What is ‘Interdependence Day’ and Why You Might Like It
Happy Interdependence Day!
How are you celebrating 4th of July this year?
Barbeque, family, booze, fireworks, maybe a trip to the lake.
These are expected norms, but this year, and honestly the last few years, these traditional party norms have begun to feel like festive platitudes that ignore the pain, division, and messiness of what it means to be American in our modern world.
With that in mind I want to recommend an alternative.
Interdependence Day!
My sister recently shared this idea with me. At her Interdependence Day party they are going to acknowledge the extermination of Native people on this land we call America. They will show remorse and gratitude for the centuries of enslaved people who shaped this nation. And they will spend time in nature recognizing that all we have depends on our physical environment.
Here is the thing, I love America, I also have become all too aware of the limitations of the consumer driven American version independence. The kind of independence which falsely believes that my actions, choices, and decisions have no impact on the people around me and that my “right” to do whatever I want trumps all other responsibilities I might have to my community. To celebrate our country as if we are not in a crisis feels forced, awkward, and like at any moment the illusion of our exceptionalism will all come crashing down.
Interdependence Day is not a moment to bash America. It is instead an acknowledgement that the story of America includes deeply disturbing and unresolved issues that current Americans cannot ignore. By incorporating the kinds of practices that will be done at my sisters party maybe we could experience meaningful healing and clarity of purpose. Instead of numbing our problems with too much booze and flashy fireworks I invite you to be clear eyed and focused on understanding what it means to be American in this difficult time.
Here are some ways I plan to spend my Interdependence Day.
Visit the Mid-American All Indian Museum in my town which seeks to educate and preserve indian culture and art.
Listen to Rhiannon Giddens album “Freedom Highway” which embodies enslaved people through beautiful and haunting songs.
Spend time in nature with my family giving thanks for the large shade trees in my neighborhood which have stood for over 100 years.
Chat with my neighbors who I share life with because of our proximity, and resist judgement about how they choose to celebrate the 4th.
Interdependence Day may not be as simple and easy as fireworks and barbeque, but if you are like me, simple feels like a lie. Trading simple for meaningful is an easy choice to make.
Happy Interdpendence Day!
