The Independence Day or July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution.
On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favour of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.
From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
This year’s Fourth of July falls on Saturday, July 4, 2020 and as Americans all over the world celebrate the country’s Independence Day on July 4th, members of the U.S Consulate General in Lagos also took some time out to reflect on what the auspicious day meant to them.
According to Consul General, Claire Pierangelo, the American independence was a reminder of the importance of fundamental rights and values.
“As Americans around the world are celebrating the 244th anniversary of the founding of our country, this very special day tends to remind us of the fundamental rights and values that we hold so dear.
“Rights which are accrued to every US citizen regardless of race, colour, religion, sex or national origin,” she said.
Even though not all Americans are excited about the celebration as this year’s celebration coincided with the agitations and protests against police brutality and a pandemic that has disproportionately ravaged communities of colour, some people planned to spend Fourth of July drawing attention to what they say is a hypocritical celebration of freedom.
However, in his words, another staff of the US Consulate in Lagos, Robert McNeary, like many others, still believed freedom of religion, speech and free press were worth celebrating.
As rallies, marches and sit-ins were planned Saturday in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and more than a dozen other U.S. cities, to Ismat Yassim, the right to peaceful assemble, the right to a speedy and public trial, and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances were some of the things that made July 4th iconic in the country’s history.
“This nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal and that the rights of many men are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.
“In order to be possible and sure for every American to enjoy the privileges of being an American without regard to his race or his colour,” Shashank Iyer said, quoting John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the country from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963.
Another staff, quoting late Maya Angelou, an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, stated that, “We should all know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry. We must understand that all the threads of a rich tapestry are equal in value no matter what their colours are.”
McNeary urged all Americans to remember the words of Abraham Lincoln and continue to live as one.
“Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling,” he said.
Happy Independence Day to the United States of America from us at Freelanews.
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