Sunday,Jul 12 2009, 06:40:16 PMBoycotting the 4th

“I’m boycotting the Fourth of July this year.” When telling my friends this and when posting my decision on Facebook, Twitter, Zorpia, and every other social network I belong to on the great World Wide Web, I received a mix of reactions. Many ranging from “oh cool one of your political stunts again?” or “ With your ambitions of wanting equality for everyone you will go far in life.” Yet the one that hit me like a sledgehammer the most was when talking to an online mate about it and the conversation going like this:

Him: So how are you celebrating the 4th this year?
Me: oh that? I decided not to celebrate this year
Him: Wait r you an American?
Me: Um yeah
Him: how can you be an American yet not celebrate the day of our independence, the fact that we have freedom.

Freedom. That word hit me the most. As Americans, we do have freedoms, Freedom of speech, of religion, of conscience. Yet these very freedoms are the reasons I am boycotting the Fourth this year. It has seemed the past few months laws have been put in to place to restrict our freedoms more and more. From having to wear your seat belt in the car or risk getting a ticket, not being able to smoke where you want in a PUBLIC place, even down to who can attend a PUBLIC EVENT in a PUBLIC LOCATION. Examples: such as the Gay Pride Event, Rondo Days and even the Taste of Minnesota. Now don’t get me wrong I don’t smoke and I do try to wear my seat belt in the car, yet what happened to making these decisions for ours selves and not having the government make us abide by what they think is right. Oh and I am not just blaming the Government I am also going to blame the people too, yes the American citizens who take their freedoms for granted.  We wake up everyday being able to wear what we want, say what we want, do what we want and go where we want to go. Yet how many of us stop during the day; and think about the freedoms we have?

One may ask me well what do you know about freedom? I came from Pakistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia and what you would expect freedom to be is not freedom there. Most people expect to have the freedom to wear what they want, say what they want and go where you want when you want to. That’s not the case in these countries. Saudi Arabia women aren’t allowed to drive, they must cover in public and husbands are allowed to hit them if they think that their wives spent too much money. Iran known for its violent protest that’s it citizens have, women are made to wear a scarf whether they want to or not. Living in a government that makes you feel less than a human. When in Iran they think an election has been botched they go into the streets to protest leaving us with violent-bloody pictures of them fighting for their rights literally. Yet let an election go wrong here and we act as if we don’t really give a rats butt and are worried what’s on American idol tonight. When we do have the right to protest our government. Yet as Americans we continue that celebrate our freedoms that we don’t use what kind of patriot is that?

As for me the meaning of freedom is not just being able to do what you want, when you want to. Yet also practicing your freedom. Breaking free of Americans who won’t stand for what they supposedly believe in. Breaking free of not practicing my freedoms and not being another American clown who wants to celebrate their freedoms yet most likely cannot name what those freedoms are. So as you celebrate your freedom this fourth of July weekend yeah you eat your burger and drink your pop, and as you watch the fireworks tonight remember on this day in Iran 29 citizens were executed for protesting their rights and their deaths will used to intimidate the protesters in the street who are literally fighting for their freedom and I am breaking free by wearing my green and supporting my Iranian brothers and sisters. I am no longer trapped in with having my opinions shot down by political leaders who abuse their power. I am no longer trapped with going along with everything because I don’t think my opinion will change any thing, because I am breaking free in the land of the free and home of the brave

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