Independence Day Speech: President Biden Version, Not Bill Pullman

This particular section of President Biden’s address to the country on the signing of the Covid Relief Bill has been getting lots of play and reaction:

And finally, fifth, and maybe most importantly: I promise I will do everything in my power, I will not relent until we beat this virus, but I need you, the American people. I need you. I need every American to do their part. And that’s not hyperbole. I need you.

I need you to get vaccinated when it’s your turn and when you can find an opportunity, and to help your family and friends and neighbors get vaccinated as well.

Because here’s the point: If we do all this, if we do our part, if we do this together, by July the 4th, there’s a good chance you, your families, and friends will be able to get together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout and a barbeque and celebrate Independence Day. That doesn’t mean large events with lots of people together, but it does mean small groups will be able to get together.

After this long hard year, that will make this Independence Day something truly special, where we not only mark our independence as a nation, but we begin to mark our independence from this virus.

But to get there, we can’t let our guard down.

It’s a function of speech craft to make a line like “this Independence Day something truly special, where we not only mark our independence as a nation, but we begin to mark our independence from this virus” land as inspirational and stay on the right side of not coming off as the canned line it is. The usual talking head suspects opined on it as they usually do. Supporters of the president loved it, with praise ranging from shoehorning his speech into the current trending items to declaring it “nearly perfect”. Opponents of the president ranged from deriding it to the bellowing “how dare he” of Tucker Carlson who took a break from criticizing pregnant active duty service members to do his trademark confused look in a nifty PiP graphic on Fox News while the President spoke.

In other words, the line and imagery of Independence Day worked as intended.

It certainly stood out to me. Before journeying to my ancestral home Up Yonder two weeks ago, the last time I had travelled at all was last year’s Independence Day. The Fourth of July is THE date on my family’s social calendar for time and memorial. But last years was markedly different. There were only a handful of folks instead of the usual hundreds. I stayed in a cabin instead of with my folks like usual. Because we have the large outdoor and open facilities of the gathering place Up Yonder, reducing the numbers meant social distancing was possible and with masks and other precautions the gathering went off without any positive tests after. There was little of the usual week’s-worth of group events: no live music, little singing, some outdoor stuff like trail rides, no Turks (In-laws) vs Methodist (Blood) mostly-friendly volleyball, no cornhole, the list goes on.

There was interpersonal drama, which is very rare for what is usually a coming together time. Certain folks got rather vocal about wearing masks, about distancing, about being inconvenienced. Some folks who thought their opinions from their chosen media avatars should override the opinions of several doctors (including one of the three doctors at the time serving on the state Covid advisory board) and multiple other medical professionals that are in our family, and also local guidelines that had to be met and satisfied. The arguments from the dissenters were familiar with those talking heads last night: freedom, independence — especially on Independence Day — is not up to the President, or anyone else.

True, we informed them, you’re free to do what you want. But just not here, ’cause if you want to participate, you’re going to follow the rules. It just ain’t worth it over sitting in a different spot and wearing a mask for an hour out of your day compared to what might happen. Unfortunately, several of those loudest about not wanting to follow the guidelines wound up with Covid later in the year after attending a mass event that touted as a meeting without any precautions, leading to over 20 people contracting the virus. Thankfully, they recovered, though we aren’t sure whether they learned the lesson or not. But it’s family, what are you going to do? You have to love them through it either way.

So is the Independence Day line a clever piece of rhetoric that sounds really good? Sure. Does it grate on some level to have a symbolic date from the same folks that constantly preach “trust the science/experts” relentlessly? Yeah it might. Is it necessary?

Probably. You have to impart information in consumable pieces. Fourth of July is good symbolism, and is far enough out that the current rate of vaccinations should be administered widely enough to have a good handle on the virus. This is all fluid, of course, and the country might be in better shape far before that date. But that is the point of a goal: set it and meet it, or better yet, exceed it. The overall goal should always be to get the most people possible vaccinated so the most people possible can go about their lives with the least amount of intrusion from the virus, government. Then, it should be to minimalize the aftereffects, be they economic, health, or the personal toll any of that might have had on folks. Independence Day as the set date is a good a stake as any to put in the ground and let folks focus on.

Not everyone’s Covid experience of the last year was the same. Those who were only mildly inconvenienced should remember there were many, far too many, who have permanent loss from this past year. Those who hurt the most will have a hard time understanding how others can be so cavalier. Those who have found niches of power and influence because of the Covid crisis will be slow to recede back to their previous stations in life. Then there will be many who haven’t changed, won’t change, and will never be changed by any circumstances whatsoever.

Independence Day as a symbolic date in the near future as it appears we are turning the corner on the virus is a fine thing. Like most things, it has no agency; just meaning applied to it. Independence Day is practically sacred to me and mine, not just in the meaning to our history and country but for the tradition of family gathering to remember. They gather on top of our mountain, where they first came before there was an America, or even a Virginia, much less a West Virginia, because they can. They will be there regardless of circumstances, like they were last year. But it’s important to note they will be there because of, not in spite of, having taken care of themselves and each other during the past year since they last met. Doing what they were supposed to do, as best they knew how in a rapidly changing environment. Being responsible so that they would endure to the end of this crisis, which will soon enough pass like so many other crises have over the generations, like so much rain that passes over the mountain from time to time.

Should be a good Independence Day this year.