Every year, the fireworks go off. Flags fly. The grills fire up. People post red, white, and blue selfies with captions about freedom, bravery, and patriotism. And every year, I find myself feeling a little… conflicted.

Don’t get me wrong—I love this country. I’m incredibly grateful to have been born in the United States. There’s a lot to admire here: our ideals, our innovation, our resilience, and the freedom we say we stand for.

But loving something doesn’t mean blindly worshiping it. In fact, if you really love something, you fight like hell to make it better.

That’s where I’m at with America.

The Marketing vs. The Reality

We’ve marketed the 4th of July as this clean, sanitized version of rebellion and triumph. But let’s be real: the American Revolution was messy. It was radical. It was a bunch of pissed-off people who were tired of being screwed over by a power structure that didn’t represent them. Sound familiar?

The truth is, we’re still fighting some of the same damn battles. Power concentrated in the hands of a few. Systems that work for the rich and connected, but screw the working class. A government that often feels more like a bureaucracy than a beacon of hope.

And the people—the actual people—keep getting gaslit into thinking the problem is each other.

Freedom Ain’t Free (and It Sure as Hell Ain’t Equal)

I’ve been in security for over 30 years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can’t protect what you don’t value. And in this country, we don’t always value the things we should.

We say we care about freedom, but:

• We allow mass surveillance without real accountability.

• We let corporations harvest our data like it’s a commodity.

• We cheer for whistleblowers until they expose something inconvenient.

We say we believe in equality, but:

• Access to healthcare, education, and even clean water still depends on your ZIP code.

• Racism, misogyny, and poverty aren’t gone—they just got better at hiding.

• Veterans get parades once a year but can’t get the mental health care they’ve earned.

If that’s freedom, then it’s got a damn good PR team.

What Are We Even Celebrating?

Here’s the thing: I still celebrate the 4th of July.

But I don’t do it because everything is perfect. I do it in spite of the imperfections. I celebrate the idea of America—the one we haven’t fully lived up to yet. The one that says people should be free, respected, and empowered to speak their truth without fear.

I celebrate because I believe we can do better.

And I celebrate with a sense of responsibility. Because democracy isn’t a spectator sport. If you’re not pushing for improvement—if you’re not questioning authority, defending the vulnerable, and calling out bullshit when you see it—then you’re not honoring what this holiday is supposed to mean.

This Country Is Worth Fighting For

I don’t think patriotism is fireworks and flag pins. I think it’s showing up when it’s uncomfortable. It’s calling out corruption—even when it’s “your side.” It’s choosing truth over tribalism. It’s believing that your fellow citizens, even the ones you disagree with, deserve dignity.

I’ve been critical of America, but only because I give a damn. I want to live in a country that matches its rhetoric. One where kids don’t have to practice active shooter drills. One where facts matter. One where people actually listen to each other.

Call me idealistic. Or call me ungrateful. I don’t really care. I’d rather be honest than comfortable.

So Today, I’ll Raise a Glass

To the rebels, the fighters, and the misfits who still believe we can make this place better. To the veterans who served, and the citizens who give a damn. To the dreamers, the doers, and the people who haven’t given up.

The 4th of July isn’t just a party. It’s a challenge. A reminder.

Let’s be worthy of the celebration.

Stay safe. Stay free. Stay pissed off enough to fix things.

—Evan