HAPPY FOURTH

I’m the farthest you can get from being a patriot without entering anarchist territory, but that hasn’t stopped me from cheekily dressing up for July 4th. I recognize most of the flaws in our nation’s framework – systematic discrimination against minorities, preservation of a class system shrouded in myths of social mobility, delusions of the American Dream in an era of a middle class that doesn’t exist and a corporate oligarchy that does. And that’s just a summation of my generation – what about the generations that preceded me? The ones that had to fight for what should be obvious rights, like integrated public facilities or suffrage for women and people of color? There’s no reason for me to feel even remotely proud of my country. And I don’t. Nationalism, ironically, is a foreign concept. But I refuse to move out of America, or to even take off my red, white, and blue duds.  Because I am a progressive, and I know that distancing myself from the problem only affords tacit permission to its perpetuation. My reappropriation of America’s own signature stripes asserts that my ideals are more representative of a “land of the free” than the corrupt aims of my government known to validate that very propaganda. No, I will not give up on the reconstruction of this nation’s values. I’ll cross my arms over the ironic flag emblazoned across my chest, put my foot (read: mary jane platform sandal) down, and demand change. America was established to preserve the freedom of choice for everyone, not certain privileged groups of people. Let’s wave our flags high and set an example for what it really means to be a revolutionary. Having the strength to stand up and point out that our nation is grossly inadequate in meeting the needs of its people? That’s independence. But refusing to question authority and believing the myth that every citizen has an equal opportunity to achieve success and stability? Not so much. Happy 4th.











FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Sunglasses - Party City
Lipstick - Retrofuturist by Lime Crime
Star print collar - ROMWE
Americana sweater - NATURAL COLOUR
Flag print shorts - ROMWE
Platform mary jane heels - Buffalo Exchange


Everything is infinite,


Bebe Zeva