I Still Love My Country
This year, I wasn’t sure how to feel about the 4th of July.
Then I cried in The Hall of Presidents.
I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s true.
To be fair, we were cranky. It was hot, we were tired, and we were completely over standing in lines. We were at Disney World with our three kids, and while they rode something with my husband, I ducked away from the “magic” in search of a shady spot. I ended up at The Hall of Presidents. It wasn’t part of the plan, but it turned out to be exactly where I needed to be.
As I sat on a blue padded bench, I looked at the faces of the men who have led our country to this point. None of them perfect. But most of them patriotic. Most of them carrying forward the ideals laid out by the Founding Fathers, even if imperfectly.
Then I got a news alert: “The Big Beautiful Bill” had passed the Senate and was heading back to the House for a vote. And something in me cracked.
A bill that strips away the rights of thousands of Americans had cleared the Senate. I sat there, stunned. And then I cried.
At the end of the presidential presentation, the animatronic Trump recited the constitutional oath. I felt sick. And I cried again.
I wanted to shout something. Or at least snicker. I secretly hoped someone else would say something first so I’d be brave enough to join in. But it didn’t happen. So I just dabbed my eyes with my cooling towel, took a deep breath, and knew exactly what I needed to write.
Now, as you likely know, the bill has passed the House as well. And it will soon be signed into law.
It is devastating. And I’ll dedicate next week’s piece to it in full.
But for now, for this 4th of July, I want to tell you this:
I still love my country.
Trump and Vance have repeatedly claimed that people who don’t support them hate America. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I still love this country. Deeply.
And that’s exactly why I speak out.
I love the United States for its founding ideals: liberty, equality, justice—even when we fall short of them. I love its history of fighting to become a place of hope. I love that it has fed hungry children around the world and helped bring relative peace to much of the globe for over 80 years.
I love this country’s beauty—its landscapes, its languages, its cultures.
From the mountains of Montana to the bustle of New York City to the quiet pines of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I love what makes America, America.
Even now, even as so much is under attack, I love this country for what it could still become, if we the people continue to show up.
I know it may not feel right to celebrate Independence Day this year. I get it.
So much of what this country promises—liberty, justice, freedom—is being stripped away in real time.
Physical freedom. Financial freedom. The freedom to dissent without punishment.
But today, I will still celebrate.
Not what’s happening right now, but what’s worth fighting for.
I’ll celebrate the values we haven’t given up on. I’ll celebrate the future we’re still building.
Even in the midst of grief and frustration, joy still matters.
Joy keeps us grounded in what’s worth protecting. It reminds us of why we fight.
No matter how dark things feel, don’t let them steal your joy. Not today. Not ever.
So tonight, keep your loved ones close. Watch your children’s eyes light up during the fireworks. And promise yourself:
you’ll fight for them.
For their joy.
For their future.
For the country we still believe in. The one where all people are created equal.
We are the true patriots.
Next week, I’ll be unpacking the full impact of “The Big Beautiful Bill”—what it does, who it harms, and why it demands our resistance.
I’ve truly loved hearing from you in the comments lately. This community means the world to me, and I’m so grateful we’re building it together.
How will you be celebrating—or not celebrating—the 4th of July today?