|
Driving to work today, it was sad to see that there were so few flags on display. How quickly we forget what this day is all about. We take our freedom for granted.
Pat Todd
Claims coordinator
1199SEIU
Westbury, NY
|
|
It is not the Fourth of July but the Fourth of You Lied. The whole concept of freedom and democracy has not eroded simply with the current administration. Such an argument is based on the premise that freedom and democracy lost was preceded by pre-existing freedom and democracy, which is ludicrous. I, as a descendant of captive Afrikans on American soil who were made chattel slaves, see only a modification of slavery in this period.
As Malcolm X stated, second-class citizenship is 20th century slavery, now 21st century slavery. To determine whether American society functions properly, one should ask not the wealthy, nor the middle class, but the poor and the super-poor among us. Justice cannot be measured by the haves but by the have-nots. The cup is not half empty or half-full. There is no cup. For the masses there is emptiness. An emptiness in conscience and in the promises of democracy and freedom. After the fireworks, there is merely the stench of burnt powder.
Damon McGee
Organizer
New Organizing Department, 1199SEIU
New York City
|
|
We, the American public, are not able to fully wrap our arms around our heritage of the 230th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. True freedom is lost to the oppression of today's issues of healthcare, cost of living or lack thereof. Laced with no jobs and increased homelessness.
History will continue to be a rollercoaster of well ridden rides until we embrace the strings of human consciousness of "one for all and all for one" which our forefathers embodied.
Thelma Woodson
Patient access representative
Boston Medical Center
Boston
|
|
Lets try putting it this way without getting into any "more then necessary specifics". As we approach yet another election season, we should be engaging those candidates that truly stick to our needs and our political agenda for sure. One significant factor to our Union should be the war in Iraq. We should certainly apply a very big significance to those candidates that are in support of bringing the troops home. This litmus test should be a single most important priority in determining those that gain our unions support. There may never be a single more important reason to support or not support a candidate. We can only hope that our position against this unjust war is a priority to determining whom to support for national office and not a secondary sidelight.
Patrick Sullivan
PC specialist
CVPH Medical Center
Plattsburgh, NY
|
|
I think that throughout the years this country has become so culturally diverse that the meaning of the 4th has been forgotten. If you ask (try it) three people what the 4th of July is really about, you will get three different answers.
Samuel Sierra
Patient service associate
Lutheran Healthcare
Brooklyn, NY
|
