It’s undeniable that few of us have lived through stranger, more tumultuous times than the present. We almost literally don’t know what each new day will bring. For the sake of public health and safety, we are subject to more restrictions than we’ve ever known. Americans in particular aren’t accustomed to restrictions, as we fought hard and mightily for our freedom from British rule nearly 250 years ago.
or the most part, however, we understand and respect the limitations the current climate imposes.
What our freedoms do allow, among many things, is the ability to express our feelings about all that is happening in our midst. Social media posts, memes, tweets, newscasts, print media, conversations (sometimes heated, but always permissible) are rife with opinions. Some might even suggest that social media is the cause of great divisiveness in our country.
But consider the precious right we have to engage in such discourse without fear of punishment or censorship. Many countries around the world do not enjoy such liberties. The First Amendment was adopted just 15 years after the United States of America gained its independence, signifying the utmost importance of this inalienable right.
For many of us, the 4th of July holiday will look very different this year. We will not be attending large public festivals, fireworks displays, parades, etc. We may be barbecuing or playing games in our own backyards, participating in drive-by celebrations, getting creative with technology, or doing any number of atypical things to celebrate our freedom in a time of new boundaries.
In Kane County, where Geneva is located, the many annual fireworks celebrations have been cancelled this year for the sake of safety.
But here at GreenFields of Geneva, we’re not letting anything dampen our Independence Day spirit. Rick Pickren, an amazing actor, singer and songwriter, entertained our residents with a wonderful patriotic concert. Residents will also receive American flag key chains, and we’re looking forward to an all-American 4th of July menu of green and fruit salads, cheeseburgers, BBQ ribs, house-made potato chips, dessert, and more.
Life has changed for Americans and people around the world. There is much work to be done by all to bring stability and harmony back, for which so many veterans (including some of our residents) so valiantly fought.
No matter what the future brings, we are still the “land of the free” and the “home of the brave.”
