4th of July, Hijacked

NOT HIS 4TH OF JULY.  IT’S OURS!

Why does Donald Trump have to go and change everything?  Now he wants to change the Fourth of July celebration that has been held on the Washington Mall exciting millions of Americans for the past 50 years. It’s been going along just fine.

But back in February, Trump posted this tweet: “Hold the date on July Fourth for a major fireworks display, entertainment and an address by your favorite president. Me.” Ewww….. The 4th of July is not his. It’s ours.

 I lived in D.C. for more than 30 years and it was a tradition in our family to cookout in the afternoon and then head down to the Washington Monument, and join the huge crowd of people to watch the fireworks. There were Americans of every color, nationality, ethnicity and religion. It was a unifying event.

 But Donald Trump is commandeering the celebration and politicizing it. He envisions himself as the star of his new, “Salute to America” event. I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned it into one of his campaign rallies, busing his supporters in, to pay homage to him.

 Trump plans to speak on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I can’t even imagine his standing where Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. Dr King tried to unify Americans.  I’m afraid Trump will further divide us.

Happy Fourth.