EDITORIAL – Is there anything to celebrate on the fourth of July?

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

JULY THE FOURTH. Independence Day. Big Beautiful Bill Day.

It’s not clear how we should feel about it these days. Ambivalent? Three cheers for America? Sit on a sharp stick?

It used to be easier. All of us can think of things that used to make us view the U.S., pre-Trumpland, with at least a degree of affection or friendship. We’ve all been south of the border, maybe seen a lot of the place. Maybe even lived there for a time.

I have. Well do I remember my first visit to Disneyland with my parents. We drove the full distance from our home in the Okanagan to Los Angeles. It was exciting. Years later, I flew down with my own kids to visit with Mickey and Minnie and all the Disney gang, and spend a day at Universal Studios while we were there.

During high school, my buddies and I would drive across the border to see drive-in movies with our girlfriends, and to smuggle bootleg booze back home.

After high school, I spent my university days in Washington state and had a lot of American friends. They usually kidded me about my Canadians accent. “Oot and aboot and up on the rufe,” they’d mimic. “Ott and abott’ and up on the ruff,” I’d mimic back.

I’ve seen a lot of American states: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, New York, New Hampshire, Colorado, Nevada, Georgia, Illinois, Hawaii, etc. Many beautiful places. Almost always enjoyed it there, almost always felt at home.

I refuse to set foot in that country again. Maybe, when Trump is gone, I’ll reconsider. Maybe not, because I don’t know if the bitterness I feel will ever subside, am not sure whether I can ever get the trust back. Maybe I won’t even be welcome there again.

Folks south of the border I’ve talked to don’t like Trump either, and if I’m unhappy about the Orange Man I can only imagine what it would be like living in the same country as him.

Americans are good people but they’ve been duped. As for that old Canadian-American friendship, Trump has gone and ruined it all. So, sadly, from this person’s perspective, there’s nothing to celebrate about July 4.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.