Happy 4th of July, happy Independence Day to a nation formed by immigrants for immigrants. In fact lets do a quick demonstration: every one here who is a descendant of immigrants or an immigrant themselves, raise your hands. Assuming you each only raise one hand you'll need to give me a bit of time while I count the approximately 327 million of you (otherwise known as EVERY resident of the country including American Indians (simply the first immigrants.)) It certainly includes your president. About as German as a person can be. And of course his fresh-of-the-boat trophy wife, barely dry yet from the voyage, would be raising her hand higher than most.

So Happy Independence Day to immigrants, both those already in the door and those yet to come. I realize it is difficult but try not to pay too much attention to the temporary disaster otherwise known as the current administration. We screwed up, made a very very big mistake. No apology would be enough. Cause we gave the keys to those representing darkness. Elected as our leader one who preys on our fears, frustration. Anger. A president who has surrounded himself with equally utterly astoundingly unqualified scum. An incestuous, nepotistic group of hatemongering racist sexist mean hate-filled skanks who drained the swamp and replaced it with raw sewage. But it is temporary. Even with the near daily assaults on democracy made by the current president, even with the Fascism he represents, I have to hope the authors of the Constitution built in enough protections to ultimately keep us safe from even the low-life scum we face today. Have to hope we survive our mistakes and someday return to the welcoming democracy envisioned by immigrants nearly 250 years ago. You know - the immigrants who made it so YOU could be a resident here. We have survived traitors in the past. And while yes, your current president makes Benedict Arnold look like an 'effing patriot and Richard Nixon a goddamn saint, I think we will survive this scourge, too.

A toast then, on this celebration day. To democracy, decency, inclusion, equal rights equal protections for all. To making, and protecting a place where everyone has an equal chance to flourish.

Oh, and how does that drivel go, you know, that nonsense on the Statue of Liberty that represents the philosophy that let you or your descendants in? something like...… Give me your tired, your poor; your huddled masses yearning to breathe free; the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless. And I will lift my lamp beside the golden door to show you the way.