As we’ve made pretty clear here on Rookerville we all have our unique takes on holidays. So in the growing tradition of this fair town known as Rookerville we wanted to share our anecdotes on America. Enjoy. And Happy 4th.
Andrew Rose:
Choosing a favorite “America” moment is both abstract and daunting. How could I, a twentysomething, possibly select a singular event in history that has any sort of meaning when compared to the 237 years which have passed since the signing of the Declaration of Independence? When brainstorming, my mind immediately jumped to sports – Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria in the last World Cup, the men’s 4×100 meter freestyle at the Beijing Olympics – which are an objective measure of triumph over competition, an assertion of a nation’s superior skill set. But I realized, at least for me, that being able to say “we’re better”, however gratifying in the here and now, doesn’t really serve as a defining “Proud To Be An American” moment. Really, I don’t think any specific occurrence can suffice.
The most recent, most I’m-so-fortunate-I-was-born-
To recap:
My day began in the heart of a city synonymous with American excess, drowned in fanciful decor and luxuries that are practically at our fingertips. It wasn’t about coveting commodities in a material world; it was about the fact that we are absolutely blessed to enjoy the accommodations of which people in other parts of the world can only dream. My journey took me past an absolute marvel of engineering, a testament to our country’s ingenuity and enterprise, of our sheer will to succeed. Later I gazed upon a canyon so vast it had attracted visitors from all over the world to marvel at its hyperbole. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the diversity and grandeur of the American landscape is beyond description, and viewing one of the seven natural wonders of the world was no exception. And as the night went on, the count of electoral votes or the faces making acceptance speeches weren’t what mattered. The state referendums, the changes in policies that voters favored in such overwhelming majorities, were more than enough to illustrate the true attitudes of Americans. We vote for each others’ freedoms. We vote for each others’ rights. We vote for progress.
We had one hell of a day.
Pat Wong:
As I was born in New York and lived here my entire life, I have to admit that I often take being an American for granted. I cannot fully appreciate being an American because I do not know anything else. On the other hand, my parents were born in China and immigrated to America. Over the years, my mother has shared her stories of how tough it was to grow up during the Cultural Revolution in China. She has told me stories about how my second uncle and my aunt were forced to work on a farm. My first uncle, the eldest child, would bike 30-40 miles just so he could see his brother and sister. Last week, my mom told my siblings and I some more stories while we were on a family vacation. First, she mentioned how she worked in a hotel in the city and had to clean 10 rooms a day. She would see many people from Hong Kong travel to the mainland to visit their relatives. Since the mainland had very little at that time, the more wealthy, travelers from Hong Kong would bring a suitcase full of items such as bread to give to their relatives. They would travel to the mainland with a full suitcase and leave with nothing as they gave everything they brought with them away. Next, she told me that our second uncle actually swam from the mainland to Hong Kong. When I first heard it, I was in complete shock and had to verify that I did not mishear what she said. As the currents are very dangerous, her family thought that my uncle died in an attempt to swim to a better life. She also said that my grandmother would cry every day because she thought her son had died. However, my uncle was able to make the swim. Nevertheless, he could not send a letter to our family to tell them he was safe in fear that the government would punish his family. Instead, he had to ask someone else to send a letter to her sister in China so that she could tell our family that he had survived. Again, my mother reminded us of how lucky we are to live in America and not have to live through the hardships she endured. My father usually does not talk about the past. From the stories my mother and other relatives on my father’s side of the family have told us, his family was very wealthy and owned a farm. When the communists took control of the country, they marched all over China and took all the money and property from the wealthy. As such, his family had to flee to Hong Kong fearing for their safety.
While I can never appreciate the privilege of being an American as much as my parents, I am definitely proud and grateful to be an American. I am thankful that I do not have to attempt a swim or raft from Florida to Cuba to flee oppression. No matter how passionately or incensed we get arguing our political views, we are able to fully express ourselves without fear of another group of Americans trying to kill us for our beliefs. When elections are completed, there are peaceful transitions of power instead of a legitimate fear of social unrest and civil war. When different regions of our country face unspeakable horrors whether from mother nature or violence, we band together and support each other. While we are not perfect and will always be striving to be better, we have a lot to be grateful for as Americans. On July 4th, we should all remember how great this country has been and still can be as well as how lucky we are to be American.
Justine Kolsky:
July 4th isn’t just the 4th anymore. It has now morphed into the 3rd being just as significant and if you can spin it, a full blown 4 day weekend in some cases. In my opinion, July 4th is one of the best holidays we celebrate (after Halloween, of course). It’s the only holiday where being white trash is not only accepted, but it’s encouraged. You want to drink Budweiser by the lake? Do it. Light off fireworks? Go for it. Wear all of the red, white, and blue you can get your hands on? You better. Chant “USA” at anytime throughout the day? You can, whenever your little heart desires. We’re celebrating ‘Murica’s Birthday and we are going show it a good fucking time.
My favorite American moment was last year on the 4th of July. My friends and I had the privilege of viewing the fireworks from the roof of a building on the harbor. In short, we were on top of the world. Normally, I hate fireworks primarily because they are loud but this year was different. I was with all of my closest friends, drinking beers, and didn’t have to fight through the crowds to see. The fireworks began and midway through, it started torrential downpouring. We had two options 1) run and take cover like all of the people below us OR 2) stand in the storm and watch the show we came for. We chose the latter and in the pouring rain we patriotically belted the national anthem. It was so. fucking. American. And absolutely one of my favorite nights to date.
Russ Stevens:
As a country, we are the best parts of the world and the worst. However, if I were asked to give you one succinct “America, F#$< YEAH!” moment, I would give one from this past November.
In America, one of the easiest ways to take the countries temperature and find out how we feel about a subject is to watch the subsequent biopic. Last November, Lincoln came out. I was prepared to hate it because it looked like a syrupy-sweet Spielberg piece of Oscar-bait dreck. At some points it was, but as I sat down and watched it, emotion took over.
I don’t think I’m spoiling anything if I say that towards the end of the movie, the 13th Amendment was passed freeing slaves everywhere. I am not ashamed to admit, I cried watching that scene, not necessarily because it was done expertly well or anything, but because I am black, and I was free, and I was watching the single scene that put me in the seat to watch that scene! That sounds weird, but watching movies like Lincoln will remind you that while this is a great country, it is not without its flaws. Watching Lincoln almost felt like some weird revisionist history story. As a free black man, who has lived long enough to see a black president in office, it is still hard to believe how WRONG we were at some point. Spending two-plus hours in the movie theater was a reminder, that we might make mistakes, but on a long enough line we’ll figure it out.
Now think, forty years from now, some new Spielberg will probably be gearing up his Oscar-bait movie about Gay Marriage. There will be people saying it looks like crap or that it looks great, and there will be plenty of controversy. However, for one gay man or woman, they’ll watch it, feel oddly emotional about it, and realize just like me, that we might not always get it right as a country, but we will eventually. Isn’t that progress? It might not be by your definition, but I think it’s beautiful.
Matt Cargile:
If you talk to me enough you’ll come to find I love this country. I know, so original. But I don’t do it with the bravado of some, or about the most obvious things. No it’s more the subtleties. I used to get into debates at college with girls who romanticized about the “free” lifestyles of Europe, or kids who would look at America in the harshest of lights as they sat on their American college campus drinking their Starbucks. But that’s the beauty of the U.S.A. We can be free to be the most self loathing country around. To those people I like to remind them that in terms of years, the old U.S. of A is merely an infant compared to these “open minded” European countries, and yet we’ve accomplished a lot more, in many aspects than they have. Hell, as a guy who’s slightly tan visiting Paris, I was met with some pretty harsh prejudices. I know we have our rural southern towns that may very well be sopped in racism but go to New York, or any major city and you will not meet the same level of prejudices. I spoke a little French, and would attempt to do so whenever I could, and yet most of the Parisians’ first questions would be wondering whether I was Haitian. Yes, there are some dark spots in American history, but we have the freedom here to read and learn about them, and from them. Which my childhood friend from Russia exclaimed to me wasn’t a universal freedom. And with all those dark spots we have a plethora of bright ones. I always simplify America as sometimes getting late to the party on reform or progression, but when we do get there, we do it VERY RIGHT. Our election of a black president is nothing short of amazing when you think that the equivalent for France, a country that’s been around almost 5 times our senior, would be to vote in an Algerian president. It ain’t happening. My moment though is far more lighthearted, but still follows the idea of America showing up late to the party.
Three summers ago it was the 2010 World Cup. I’ve always loved soccer, but as the years go on my love of the beautiful game is getting much worse. As a kid I loved Brazil, cause as a kid I was a major front runner. And for years I still rooted for U.S.A. but to be honest it wasn’t wholeheartedly, as I had many teams in the Dallas Cowboys, and the Orlando Magic. So U.S. soccer was just one more team for me. That was until that World Cup. Unless you were living under a rock, you are well aware of the moment I’m getting to. America was facing an early elimination, and possibly not even making it out of the group stage. They were on their final game of the group stage, and needed the win to move on. With only injury time remaining the U.S. team looked to be in bad shape as they were tied 0-0 and Algeria was packing in the defense. I had skipped out of work this day and was at a bar with my co-worker and at this point I was feeling a bit choked up (what’s this? I’ve never felt this connected to a sports team before. I want nothing more than for them to win right now). And just as I thought my summer of awesomeness was about to end early Tim Howard makes a throw that I think only an American athlete who grew up playing “hand” sports could make, getting it to Landon Donovan half way up the field, who then dribbled his way to the other teams box. He lays off a pass to Jose Altidore who puts a short cross on, that leads to a shot right on target and should’ve been a goal, but gets saved brilliantly. I’m crushed. I thought it was over, then I get this ray of hope and now it’s really… WAIT WHAT’S THIS, LANDON DONOVAN IS STILL RUNNING, IS HE, NO FUCKING WAY…GOALLLLLLLLLL! I lost my mind nearly ripping my friend and co-worker’s, probably very expensive, work shirt right off. It was then I knew I would trade never seeing the Dallas Cowboys win another Super Bowl, or seeing the Orlando Magic win a single title, just to witness America one day win the tournament of all tournaments. I still get teary eyed watching the highlight. We all watch the NBA finals, and the Super Bowl, but never has our country rooted so soundly for one sporting moment, not since the ‘Miracle on Ice’. And one day we’ll have the miracle on grass. I’ll be there and ready.
Here’s the clip (in Spanish cause 1) we were in the group stage with England so the English announcers are less excited, and 2) this announcer fucking rules):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALJu7YPMNBI
And here’s the subsequent celebration montage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbn3rOPmR9w
Relive it for all it’s worth it. And tell me you aren’t ready for next summer already.
AMERICA. FUCK. YEAH.
