The 4th of July

 

… is Louis Armstrong’s birthday. Well, later they found a piece of paper that said it was August 4, 1901, instead of July 4^th, 1900, but Louis stuck with the latter and so do I. After all, who better to represent Independence Day than the man who embodied and spread the joy of authentic freedom in every note he played or sang? He didn’t own other people or enslave his own children or say one thing and practice another as Thomas Jefferson did. He was the real deal, showing how soulful notes birthed in the soil of blood, sweat and tears can rise triumphantly to the freedom of the Spirit. Just listen to West End Blues if you don’t believe me. July 4^th as Pops’ birthday is a holiday worthy of celebration. 

 

But that other one, the rah-rah of fireworks symbolizing the freedoms promised in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, has a bitter taste in light of the Supreme Court supporting the death of democracy, the unbelievable support a convicted felon still has amidst all the evidence that he is a traitor to the Constitution he swore to uphold and the sheer astonishment that he is a serious candidate poised to lead us like lemmings over the cliff’s edge. 

 

I have quoted many, many times H. G.Wells’ warning that “we are in a race between education and catastrophe" and never have those warning bells rung louder. As a teacher, I feel it yet deeper and point my fingers at all in my profession who have allowed ignorance to flourish. I call on those who have had their mouths taped shut by school boards demanding that they continue to hide the truth to rip it off and speak out. I hold to account all those who continue to try to stupefy the population with mere distraction and sensation and unchecked Hollywood violence and unthinking social media ranting. Our 20^th century history is riddled with fears that Communism would destroy our beloved freedoms, but it turns out that the “Red Scare” was not nearly as threatening as what Walt Kelly’s Pogo said a long time ago: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

 

And if we are to sincerely celebrate the 4^th of July, we would do well to listen to the words of the creators and defenders of democracy. (See below). Please celebrate the day by listening to Louis Armstrong, sharing it with your kids, telling some of the story of how he came to be and renewing your efforts to educate yourselves and others. If you do, Pops will call out:

 

“Oh, yeaah!”