By Richard Blumenthal
On the morning of July Fourth, I always awaken grateful, expectant, and inspired. Grateful for the incredible privilege of living in the United States. Expectant about a day to be filled with enthusiastic parades across Connecticut, and parties at home. And inspired by the greatness of America— diverse, raucous, but resolute.
It is a day to remember the tremendous promise of a new nation, the ideals of our founding, and the resilience that has steadied America for more than 200 years.
This Fourth will be different— no parades or parties— but no less special. Maybe even more so.
In these past months, I’ve been deeply moved by the courage and strength of Americans in the face of hardship and heartbreak caused by the COVID-19 health care emergency and economic crisis. The people of Connecticut have stepped up to care for each other tirelessly and boundlessly.
I am especially thankful for Americans in uniform who protect our nation from foreign adversaries, but also millions of frontline workers – doctors, nurses, hospital employees, law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, grocery workers, truck drivers, sanitation personnel and other heroes – who have continued to report for duty and safeguard us.
We should be inspired by them and by all who have served and sacrificed, giving back bravely, without any expectation of applause or acclaim. They embody uniquely American values: when tested by adversity and menacing adversaries, we come together. Out of many, one.
I’ve also been powerfully impressed by cries for justice and an end to racism by peaceful demonstrations around Connecticut, including the fifteen or more that I’ve attended personally. Young people leading them are at the forefront of a new movement, seeking reform in the spirit of revolutionary Americans who came before them.
The millions who have marched in our streets and communities remind us of just how much work remains to fulfill our founding promise – a promise that was, when it was written, limited by race, gender, and class and has been broken far too often, for far too many, in the generations since.
Our country is built on the ideals of freedom and justice – compelling us to recognize inadequacies and disparities in generations of health care, economic opportunity, housing, and police accountability. These persistent inequalities are starkly evident amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed the lives of Black Americans and people of color at dramatically high rates.
As July Fourth reminds us, America is always aspirational. We can do better. We must do better. And I believe we will do better.
We are still debating and disagreeing, enjoying the precious freedoms they fought for and protected by the rule of law. The right to say what we wish, worship as we please, live with privacy free of government intrusion— such liberties, among others should never be taken for granted.
The quiet of this Fourth will give me— and I hope my colleagues in the Senate— some time to reflect on what values truly define us. It should lead us to return energized to seek common ground and action worthy of our great nation.
Please keep wearing your masks and maintain physical distancing. I wish each of you a safe and healthy summer!
Richard Blumenthal is a United States Senator for CT.
