4th of July is weird this year. We’re not gathering for parades, fireworks or picnics. We’re not even going to amusement parks. Some of us can go to beaches.
And when it comes to American history – which is often held dear this time of year – we’re learning there are great American stories that we have never heard before. Stories of oppression, stories of heroism, and stories of perseverance and resistance that we just weren’t told in grade school.
We are the writers. We choose the stories. And we make them relevant. We choose heroes and villains, and this is true whether we’re writing fiction or non-fiction. History is written by people, to tell or manipulate our understanding of how we got here.
This week we celebrate the birth of our nation, on July 4th, 1776. Many of us are pretty down on America, right now, and fireworks aren’t winning any popularity contests this year, either. I wanted to share a new “indoor” Fourth of July celebration, special for writers.
Consider some of the glorious words from our American history
“Give me liberty or give me death.” ~ Patrick Henry
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“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” ~ Jefferson
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“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” ~ Madison
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“I cannot tell a lie.” ~ Washington
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“Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” ~ Lincoln
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“…I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.” ~ Lincoln
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Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less. ~ Susan B. Anthony
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“First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…” ~ FDR
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“Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” ~ JFK
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“I have a dream… that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” ~ MLK
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“Yes, we can!” ~ Obama
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History makers are mostly white men, in power. Bill Barr stated on national tv, “history is written by the winners.” I guess that used to be true. Powerful people controlled the flow of information, but the Internet has utterly changed that. Self-publishing has abolished the power threshhold.
What historical quotes might we, as writers, like to amplify? What characters from history could we flesh out? History is full of dramas – consider every Supreme Court decision, announced to an amazed public, a stunned administration. Think of the duels, campaigns,first ladies. And think of dramatic escapes – from prison, slavery, marriages, soul-crushing jobs. And of course, there’s the American dream – fulfilled whenever someone gets unexpectedly famous, and suddenly rich. Lots of drama to explore. Lots of quotes to share.
This week in the FB group, I invite you to come and talk about parts of American history you care about. And happy 4th of July – in your own backyard.