A 4th of July Parade to Remember 7.4.26

Happy 250th anniversary to the United States of America from the Republic of Georgia!

I am spending America’s 250th birthday almost halfway across the world in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. When the Cold War ended and Georgia obtained its INDEPENDENCE in 1991, the country went through a very difficult decade in the 1990’s. But they got through that period and formed a democracy that leaned heavily towards the west, trying to get to the point where it could get accepted into the European Union.  Croatia (in) and Montenegro (out) are examples of two countries next to each other that I have visited where being “in” changes everything. 

However, the country has been backsliding recently towards a less democratic society.  The controlling political party in Georgia, known as the Georgian Dream, or DG, has become more controlling, corrupt, and more authoritarian as of late. And many Georgians, for very good reasons, are very concerned. 

At 8 p.m. local time I went to the starting point of a peaceful anti-GD demonstration.  There were approximately 300 people gathered there. And more joining by the minute. As the march began, I saw lots of Georgian flags,  a few European Union flags and even a few American flags.

And here I am, in a former Soviet State, watching a march for democracy on the 250th Birthday of my country. As the march began, a large Georgian Flag was rolled out carried by 10 people. And I am thinking this is pretty cool. 

And then I saw it. An equal sized American flag was rolled out.  As the huge Georgian flag passed by followed by the American flag, my eyes watered.  I was so proud to be an American in this foreign country. And I thought about what some of these marchers must be thinking carrying the United Stares flag, a symbol of liberty and freedom. 

I begin to realize that I may never experience anything close to this again. But then a strange thought creeps in. Could a scene like this ever happen in our country where peaceful demonstrators are marching because the ruling party has become corrupt and is taking away democratic processes, as well as personal liberties and freedoms? 

Watching this march in another country made me appreciate the liberties and freedoms we have in our own country more, especially after having been in this beautiful country for the past 10 days. 

“We hold these truths to be self evident.” We forget that these were not self evident truths for most of mankind’s history. We can thank a certain person born 2,000 years ago for planting the seed that germinated into an idea that many of us hold onto dearly today – that we are all equal in our creator’s eyes and that each of us has a right to life, personal agency and liberty, and a right to determine our own destiny. But that right comes with much responsibility. And sometimes we like to talk about freedom without talking about the responsibility that comes with that freedom – personal responsibility and being a good American AND global citizen. 

Reagan often invoked the phrase “shining city on a hill,” drawing on John Winthrop’s 1630 sermon, to refer to the United Stares as the beacon to the rest of the world of what democracy can look like. In his farewell address in January 1989, he described America as a tall, proud city, imagined as built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-blown but God-blessed, teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace — a city with open doors, drawing anyone with the will and heart to get there.

Georgians, like Americans, are fiercely independent, despite having been invaded and occupied by various empires, including the Romans, Mongols, Persians, Ottomans and Russians. Americans, because of our heritage, are also fiercely independent.  Every single American is a descendent of an immigrant, who had “the will and heart to get here.” Some immigrated to America to settle Jamestown or Plymouth Rock, to escape the famine in Ireland, some to escape religious persecution, some to escape Vietnam, or some came here to escape an Authoritarian government back home. We must remain the Shining example of democracy to the rest of the world. That is my birthday wish for my country. 

There are a few quotes I would like to share that we need to take to heart to ensure we remain that “shining city on the hill.”

Thomas Payne said, “These are the times that try men’s souls. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

Abraham Lincoln said, “Those who deny freedoms to others deserve it not for themselves.”

Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…”

And finally, Oprah Winfrey said “ The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have. If you’re not using it, you’re giving up your greatest chance to protect democracy and shape your future.”

By being here in the Republic of Georgia on this important birthday, I am reminded that the components of democracy are not self evident to everyone and that democracy needs participation by all to survive. And most of all, that we should not take this amazing experiment for granted. Benjamin Franklin observed that he would be shocked if this experiment that we call The United States of America survives. Let’s all prove that it can and will survive. 

As one of my fellow American travelers quipped, “America is always great, sometimes good, but always striving to be better.”

Teddy Roosevelt, one of my favorite presidents, made this speech in North Dakota on the 4th of July when he was 27 years old. 

“The Declaration of Independence derived its peculiar importance not on account of what America was, but because of what she was to become… to her, and to her especially, belonged the future.”

He believed America’s future would be shaped not by its wealth or power, but by the character of its citizens. Freedom, he argued, carries responsibilities as well as rights, and each generation has a duty to strengthen the republic for those who follow.

He also declared:

“It is not what we have that will make us a great nation, it is the way in which we use it.”

God bless America. Happy Birthday America from the Republic of Georgia!