That’s what The News & Observer has as a front-page Independence Day message. Right there above the fold, in display type, is the quote from the Declaration of Independence about “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But the photo below it is of an immigrant from Togo who came to the U.S. but has found, according to the caption, “it hasn’t lived up to his dreams, but he hasn’t given up hope for his children.” But the man in the picture looks perfectly happy with his decision to come here, acknowledging the risk but looking at the upside. The pessimistic characterization seems to come from The N&O‘s copy desk.
I can just imagine the editorial meeting where this story idea was born: “Hey, our great patriotic holiday is coming up so let’s do a story showing that America isn’t really what it’s cracked up to be. We don’t want to do anything corny, like pretend that we’re the greatest country in the world or anything. And, oh, by the way, no damn flags on the front page. This isn’t Fox News, for cryin’ out loud.”
Despite that downer, I’m a happy American, and my flag is flying on the humble abode in Durham. And while there are always trials and tribulations, we work through them and come out stronger. We celebrate freedom today, not guaranteed outcomes. Happy Independence Day.
UPDATE: The New York Times also puts a damper on the Fourth with an editorial that can, at best, be called grudging:
Our own domestic history has made it clear how deeply acculturated that original idea of freedom really was, but also how difficult it has been, and still is, to win political and economic freedom for every American.
You can replace “political and economic freedom for every American” with “economic justice” to understand what the NYT is really saying, and lump their expressed support for “that original idea of freedom” with their claims to “support the troops.”
Since we’re on editorials, The N&O‘s editorial today seems flippant for such an important day, with lots of “you knows,” folksy informal contractions like “’em,” and the use of Aunt Mae and Pop. And is it just me or does this sound more like an editorial that should have appeared on Memorial Day, with such an emphasis on the sacrifices of the military rather than our freedoms? Any way to get the war into the discussion, I guess.
