There's something unsettling about being in the midst of a global pandemic while contemplating the 4th of July and its historical significance as we witness civil rights demonstrations calling for justice for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) worldwide, who have suffered and died due to racial profiling, antiquated laws, discrimination, misogyny, hate crimes, and patriarchal societies. Our individual actions seem insignificant at times over the course of hundreds of years, yet the spirit of independence and freedom rings through to present-day America as a wake-up call.
It seems fitting that Hamilton will be streaming July 3rd on Disney+ at a time when so many of us are questioning the value of personal freedom versus decisions that will help our country as a whole. Lin-Manuel Miranda takes us back to a time before instant internet shaming of Karens and Facebook Lives of crimes in progress. It was a time of contemplation, letters, and newsprint. It's not clear how many viewers will recognize the difference between creative license versus factual events because, for most of us, these details were not a part of our American history classes. For those of us with friends or family that are adamant history buffs, this should be an interesting movie night. At the very least, it will spawn a new crop of videos and point-of-views from social media influencers. Theatre kids have a strong presence on Tik Tok, Instagram, and YouTube. It's where my teenagers gather information to develop their world views and apparently where the next generation of political activists plan their next move.
All of this has led me to believe that parenting in the 21st century has become an incredibly long improv show with no intermission is sight. We survived the end of the school year at home only to realize no one had a solid plan for what we'd be doing in the fall. Will the start of school be delayed? Will the format be changed? Will sports and electives be available? Right now, many things remain debatable as we continue to make our way through the first wave of COVID-19 as cases and deaths continue to rise.
The Black Lives Matter movement is going strong and sadly more and more deaths are surfacing, some from years past. Those that had no recourse before are now hoping to shine the light of justice on their loved ones who died at the hands of law enforcement officers. Our mailboxes are starting to receive postcards from candidates hoping to win our votes in the upcoming elections in November. And our social media feeds are ticking time bombs of opinions, threats, and misinformation.
For some, the 4th of July weekend will be business as usual, cookouts with friends and family, pick-up games of football, and swimming at the lake. Others will continue protesting in cities all across the country. For our family, it will be a rare time when everyone is off work on the same day. We've spent a lot of time indoors the past three months and it has taken a toll on everyone's mental health. Cabin fever is nothing compared to COVID fatigue. All the days are blending into one long stretch of emptiness, a void that we try to fill with current events, sidewalk chalk art, and Tik Tok videos.
As businesses continue to open and people begin to venture out, we urge everyone to wear a mask and continue social distancing. The Zoo and the Museum of Discovery are now open along with parks and other attractions like the Arkansas Skatium and Big Rock Fun Park. And even though many 4th of July events have been canceled, there are still a few to look forward to such as Maumelle's 4th of July Parade which has been adapted to a car parade this year followed by a fireworks show over Lake Willastein, and Sherwood"s annual 4th of July fireworks show at Sherwood Forest has made significant changes in the interest of public safety. See all the details on our event calendar.
Remember, when it comes to mental health, put your own oxygen mask on first. Schedule time to take care of yourself and ask your family to do the same. Now, more than ever, we must take care of ourselves and one another.
Aloha,
Sandra
