Tomorrow is July 4th.  Americans will be marking its adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 which includes this phrase: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men <sic> are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Really? “All are created equal… have certain unalienable Rights”.     

Think about this time last year when
– Medicaid was about to be slashed, leaving 17 million people without health care
– rural hospitals were about to be closed
– nursing homes devastated
– nutrition assistance for poor children curtailed
– trillions added to the U.S. national debt
– pregnant women were about to be prohibited from abortions
– farmers (and food chain) were about to be seriously compromised

And this year, more.
Much more
as ICE did stood by its cruel unconscionable actions; people were kidnapped, deported, locked into buildings without adequate food, water, air, space, medical care.
And more.
Much more.

Have you heard the phrase “bleeding hearts,” referencing people who speak out to support those in desperate situations?
On this July 4th weekend, I remember and pray for ‘bleeding heart’ Americans.

I remember and pray for those who have been and continue to speak out … against Project 2025 … against the big bad bill … against the injustices of SCOTUS decisions; who are talking about Project 2025 and acknowledging that it is real, against the man in power and those who support him.

I remember and pray for those who are holding rallies in support of minorities who face racism, hatred, victimization, migrants who have done nothing illegal … who are in solidarity with women who have been told that even if their pregnancy were caused by incest or rape or that their life were in danger, there would be no health care for them … who feel and express compassion for children whose parents can’t provide for adequate housing, medical/dental care, nourishing food, schooling, socialization.

I remember and pray in support of physicians who follow the principles of medical ethics (including medical confidentiality and non-maleficence i.e. not to inflict harm), yet who are forced to break medical confidentiality by revealing the names of women seeking abortions … who are allies of LGBTQ2S+ whose lives will be dramatically changed if draconian laws are implemented. I remember and pray for those who stand up for, stand beside, and stand with people of differing ethnicities, skin colours, sexualities, abilities, religions who are mocked, ridiculed, harassed, physically attacked, kidnapped, killed.

It is difficult to wish “Happy July 4th” when so many are not equal, even though the United States Declaration of Independence notes that its citizens “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”   

They may be “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,” but those Rights are eroded more and more each day and particularly a year ago today, July 3, 2025, when the House of Representatives voted to support what was known as the Big Beautiful Bill … when Republican politicians forgot or chose to ignore, the oaths they took to “support and defend” the Constitution of the United States. 

It is difficult to wish Americans “Happy July 4th”.  So I remember and pray for the people of the United States – that they have courage and strength, vision and persistence to “Keep on, Keeping On” in the pursuit of their unalienable rights by speaking out, speaking up and voting in the mid terms for people who will bring the country back to the democratic vision of the founding fathers.

Read the Declaration of Independence and see if you recognize the United States today, the way it was intended. 
I don’t.

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© June Maffin
@soulistryjune.bsky.social
https://www.soulistry.com/blog

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