this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2025
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I was talking to one of my friends and he mentioned staying home on July 4, citing how there are a lot of really ugly things going on in the US.

After thinking about this myself, I'm starting to feel the same way. Instead of being proud of the country, I'm feeling like I'm just another wallet that companies and the government are trying to suck all the money out of.

The cost of living is going up, the housing market is a nightmare, I don't feel very confident in our government at all, the job market is a nightmare...

I think I'll be staying home this year too... anyone else?

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[–] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Being a Brit, for years I've jokingly referred to the 4th of July as 'Rebellion Day' to my USian friends. Not sure I'm joking any more, just hopeful. Go on. Rebel!

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[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 32 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Flags have become a warning over the last decade or so about the person waving it. It no longer has the hope of a better America, solidarity, or welcome; it’s a symbol of a myopic, selfish, aggro, uneducated person full of performative nationalism and real hatreds.

Our independence was supposed to free the people of kings and tyrants. It’s been 249 years since 1776, we have undone what the Constitution authors fought for.

[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Our independence was supposed to free the people of kings and tyrants. It’s been 249 years since 1776, we have undone what the Constitution authors fought for.

That's what happens if you stick with a quarter-millennium old prototype of a semi-democratic system.

The constitution was revolutionary and ground-breaking, a quarter millennium ago. But still running that old piece of toilet paper as the basis of a democratic system in 2025 is like driving a Ford Model T today and claiming that it still is the latest and greatest automobile ever created.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I always find irony in the fact that the US helped set up better forms of government in the countries it fought in WW2, Japan and Germany, than it could make better in its own country.

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[–] MudMan@fedia.io 127 points 2 days ago (22 children)

Not being American I always found the whole thing very creepy. Like, North Korean military parade-creepy.

For the record, we don't have anything like that where I'm from, but the closest things we do have are also very creepy. Patriotism in general is extremely not cool, honestly.

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 94 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I screencapped this many moons ago on Reddit, I feel that it's apropos

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It's rooted in all that "American Exceptionalism" propaganda crap, for sure.

[–] moonlight@fedia.io 32 points 2 days ago (7 children)

As an American I never really liked the holiday, (I agree patriotism sucks) but I wouldn't say it's that it really feels creepy other than the few people who really go over the top with it. Most people just use it as an excuse to barbeque and watch / light off fireworks (which I'm just personally not into)

Now for some real North Korea shit, look up videos of the “pledge of allegiance“ in schools. I was always the only one not doing it, but it wasn't until I was an adult that I realized how fucked up it is. Creepy as hell.

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[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago (9 children)

Patriotism is very cool. Nationalism isn't, which has mostly subverted the term patriot. A patriot stands up when their nation is doing something wrong. They don't blindly believe they're the best, they recognize that there's things they can improve. They fight to make their country better, not to make others worse.

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[–] devolution@lemmy.world 26 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I’ve never been more ashamed to be an American.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I'm a-shamed to be an A-merican,

Where at least now I can't see.

And I won't forget the libs who cried,

Who gave that right to me.

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[–] MummysLittleBloodSlut@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I'm going out to a march on the 4th of July. We're protesting for independence from America

[–] RadioFreeArabia@lemmy.cafe 39 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Obama was the last president that made me believe the US was trending towards progress. He proved to be a let down on many issues but I was still hopeful that the next president will be better. On many issues the country seemed to be heading in the right direction, there was even a plan for a national high speed rail network.

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[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 40 points 2 days ago

I haven't felt patriotic for July 4 since I was a teenager. And I grow more aliented every year.

[–] FollyDolly@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

I'm not doing anything for the forth. Fuck America, I am not celebrating my country, because my country wants me dead. Fuck em.

[–] fireweed@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

FYI the Women's March org is hosting "Free America" protests for the July 4th weekend. See the Women's March site here. Some other groups may be organizing protests too, but from what I've read the WM ones are probably the biggest.

If there's not a scheduled protest nearby there's always the option to make a sign and take to a street corner for a solo protest. If you're feeling especially ambitious there's always making a giant sign to prop up against the chain link at an interstate overpass (I've never done this but it looks fun).

[–] imachillin@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Yep. Staying home, donating, or protesting if something’s going on. It’s just a long weekend to me now. No flag flying at this home for sure… unless it’s a No Kings flag.

[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

There's nothing left to be proud of. Just vague platitudes about freedom and performative military worship that have been socially beaten into people since 2001. I have no faith remaining in my fellow countrymen. I am unable to clearly see a future for myself living here as I am now. What is left to be patriotic about?

All the true patriots are dead. They were buried long ago. Modern patriotism is a marketing gimmick. I refuse to be a party to it.

[–] BassTurd@lemmy.world 50 points 2 days ago (9 children)

Celebrating America hasn't been something to be proud of since before 2001. We had a couple of high points during Obama, but nothing that tipped the scales.

I'm personally disgusted by this place, and anytime I see someone with an American flag anywhere on their person or property, I immediately assume they're a conservative and I think lesser of them. I know that this isn't a reality, but that is what the American flag means to me, and I assume quite a few others.

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[–] SpicyTaint@lemmy.world 57 points 2 days ago (4 children)

It's been decades since I've cared about the 4th as an actual holiday. Now it's just a day that I don't have to work.

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[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 36 points 2 days ago (3 children)

What the fuck would I have to be proud of? The US has been on a downward trend for a long time and that's accelerating

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[–] tarknassus@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Aww. Please celebrate - don't give the orange turd the satisfaction of destroying yet more American culture. Also, I won't be happy posting my favourite annual meme:

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I'm feeling patriotic enough to burn US flags and I'm not even from the US!

[–] MeaanBeaan@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Honestly nationalism for the US has always been kinda gross to me. We've never really had much to be proud of as a nation historically.

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[–] EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 17 points 2 days ago

What, exactly, should I be proud of?

A nation that is moving backwards on human rights, increasing wealth inequality, and got really “mask off” about supporting genocide. A nation that is inherently dysfunctional and wreathed in corruption.

[–] Octavio@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

I live abroad, so I can just ignore the whole stupid thing. 😄

[–] cley_faye@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I find it reassuring that some people are not proud of grabbing random people off the street to send them to their death with a smile.

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[–] fodor@lemmy.zip 15 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Patriotism leads to nationalism and racism. Fuck patriotism.

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[–] Gismonda@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

The ONLY reason I give a shit about July 4th this year is that it’s a long weekend and the last chance we’ll have to spend with family before we move out of state in two weeks.

I’m even glad it’s supposed to rain the entire time, so I won’t even feel pressured to celebrate with fireworks!

[–] andros_rex@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

I get double pay for the holiday, yay!

[–] Shanedino@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

I think you mean No Kings Day.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

4th of July? You mean the Ungrateful Colonists Insurgence Day?

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 3 points 1 day ago

I'm not celebrating patriotism. I'm celebrating a 3 day weekend.

[–] agent_nycto@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I've decided to actively take the flag back from conservatives. There are some good ideals and good people in this country, and good people who fought for those ideals. I'm not proud of most of what the government has done and all of what it is doing now, but I can be proud of the people who want to get along with everyone and fight for diversity and freedom and the good things that should be fought for.

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