No Kings Day

This article was originally published in Write A Catalyst on Medium.com

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Every July 4th, we celebrate independence with more than fireworks and backyard barbecues — we celebrate a radical idea: NO KINGS.

For 249 years, we’ve honored the belief that power should belong to the people, not monarchs, not dictators, not oligarchs. We tossed the crown and chose liberty a long time ago. Our founding document declared that the government derives its power from the consent of the governed. Not from bloodlines or thrones, but from us.

We celebrate the idea that no one is above the people.

So… why are we struggling to live up to that ideal now?

I'm not particularly political. I’m an independent through and through…a fence-sitter. It’s not always comfortable, but I usually see both sides of an argument. Still, I’ve always loved this country. I believe in us, even when things get messy.

Loving your country doesn’t mean agreeing with everything it does. It means wanting better and believing we can get there. It’s patriotism. And it isn’t silence or blind acceptance.

What makes America special is possibility.

The chance to buy a home. Change careers. Start over. Help your family. The sky really is the limit here — or at least, it’s supposed to be. It’s the promise that where you start doesn’t determine where you’ll end up.

That promise isn’t just about material success. It’s about dignity.

Opportunity.

Freedom.

A fresh start.

As President Reagan said:

“You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.”

That’s the magic. That’s the radical idea that still sets us apart. Not perfect — but possible.

And one of our most precious rights that makes that possible? Free speech.

It isn’t just a right, it’s a responsibility.

We need it to protect this country from tipping too far in any direction. Today, we face threats to free speech from all sides, and instead of speaking more clearly and compassionately, people are afraid to speak at all. Or worse, they are punished when they do.

“Fake news,” they’re told.

We’re drowning in misinformation.

The answer isn’t less speech. It’s more honest conversation.

Disagreement isn’t the problem. Contempt is.

We’ve forgotten how to disagree without dehumanizing.

Arguing is not talking. Shouting isn’t listening.

Silencing one another doesn’t make us stronger. It makes us brittle.

The cynicism is creeping in from all directions.

“America is going down the tubes.”

“This generation is ruining everything.”

We share mean memes that call out anyone who doesn’t agree with us.

And on and on.

It’s easy to feel like the world is coming apart — but the truth is, we’ve been through chaos before.

In 1976, the United States celebrated its Bicentennial. Two hundred years since the Declaration of Independence, and the country was… well, not exactly united. Much like today, Americans were deeply divided. People questioned the government. Inflation was out of hand. Social movements surged.

Sound familiar?

And yet, despite it all, something remarkable happened.

Patriotism was everywhere.

Men voluntarily grew Bicentennial beards in homage to the Founders. Advertising was drenched in red, white, and blue. Bicentennial quarters jingled in every pocket. And the family was front and center in the national conversation.

It wasn’t about pretending everything was perfect

It was about remembering what was worth fixing.

The parades and fireworks weren’t just fanfare; they were reminders of our founding ideals and how far we’d come.

The celebration sparked real discussions about civil rights, gender equality, and social justice. It reminded us that liberty and equality aren’t trophies we win once — they’re goals we work toward again and again.

That’s patriotism.

A mirror and a map. A way to remember what we promised ourselves — and a call to keep showing up.

Of course, not all history uplifts.

On January 6, 2021, as Congress met to certify the results of the presidential election, a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. It wasn’t just a riot — it was a full-on rejection of democracy itself.

It was shocking. Heartbreaking. Infuriating.

But above all, it was clarifying:

Democracy is fragile.

And it’s our job — we the people — to protect it.

With our words.

Our votes.

Our courage.

July 4th reminds us that the rejection of kings isn’t a one-time historical event.

It’s a daily choice, a generational responsibility in the revolutionary spirit of 1776.

We don’t need to agree on every issue, but we can agree on this:

No person, institution, or belief should hold kingly power over free people.

Our strength is in our shared commitment to the messy, imperfect, but ultimately liberating, process of self-governance.

As Ezra Levin told MSNBC, “Now is the moment to raise our voices… to affirm something deeper: that power belongs to the people, that democracy is worth defending.”

So, this Independence Day, let’s remember:

Patriotism isn’t about pretending everything’s perfect.

It’s about caring enough to help it become better.

So, here’s to No Kings Day.

And here’s to us.

Because even in hard times,

I still believe in the U.S.

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© 2025 Vickie Radovich

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