Grit and Contradiction
America has always been complicated
What we're thinking about
It's the Fourth of July, and maybe you are feeling a little off. Maybe fireworks feel hollow this year. If so, you're not alone. America has always been complicated. From the start, it was a country founded on big ideas about freedom while also building systems of deep harm. Independence was declared while millions of people remained enslaved. Liberty was proclaimed while land was taken from those who lived here first. It's never been simple.
But here's the thing. There's always been grit woven into that story. People didn't just accept injustice. They fought back. Enslaved people resisted in ways big and small. Indigenous nations held their ground despite relentless force. Workers organized for basic dignity. Women demanded to be counted and seen. Civil rights leaders faced fire hoses and dogs just for the right to be treated as human. Disabled activists crawled up the steps of the Capitol to claim rights everyone else took for granted.
None of it was neat or easy. It was messy. It was human. And it reshaped what this country is and what it could be.
Today, it can feel like we're drowning in setbacks. It feels like there's always another headline threatening people's rights, safety or dignity. It feels like throwing tea in the harbor wouldn't even begin to touch what's wrong.
So what do we do with these feelings?
We remember that grief and anger are signs of love. We remember we're not alone in them. We remember that small acts still matter. Honest conversations matter. Caring for your neighbors matters. Allyship matters. Resting when you need to matters. Holding on to hope, even when it feels silly or naive, matters.
Pride in this country doesn't have to look like flags and anthems. Maybe today, it looks like choosing to stay in this struggle. Choosing to connect and care deeply about the people around you. Choosing to believe that we as a people can still become something better. That choice has always been part of the American story too.
If you are feeling off today, that's okay. Feel it all. The frustration, the sadness, the hope, AND the love. This country was built on contradictions and grit. Maybe that's something worth honoring today, whether you do that quietly, or out loud.
What we're reading, watching, or listening to
This clip from Rocky Balboa. Inspiration comes in all forms.
What's bringing us joy
Genuine heroism still lives among us. 12 year old Ramir Parker saved his family from a house fire last month. He ran into his home burning in flames to save his family, person by person. No one was injured. This story is about courage. A child saw danger, chose action and saved lives. We think this is just the inspiration to keep us motivated today.
How to get involved
Do you have a story to share about what's currently happening in the federal government? We want to hear from you and work with you to write about it! Submissions can be fully anonymous. Reach out to us submissions@wethebuilders.org
About this newsletter
This newsletter is posted by the We the Builders team and will be published on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We stand for an effective government that serves its people and we won't rest until the government is rebuilt, and built better.