While The Storm Clouds Gather Far Across The Sea

When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:33-34 

I really try not to get too preachy on FH, especially on holidays.  I want the site to be light and fun, and a place to escape.  FH is certainly an escape for me, from a stressful day job, and the struggles and life losses we all feel and experience.  That being said, there a few occasion I break my own rules, today being one of them.  If you dislike political comments, I only do this once or twice a year, so please just continue scrolling and enjoy the images of the stunning Simm by TR Pics.

I've celebrated the 4th of July since the early days of FH. The hot guys in stars and stripes speedos, the majesty of the flag, the red, white and blue proudly held by strong and patriotic men.  I grew up fully believing in the American values and belief, especially those centered around individualism, freedom, equality, and democracy. Values rooted in the nation's founding documents and historical experiences.

The Trump years however, for so many of us, have been like a gut kick to everything we thought we knew.  Individual rights are disappearing faster than we can keep up.  Cruelty has become the guiding principal and every single person, with the possible exception of  rich, white men who cave to his every whim, are vulnerable and expendable. 

I know I'm not the only one feeling this way.  According to Gallup, just 58% of Americans say they’re “very” or “extremely” proud to be American.  This is down from 85% in 2013 and the lowest ever recorded by Gallup organization.   It's not surprising given how so many groups of people are being dehumanized by the orange anus and his followers.  So many lies and propaganda violently shoved out about immigrants, minorities, trans and LBGTQ community members.  

The racism in the MAGA immigration debate is so clearly about racism, it's really impossible to deny.  It took less than a year to go from 'they’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats' to now wanting to feed immigrants to alligators. It's so degusting, yet so obvious, in any other time and place, the racism would be the daily lead story.  Under the orange Cheeto, hospitals get closed while Alligator Alcatraz gets it's grand opening. So many remained silent, and his supporters thought they were safe.  As we  know however, now veterans, the elderly and the poor, are all now also in the crosshairs.

To do posts featuring the usual 'rah rah' and flag waving would be almost inappropriate.  I'm not naturally a fake it til you make it kind of guy.  Still, I do have hope. The No Kings protests were powerful, and timely.  I believe eventually, this ignorant and intellectually inadequate idiot will be gone.  It will take awhile, maybe years to fully rid the country of his stench, but that day will come.  Bullies can only survive with support, and when his time in office draws to a close, most of them will scurry to the next idiot to idolize and hide behind.

The No Kings protests helped motivate me to continue my Independence Day visual celebrations.  My goal this year is not to necessary celebrate what currently is, but what was, and what will be again.  I wanted a reflective tone that reflects the struggles, but celebrates the beauty, the culture and the diversity, that even when under attack, are the true representation of the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

Simm by TR Pics