By Cat Poland
Better Off Said
I like fireworks. For a limited amount of time. Done by a professional pyrotechnic. But this week-long, all-hours, bang-pop-boom fest gets old. People are still blaming Biden for the cost of groceries while blowing up a weeks’ worth of food money in a single hour.
But it’s more than just our unhinged excitement for sparkly gunpowder that has me feeling less than celebratory this Fourth of July.
“None of us are free until all of us are free,” is a well-known civil rights rallying cry, attributed to several people, including Fannie Lou Hamer, Emma Lazarus, and Martin Luther King Jr. It was true when it was originally penned as early as 1883, and it’s just as true today.
Because while we blow up miniature bombs, fire up frankfurters and burgers on the grill, and guzzle “patriotic” themed beverages, all in the name of “freedom,” we’ve actually witnessed our rights and freedoms being rolled back, not advanced forward. In fact, the United States isn’t even in the world’s top 10 countries for expansive freedoms and rights (according to the Cato Institute).
World War II veteran speaks his mind
The frustration I’m feeling about pretending everything is fine and dandy when it very much is not isn’t new to me, nor is it unfamiliar to many, many Americans. I’m reminded of a World War II veteran named Jack, whom I had the honor of interviewing when I was doing freelance writing for a senior living community. I wrote his story, but I wrote also wrote this story about the experience”
“A moment. A split second to decide if you’re going to speak up, or remain silent. To be submissive, or subversive. To keep the peace, or shine a light on injustice.
“I recently witnessed a simple ceremony that, if gone as planned, would have ended with polite clapping and subdued smiles. But instead, a moment turned monumental. Three elderly gentlemen sat in a row, star-spangled cloth creations draped gently across their laps. They’d each received Quilts of Valor from the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Historical Society. Each gentleman was given the opportunity to make a statement.
“‘Thank you,’ said one. The other added that their military service had been ‘interesting.’ But the third, the gentleman of color in the middle, had a little more to say.
“This World War II veteran recalled a time when black soldiers weren’t allowed to advance past ‘seaman’ rank in the Navy, and mostly served as ‘steward’s mates.’ Or basically, ‘the help’ in a uniform. He recounted being on a ship off the coast of Japan and coming under attack. His leg was permanently injured, but he was grateful for his life.
“‘With all of that, I came back home, and because of the color of my skin, in Callaway County, I couldn’t sit in the downstairs of the theater. I couldn’t go to some places because of the color of my skin. So I came back from the Navy, and I was disgruntled. I was a second-class citizen. I wanted to let you know that with all the good that we talk about, ladies and gentleman, there’s a side of it I participated in. But I just wanted you to know. I’m not the person to say our armed forces were great or outstanding, not for a lot of us. We had to make it, though.’
“Stunned, I wiped away a tear, and just stood in awe of what I’d just witnessed. Valor. In its truest form. To not only serve a country that disregarded your humanity, but to seize an opportunity to shed light on injustice, a sometimes terrifying act.
“Thank you, Jack, for not only your service to your country in World War II, but for your service to your country now. A country that wants to ‘move on’ from talk of systemic racism and injustice. A country that wants to pretend these stains on our history have been washed clean. A country that doesn’t comprehend that degrading entire races and groups of people doesn’t undo itself in one generation, two, or even three or more.”
Same sad song, too many verses to count
Much like Jack experienced discrimination after sacrificing his safety and serving his country, LGBTQIA+ service members have been left out to dry by our government. Approximately 1,000 transgender service members were separated from the military, losing their benefits, retirements, etc., under Department of Defense orders in 2025. And it’s estimated that up to 114,000 service members were ousted during the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era between 1994 and 2011.
And now, those same veterans, the ones who served their country selflessly, and just happened to be trans or gay or lesbian while doing it, now have to listen to fireworks being blasted in celebration of “freedom.” Whose freedom? Certainly not theirs. And what an insult to injury if these blasts are also activating combat-related PTSD.
In spite of my spite, I will muster up some kind of half-hearted Fourth of July cookout this year. We’ll set off a few fireworks. And I will forever acknowledge that selective freedom isn’t something to celebrate.
Cat Poland is a local writer. More of her work can be found at substack.com/@catpoland.