival, or his personal monetary acquire, above the pursuits of the Nation.” The irony right here is that the Supreme Court docket determination appears to be saying {that a} president’s actions have to be shielded from a vindictive successor — but, this rule might defend Mr. Trump, who publicly vowed to prosecute his successor, if he turns into a vindictive successor.
The court docket has violated a cornerstone of democracy, that nobody is above the regulation. It’s a devastating blow to our type of authorities. The times of holding a president accountable, as we did with Richard M. Nixon, are gone. The imperial presidency is now formally right here.
Salvatore Misuraca, Washington
Individuals should instantly transfer to guard our democracy and the rule of regulation. Two constitutional amendments are desperately wanted. The primary would reverse the Supreme Court docket determination on presidential immunity and make clear that presidents and all public officers are equal earlier than the regulation, not immune from prosecution and conviction. The second would make clear the fitting of all Individuals to vote in free and truthful elections that aren’t dominated by the ability of cash.
This may require each nice management and vigorous grass-roots organizing. Authorized and political leaders — similar to Decide J. Michael Luttig, retired justice Stephen G. Breyer, former consultant Liz Cheney and former Georgia consultant Stacey Abrams — ought to shortly draft bipartisan constitutional amendments alongside these traces. This have to be linked to a broad-based marketing campaign involving tens of millions of Individuals in becoming a member of to guard our rights by utilizing the democratic procedures for amending the Structure that our Founding Fathers offered to guard the soul of America.
Relating to the June 24 article “A twinkling spectacle attracts gasps nightly in a darkish Utah farm area”:
You don’t should journey to Utah to see spectacular firefly shows. You may come to Laytonsville, Md. We’ve got the privilege of viewing what are generally known as synchronous fireflies, considered one of just a few species of fireflies which can be recognized to synchronize their flashing mild patterns. They shine collectively proper in our yard, despite the fact that the web means that this species solely is in Pennsylvania and North and South Carolina.
Since solstice, each night time we have now been mesmerized by 1000’s of lights in our tree cover, from the bottom to 50 ft within the air. They flash in unison, a tremendous show of coordinated crescendos till a spectacular frenzied finale low to the bottom as they start to descend to mate with their counterparts in our grass — like ocean waves of sunshine illuminating the forest ground past our fence in an virtually musical dance of sunshine.
Ray Schoenke, Laytonsville, Md.
