Independence Day Belongs to Communities, Not to Any Single Leader
By
Amal Naj
Summary
A personal essay reflecting on over 50 years of celebrating the Fourth of July as an immigrant and citizen. The author argues that Independence Day is fundamentally about community and collective celebration — barbecues, parades, and shared joy among neighbors and strangers — rather than about individual leaders or abstract political concepts like "freedom" and "liberty." The piece critiques the tendency to center national holidays around singular figures (implicitly Donald Trump) and makes the case that America's strength and potential for renewal lies in its communities, not in any one leader.
Source
Rolling StoneIndependence Day Belongs to Communities, Not to Any Single Leaderrollingstone.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledBut rarely was there any talk of 'freedom' or 'liberty,' much less the Declaration of Independence.
What I remember most was the communal revelry: neighbors and strangers laughing, sharing stories, sharing food, and marking the day together.
It is only through community that we can remake America.
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