July 4th

Freedom

By Langston Hughes

Freedom will not come

Today, this year

            Nor ever

Through compromise and fear.

 

I have as much right

As the other fellow has

            To stand

On my two feet

And own the land.

 

I tire so of hearing people say,

Let things take their course.

Tomorrow is another day.

I do not need my freedom when I’m dead.

I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.

            Freedom

            Is a strong seed

            Planted

            In a great need.

            I live here, too.

            I want my freedom

            Just as you. 

I pray for the day when each can walk with freedom in their two feet

and without judgement and cruelty.

Where we can live side by side and acknowledge our differences,

but celebrate together our similarities.

Let's embrace our fellow man, woman, and child with our arms and hearts,

for now figuratively with masks on.

I am reminded daily why I wear that mask for each of you.

In that we are free to live another day.

Thank you friends for stopping by.

May your weekend be blessed with joy

as you shelter in place.

Added after the fact, but to relevant not to share:

"For this is a time for courage and a time for challenge. Neither conformity nor complacency will do. Neither the fanatics nor the faint-hearted are needed. And our duty as a party is not to our party alone, but to the Nation, and, indeed, to all mankind. Our duty is not merely the preservation of political power but the preservation of peace and freedom.

So let us not be petty when our cause is so great. Let us not quarrel amongst ourselves when our Nation’s future is at stake. Let us stand together with renewed confidence in our cause–united in our heritage of the past and our hopes for the future — and determined that this land we love shall lead all mankind into new frontiers of peace and abundance." - President John F Kennedy, undelivered speech to Democratic Party of Texas, 11/22/63