[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident. It represents the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of South King Media or its staff.]
How I Spent My 4th of July
So, what did YOU do to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday? Did you BBQ with the fam? Take in the family fun down at the marina and beach park? Chill at home wondering whether it’s a great day or a terrible day to acknowledge our experiment in democracy? Me, while I would dearly love to have tried to dunk Councilmember Steinmetz at the dunk tank, instead I took my $5 Des Moines Area Food Bank donation to the rally at Big Catch Plaza. I figured there probably wouldn’t be many there and I wanted to show solidarity with whoever did show up, especially today, it being not just the typical 1st Saturday of the month.
What an encouraging sight to see: 87 folks of all ages (OK, skewing toward seniors, but still…) decided this was important to them, too. And the drivers overwhelmingly appreciated it, we could tell. Exuberant honking, waving, high-5-ing and smiling. This is what being an American means: when we don’t like what’s happening, we are still allowed to say so, loud and proud.
There were new signs – there are always new signs. We look forward to them and I think passers-by do, too. I usually stand by myself on the corner heading down from Normandy Park and try not to push people’s buttons with my sign. The one I get the best reaction from reads, “Only butterflies should be monarchs.”
Today I grabbed a new one, made by organizers (Ellen Hasegawa, I’m looking at you) that said, “Democracy means no kings.” While it was generally met with positive responses, one woman gave me two thumbs down as she went by. Not sure why she didn’t like the statement? A guy waiting at the stop light shouted, “Go Trump! Go America!” and another yelled at me, “We don’t have a king. You have lost your mind!” Obviously, he’s heard the No Kings reference and doesn’t like it. If he’s happy, good for him. He’s an American, too.
I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July, everyone. And I hope you turn out to vote in November, for whomever you think is dedicated to the principles of democracy. Oh, and the food bank got $207 in donations, because our neighbors are hurting. And we care about our neighbors, whether they were born here or not.
– Victoria Andrews
Photo credits: Victoria Andrews, except for the “Land of the free-ish” sign courtesy Ellen Hasegawa.
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