Dear Editor,
This Friday America celebrates her 238th anniversary of independence. Guyanese-Americans have become part and parcel of the society and are celebrating the holiday as part of their own, as they should. So Guyana’s independence has now taken second fiddle in their newly adopted homeland. They have become Americans while still retaining the hyphen Guyanese.
The July 4th holiday weekend is now internalized in the collective psyche of Guyanese. They observe the holiday tradition with travel, barbecues, picnics, cricket, etc. They are into the parades and the shopping, in similar fashion to Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Children’s Day, Friendship Day, Valentine’s Day, etc.
The United States of America is unique among the nations of the world in celebrating, as the date of its independence, a philosophical event. No other day is celebrated with so much fanfare and no other nation assigns so many rights to its citizens. It signifies the rights and freedoms that people have and that the state cannot deny them. People have a right to live their life as they see fit, providing they are not violating the rights of others. The state does not discriminate against others. Everyone has an equal opportunity. The role of government is to protect the individual to enjoy his/her rights. July 4 is associated with the American dream and part of that dream is that America is the land of the free. For almost every immigrant, July 4 has meant opportunities to lead a more prosperous life. July 4 means freedom and an opportunity to pursue one’s goals (with limited inhibitions) and to realize dreams (a car, home, higher education, good standard of living, etc) that are virtually impossible in one’s homeland. It is not surprising, therefore, that every Caribbean immigrant is glad and grateful to come to America. But it is essential that people act responsibly in enjoying these freedoms. They should think of what it means to live in America.
As it is for other nations, Independence Day is the foundation of America and is the most celebrated of America’s festivals. On July 4, 1776, some 232 long years ago, the thirteen British colonies in America united with one another and signalled to the world that they had broken away from England and formed their own nation – the colonies would no longer be under foreign subjugation. The Declaration of Independence would later on pave the way for millions, including Guyanese (who came much later than other immigrant groups), to come and settle in the US to experience the American dream. Guyanese I spoke with are grateful to America for accepting them. They will not trade their new American status for anything. They are now patriotic Americans.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
