Good piece.

Mourning and grieving are important for moving forward. Yet there is so many wounds that reach beyond the pandemic. All of the divisiveness has been here under the surface for years are now visible warts awaiting healing.

Slavery that has never ended for people of color (since the freeing of slaves in 1886) but continued with Jim Crow and systemic slavery and includes those with non-binary genders. Income inequality has driven a deeper wedge. Homelessness has run rampant and shows no sign of reducing any time soon.

There have been 93 wars since The Revolutionary War of 1776 - throughout the 17, 18, 19, and 2000s; and some of which are continuing to this day that the USA has been involved in, some with very good cause and many not.

I stopped celebrating the 4th of July 10 years ago when I saw how our government has been oppressing other nations and our own peoples in an increasingly blatant manner since the 1970s.

The GOP and Bill Clinton's move of the Dems to the right of center during his 2nd term has been bleeding our country for the benefit of the 1%.

Mourn, heal, and peacefully fight.