How the USA celebrates its 250 years of freedom

On Washington’s “National Mall”, the nation’s open-air reception hall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Obelisk US President Donald Trump give a “big speech”. Right before the biggest, longest and most expensive fireworks display ever. The pyro show will take place unless there are thunderstorms alles verhageln, become a highlight.

The 4th of July in America, that isas secular high mass of the nation. No crown, no dynasty; just a piece of paper, the Declaration of Independence, 56 signatures and a sentence about equality that the country has been betraying regularly ever since neu tried to redeem. This holiday is constitutionally based on the insight that power is only borrowed. That dThis country is bigger than any individual. Bigger than the man in the White House who has temporary residency rights.

It is not without reason that George Washington called himself “citizen of the United States and ultimately President of the United States” in his will. Citizens first, president last. In Donald Trump’s world, that’s the wrong order. For him there can only be one – Donald Trump.

Anyone who wanted to experience what they were like United States End of this one Celebrate week, just had to witness the start of the “Great American State Fair”. The show was actually intended to be a globally recognized celebration of the rich and vibrant culture that the 50 states and territories have to offer.

Cheap backdrops

Instead, visitors are presented with a temporarily broken Ferris wheel next to an uninspired collection of pavilions over which the Washington Post writes: “Instead, everything is squeezed into an artificial agora with Doric columns and arched niches painted on cheap theater sets – they look like someone enlarged the photo wallpaper from a shabby Greek diner selling gyros, moussaka and high-calorie pastitsio plates.”

At the opening, Trump appeared behind bulletproof glass. His speech was short, but it was enough of a warning. A few sentences about the founding fathers, a little historical detail, then the familiar: Transgender, men in women’s sports, inclusion, critical race theory – no stimulating word was missing from the campaign kit. Furthermore: complaint, culture war and self-praise. America is back. Everything is stronger, more beautiful, safer, more respected. Because he did it that way.

A number of artists had canceled in advance due to Trump’s annoyance. Seven democratically governed states stayed away.

This historic birthday would be the easiest thing in the world. A president might say: This country is older, deeper, more contradictory and more hopeful than any of its inhabitants. It would have to remember revolution and slavery, the Civil War and civil rights, the blessing of immigrants, workers, soldiers, teachers, all those who did not own America but expanded it. He would have to thank the citizens and his opponents Luft let. In short: He would have to become smaller than his office for an evening.

Nots suggests that Donald Trump will behave in a more statesmanlike manner over the weekend becomes. But one thing is certain: the fireworks will still be overwhelming. Children will be amazed, veterans will salute. The sky over Washington will glow as if 250 years of contradiction could be dissolved into gold and smoke.