July 3, 2023
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
Dear Neighbor,
John Adams famously wrote to his wife Abigail that America would celebrate her "most memorable day of" independence on July 2nd, 1776 - the day our founders voted to send the Declaration of Independence to King George III. To many, it is curious why Adams chose to focus on a day slightly earlier than we do now.
Adams' letter - the pre-revolution equivalent of an email or text message was certainly jubilant and proud of what America could be - thanks to the action of many who had no idea if that vote would be the beginning of something great, or their own demise as traitors.
In that light, Adams focused his point of change rested on a very real action - a vote - rather than a date the document itself was ratified - July 4th. That is the day the Congress approved the words written to the King. That is the day we celebrate, the day we finalized the language and quit editing our earliest statement about American freedom.
I am sure that part of being human is not getting it right all the time.
What Adams got right, however, were visual depictions of the many of the traditions we now enjoy, writing that with "great parades, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations", Americans would mark our national holiday each year.
Celebrations like Adams depicted were somewhat common at the time but for other events, and largely they were state-based rather than unifying ideas about what it meant to be an American nation.
It is good that we have solidified common identities about our nation - even if in the context of celebrations like this holiday we celebrate 247 years later. With all the political division these days, I hope we can come together tomorrow and keep the politics out of Independence Day. I hope we can celebrate with all our family, friends and neighbors, even those who - like our second president, John Adams - don't always get it right.
Enjoy the holiday,
 Brent T. Ackerson
26th District Councilman
The 26th District office will be closed in observance of Independence Day - tomorrow July 4th. We will return the morning of July 5th.
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