Your protests worked.
The wave of electoral victories for democratic socialists in the U.S. is a welcome gift on the nation’s 250th birthday.
One of my favorite places to watch birds is the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in South Philadelphia. On most visits, one can catch a glimpse of a majestic and familiar bird: the Bald Eagle. Philadelphia Eagles fans notwithstanding, most residents of the U.S. identify their nation with this patriotic bird. Its sight alone conjures up images of the Land of the Free and sayings like, “Liberty and Justice for All.” It’s synonymous with the United States and, perhaps for some of us, the American Empire.
The symbolic freedom and justice that this bird represents are too hypocritical in the U.S., though. Throughout its 250 years, the United States has been known for genocide, enslavement, and war crimes. It’s too often a regressive country, and the current Administration is dead set on bringing it back to another time.
Our bodies filled with ire, many of us flooded the streets over the last several years to declare that another way is possible. Students, veterans, and civilians gathered to protest the U.S.’s complicity in Israel’s genocide in Palestine. We protested Trump’s reckless (and pointless) war in Iran. And we protested and organized to keep our neighbors safe from the masked thugs in ICE.
It wasn’t uncommon, though, for our displays of our First Amendment rights to be hyperbolized as radical or even violent. We were accused of being anti-American, antisemitic, and intent on making the U.S. a more dangerous place. Of course, the opposite was true. Many of the protesters were trying to redeem their country from its fascist takeover. They were advocating for displaced people. And they just wanted to love their neighbors as themselves.
The utility of protests also came under fire, even from some liberals. What point did they serve if they weren’t making incremental progress? Why civilly disobey law enforcement officers who are just trying to keep our cities safe? Why sloganize improbable policy ideas that don’t have a chance of passing our gridlocked legislature? Why dream at all?
I’m not interested in countering conservatives who hate us or liberals who think what we’re doing is a waste of time. Rather, I am interested in encouraging those of us who are still in the fight against injustice and against cynicism.
It’s crucial that we remember the victories we have in the face of the Trump Administration. The bad news algorithm can discourage us or make us feel like we have such a small boat in such a large sea. But the last few weeks and months of headlines have shown us that something else is possible.
Our protests worked. Over 40 Democratic Senators have supported blocking bombs to Israel. The general public is now more aware than ever of what AIPAC is—the American pro-Israel lobby group. And candidates across the country have to answer for whether and how they will support ICE and Israel. That alone is success enough for our protests, which raised awareness and encouraged our fellow people.
More than that, though, there has been a wave of successful candidacies of democratic socialists. These aren’t radical people—or at least they shouldn’t be. They are calling for more public goods and resources, more funding for parks and schools, health care for all, and an end to racist immigration enforcement and fruitless and deadly wars. They, in many ways, are very much the representation of the United States as it purports itself to be.
Yes, they advocate liberty and justice for all. And they aren’t just papering over injustice; they really believe in these values and put their money where their mouth is. In many ways, even if it pains me to say so, they are embodying the true values of the red, white, and blue. And their success is a welcome gift for the United States and its people on its 250th birthday.
Donald Trump has called them the biggest threat America has ever faced. The Democratic establishment is similarly threatened by them, accusing them of taking advantage of the Democratic platform but not being true Democrats.
I, for one, am pleased, however. And I’m pleased not because of Zohran Mamdani’s ability to be a “kingmaker,” or because of the charisma of these politicians, but because their success shows us the power of the people. It shows us that our voice matters and makes a difference. And in a sea of despair, they offer us hope.
I admit, I’m not the greatest patriot. It’s hard for me to celebrate the United States and its birthday. I generally avoid the holiday, and thanks to my Mennonite faith, I rarely have to mention it on a Sunday. But this year, as I gaze on the Bald Eagle, I’m not just reminded of the U.S.’s sordid history but also of its potential. And these young and powerful elected officials are part of why.
Take your win, folks. You made this possible. And I hope that these electeds represent you as well as they say they will. Maybe we can move to becoming a country that isn’t spewing fossil fuels, that isn’t polluting small towns with data centers, that doesn’t fund genocide, and that embraces queer people and immigrants. That world is possible. And I believe it’s what the U.S. says it wants to be, and I’m glad we can be a part of it.
Happy Birthday to the United States. May your next 250 years be ones of reparation and transformation.