As Americans think about the meaning of the Fourth of July, what do they think they are celebrating? Independence from England? Perhaps. But we needed to win a war for that to become a reality. As revelers light up fireworks, are they thinking about the birth of the United States? Again, perhaps. But were we really united? From 1776 until 1787 we were really 13 separate states held together by a fragile document called the Articles of Confederation. We were not very united at all.
Recently, we had a decision from the Supreme Court that stated an injunction in one federal district was not honored nationwide. Is anything honored nationwide anymore? States differ on so many issues. Some have the death penalty, some do not. Some have income tax, some do not. States differ in how they license their professionals, in offering health care, in access to abortions, in their criminal justice systems, in driver’s licensing requirements, etc. States also have different attitudes about what parts of the federal constitution they will follow.
Maybe it is time to call it quits. We as a nation do not agree on what values America stands for. Do we value human life? Do we value the Bill of Rights? Do we understand what brought us together in the first place?
Americans were never totally unified, but we used to agree on things like due process, getting vaccinated for the public good and sacrifice to help our neighbors. We used to believe in science. If we can never be united on these things, is it false to call ourselves, “the United States of America”? Perhaps the Articles of Confederation reflects more truly who we are.
Jan Goldberg. Riverside
Fly the flag
Two years ago, my retirement home faced another holiday without the Stars and Stripes waving atop the pole outside. Its long absence wasn’t due to lack of flag — we have a reserve — but difficulty in replacing the broken rope to raise it. Commercially they’re scarce and expensive. Or so management told me, before defaulting on both Memorial and Independence Day and Flag Day in between. I wondered if I was getting the runaround. It wasn’t until September that Old Glory reappeared for Labor Day to renew my faith in the landlord.
Flag or no, such occasions prompt me to reflect on the singular design and meaning behind America’s calling card, 13 alternating red and white stripes for the original colonies. Red symbolizes courage, the willingness to sacrifice and the blood shed by those who fought for our freedoms. White represents innocence. The stars signify each state; the blue backdrop denotes vigilance.
It’s an often-forgotten elementary school civics lesson. And sometimes, a tonic for our domestic gripes. We should remember, flaws aside, the American institution flies just as high as its colors.
Tom Gregg, Niles
Stick to the facts with American history
Almost every July Fourth,the owners of Hobby Lobby, ultra-conservative evangelicals, take out full page ads in numerous major newspapers around the country attempting to convince us that the U.S. was meant to be a Christian nation. They trot out a myriad of quotes from “believers” from the 18th century and use those to support their argument. Despite their efforts,the physical historical evidence refutes that claim. For example:
- Neither the Declaration of Independence, nor the Constitution, references the words Jesus, Christianity or the Bible. The Founding Fathers had the opportunity to enshrine a specific religion into these documents, but instead,they went to extraordinary lengths to make certain all religions, as well as none, were protected. One of the reasons our forefathers came to this land was for religious freedom. To deny others that same right would be the height of hypocrisy.
- In the Treaty of Tripoli, which was passed unanimously by the Senate without debate and signed by President John Adams, Article 11 specifically states, that the U.S. is NOT a Christian nation. In fact it emphasizes no enmity toward any religion.
While this is very upsetting to far-right Christians, if they expect people to accept biblical tales of the supernatural, they could at least bolster their credibility by telling the truth about something so glaringly obvious.
Wes Dickson, Orland Park
Strengthening environmental protections for Illinoisans
While the Trump administration rolls back environmental protections, weakens worker rights, restricts access to health care, and attacks individual freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, Illinois is fighting back.
Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul have led a vigorous defense of Illinoisans — challenging unconstitutional federal funding cuts, defending veterans, protecting immigrants, preserving access to gender-affirming care and standing up for diversity, equity and inclusion.
The governor and the General Assembly also have recruited companies to the state and pursued an economic growth agenda that proves it’s possible to be pro-business, pro-labor, pro-environment and pro-public health.
Senate Bill 328, recently approved by the General Assembly and awaiting Pritzker’s consideration, is part of the ongoing effort to level the playing field for everyday Illinoisans and stands in sharp contrast to the political dysfunction of Washington, D.C., where the prerogatives of the powerful and privileged are all that matters. This targeted legislative measure empowers Illinois residents harmed by toxic substances to pursue full accountability, including from out-of-state companies that do business in Illinois.
The bill offers an additional measure of protection for people exposed to toxic substances like asbestos, benzyne or vinyl chloride and who suffer serious illness or death. They deserve the opportunity to seek justice in our courts from the businesses responsible, no matter where those companies are. Under state law, businesses that aren’t headquartered here can evade responsibility for their negligence.
Support for SB 328 is broad and credible. It includes labor unions represented by the Illinois AFL-CIO, Citizen Action Illinois, the state’s largest public interest organization, and environmental advocates coordinated through the Illinois Environmental Council. These groups may not always agree, but they stand united here because protecting people from toxic harm is a shared top priority for those advocating on behalf of workers, consumers and the environment.
The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association urges the governor to sign SB 328 into law and send the clear message that while Washington tips the scales of justice toward the wealthy and powerful, Illinois will do what’s within its power to tip them back.
Timothy J. Cavanagh, founder, Cavanagh Sorich Law Group, and president, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Defense of Trump’s action in Iran nonsensical
I was surprised and puzzled to read the headline and then the text of Debra Saunders’ praise of the Donald Trump bombing attack on Iran. The huge force of military aircraft and the quantity of weaponry alone contradict the headline “sparingly” — though I understand her claim with Trump that with a single blow he has brought “peace” where she quotes Trump’s press secretary making the false statement that other presidents wanted to do such a bombing but “didn’t have the guts.”
It was, of course, Trump who nullified the arrangement that other presidents and diplomats had restored, which had some potential for continuing peacefully.
Trump’s actions have been unconstitutional and illegal, and I have been wondering about the military personnel who carried them out instead of refusing to join Trump’s criminality.
I suppose that the Sun-Times intent on publishing Saunders is to introduce your readers to this kind of skillfully written falsehood. Indeed, I’ll follow up by looking for other reports from that NATO meeting.
Edna Heatherington, Glen Ellyn
Fake news
Shame on the Sun-Times for publishing a Donald Trump puff piece with “Alice in Wonderland” overtones by Debra Saunders, a writer from the Las Vegas Review Journal — a nondescript publication.
Trump wants to use the military sparingly? He used a large military presence to “quell” a peaceful protest march in California. He is using the military to beef up the border, ie, using it for domestic law enforcement, for which it was not designated. He forced the military to put on a multimillion dollar parade in honor of his birthday. And he bombed Iran without the congressional oversight that our Constitution demands.
“NATO leaders are praising Trump for pushing them to increase their NATO contributions.”
Is she kidding?
It’s fine to present both sides of an issue, but this was a piece of garbage with few actual facts.
Carol Kraines, Deerfield
Fractured friendship could leave Musk packing
Now that the great presidential “best friends” members are no longer friends, there may be some harsh responses.
Elon Musk is looking at opposing Donald Trump-favored candidates, whereas Trump is threatening to deport Musk. The president has stated, that he will “have to take a look” into a possible deportation.
Just a small question: Does the “Alligator Alcatraz” venue have a penthouse suite?
Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia
More Catholics need to step up for Gaza
There’s been a lot of excitement in the Catholic community with the election of a Chicago-born pope. Like Pope Francis before him, Pope Leo XIV explicitly calls for a ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza. As a recovering Catholic (or as a friend humorously calls me, an apostate), I wonder how this message is disseminated in local parishes across the archdiocese.
In the public sphere, I have observed a coalition of other religious traditions actively calling out the ongoing Nakba (catastrophe) against Palestinians on social media, in the news and at the rallies, events and discussions I have attended. However, I have yet to see or hear of a similar Catholic effort. I am certain there are individual Catholics joining in protests, calling upon elected officials to divest from the Israeli war machine and making contributions to humanitarian aid organizations. These folks are living out Catholic social teaching and are putting their faith into action.
But as a body politic of around 2 million who are taught to give of their time, talent and treasure and to stand for human life and dignity, where are the Catholics in this fight? How is the Archdiocese of Chicago actively engaged in solidarity with Palestinians and other communities who are being erased by government policies, forced displacement and ethnic cleansing?
Evan Callan, Uptown
LaHood is in la-la land
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood pretends that “nobody will be hurt” by cuts to Medicaid and other programs. I guess that makes me and hundreds of thousands of others (mentioned in a recent Sun-Times’ story), a “nobody.” My family and friends and associates will be hurt, which is why dozens of us have been protesting at LaHood’s offices, trying to get him to see the very real faces of Medicaid consumers and workers. It’s appalling that LaHood is pursuing criminal charges against me and another peaceful protester, rather than engaging in real discussion of health care needs.
Fran Tobin, coordinator, Alliance for Community Services, Rogers Park
Fluoride is fundamental
Read this morning that Calgary, Canada, has added fluoride to its drinking water after deciding to halt it in 2011. Studies indicated that the number of cavities in children have gone up since fluoride was banned.
Despite recent legislation in Utah and Florida to prohibit fluoride, I continue to see it as an important mineral to combat tooth decay.
After all, as a 75-year-old I still have all my teeth and I attribute this to brushing, flossing, drinking fluoridated water and abstaining from sodas.
Larry Vigon, Jefferson Park