Oh, my. Just finished a Zoom call with family, east coast and west coast.

[Samrob]

We are 99% active patriots, mixed races, mixed religions, oldest 95, youngest 18 months.

By unanimous vote, my family just cancelled the 4th of July. I had that thought earlier today but almost tongue-in-cheek. I was amazed at my family's collective anger. 67 members voted. Long discussion but mostly ranting about SCOTUS, MAGAs, J6. Everyone stayed on the call except for three who dropped in and left their proxy vote with spouses.

We are a close, loving family and now an angry family. No celebrating of the 4th. Two watch parties are planned, board games with family. I don't know how or if the entire family will pull it off. I know some are going to allow the kids to watch fireworks displays on TV but no one is joining in organized fireworks gatherings

So much for the hot dogs and hamburgers in my freezer intended for this year's celebration. No matter how bad things got with Trump, we always celebrated the being a citizen of a great democracy warts and all. We always felt things could get better and that we were part of something special. Sigh... I think SCOTUS was the straw with its decisions on Roe and the EPA. Lots of young environmentalists in the family.

Sobering 4th to all.

[wryter2000]

1. I hear you

Are they willing to do stuff to GOTV? At least some of them. I spoke to several people in TX today who needed help figuring out how to register to vote. It may not change anything in TX, but in other states, we might make a difference.

[Bucky]

5. Don't give up on Texas

We're trying down here, honestly!! Beto O'Rourke is a master class in the 50 state strategy. He's showing us how to hit hard and never retreat

We may not win, but when you're fighting a fire, every drop of water that goes to the underbrush can slow down the inferno.

[wryter2000]

8. I haven't given up

I really like calling Texas. As a northerner, I’ve found I really like calling southern states. So far, my favorite is Georgia, but Texas is a close second. Even the few Republicans I got today were nice.

[czarjak]

2. When we tried Zoom from multiple locations with all the Fam...

It was just people talking over each other.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. Couldn't you all just get together and have a family cook-out/picnic?

Make it about the family, not July 4th.

I don't know you, but I'm distressed that your entire family would forego this get together.

[Samrob]

6. We could but nobody wants to this year. Pricey travel and high cost of food are downers.

We are mostly "comfortable" but by no means rich. Young families with kids struggling a little and some are unemployed. Foregoing the BIG celebration we usually have seemed to be just fine with everyone...at the least everyone on the call.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. I understand.

Didn't realize that travelling to the July 4th thing was an issue. Seems like a very sensible decision was made, and each family can simply do what they want at home that day.

[Scrivener7]

16. And if you miss the get-together, pick a random day and do it when prices aren't as

gouge-y and it doesn't feel like it is supporting this crap.

We all need to have our time away from it doing things that sustain us. Otherwise we will exhaust ourselves and not be able to fight this. If your family is one of those things, it would be a shame not to get that support.

Also, it would get rid of the stuff in your fridge.

But I think it's a good decision.

[myohmy2]

4. "...the hot dogs and hamburgers in my freezer..."

...that might be part of the problem...

...not so around here...

...fireworks are popping, grills are warming up, people are traveling despite the airlines and the price of gas...

...most people I know want to get away from pandemics, politics, the economy and just have a good old American time...

...I don't necessarily agree, but waving the flag and enjoying each other's company on the 4th seems like the right thing to do...

...try freezing some porterhouse steaks next year..

....

[SharonAnn]

9. I cancelled my participation in our community's float in the parade.

I would have had to wear all black and just didn't want to do that. But could not have worn red, white, and blue this year.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

10. Maybe this 4th should be American Renewal Day.

Gather to make calls, send postcards, reach out to Democratic clubs, compose new folk songs....

What else?

[zipplewrath]

11. Understand what the revolution was about

In many ways the right has hijacked our history. The American revolution was about self government. Today that seems ordinary. But at the time it was unfathomable. We have now entered a period where it is no longer about self government (democracy) but about minority denomination of our government. The minority will lie to get control of government. The next election will be a test case where GOP lawmakers hope to define results rather than determine them from the votes.

[wnylib]

12. I was feeling this way for a while, but

then I decided, "Why should I let the MAGAts take over the holiday? Why let them rob me of celebrating what democracy should be?"

Besides, it might be the last chance we get to celebrate it without the fascists in complete control. Make the most of what we've got while we've got it.

And bust our asses off to defeat fascism before the next 4th.

[MerryBlooms]

13. I'm sorry. For me, it's a work day, I'm on 7 days a week for a while.

I work most holidays, so my sister and I make do. I get off early enough to see fireworks display at the high school and listen to the high school band play. Probably take my sister and client for that. I don't like driving at night anymore, but we'll see.

Take care, hope you enjoy your weekend, even though it's not as you hoped. ❤🤍💙

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Will you adopt the rest of us?

[Fresh_Start]

15. My immediate family is also supporting my plan to 'boycott' 4th of july

it was going to be a celebration of the 4th and my mom's birthday and my retirement (i'm retiring on the 4th) but I don't feel it. So we will do something so other day.

[lostnfound]

17. That's absurd

[central scrutinizer]

18. I'm going to fly my flag

It’s a 48 star flag that covered my father’s casket. He was in the Navy and South Pacific during WWII and died in 1956 before Alaska and Hawai’i became states. I refuse to let the MAGAts highjack the flag. With my Black Lives Matter yard sign and Union Yes bumper sticker I don’t think anybody will be wondering where I stand.