Happy 4th of July: Celebrating With Pride and Contrition.

July 4, 2020

In the spirit of honoring our nation on this July 4th, I am showcasing the famous modern art by Jasper Johns titled “Flag” (1954-1955 Museum of Modern Art). This image goes beyond a simple reproduction of the flag. This image evokes a depth of meaning; its layers of newspaper that lie beneath the painted surface give it texture and context, representing the complexity of our relatively short American history. 

The “Flag” is the quintessence of modern art because it represents art as an idea versus art as a replication. Some say the ”idea” here is that the “Flag” is a mirror of ourselves, giving us the opportunity to reflect on our own histories. 

I resonate with this idea, particularly today as I asked myself the question “How can we best celebrate our nation whose past holds actions for which we are both proud and contrite?” 

The way I see it, we can honor our nation the same way we can honor ourselves. We can put our hands on our heart, close our eyes, feel the gratitude for that which we are proud, forgive ourselves for that which we would do differently, and pledge to take action to move forward and grow.

Just as we are developing beings, we too are a developing nation. Growth is not easy, but it is my deep conviction that we can and will continue to evolve upward as long as we treat each other and ourselves with compassion, kindness, contrition, and gratitude.

Happy Birthday USA 🇺🇸! Let’s make this year count in our ongoing effort to spiral up.