A non-traditional, unconventional, technicolored extremely
verbose story about the red, white and blue holiday you know, but have yet to
experience.
By Stacey Kumagai
In the United States of America, the Fourth of July is a
calendar federal holiday. Known also as Independence day, it commemorates the
signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.
In my early years as a TV reporter, I was assigned a story
to go out on the street and do a 4th of July story that was
different. I had to come up with my own questions
and ask people on the street something thought-provoking…
- · What does freedom mean to you?
- · How would you define independence?
- · In what ways do you celebrate the 4th of July?
The answers were as unique as the melting pot, which make up
America.
What did I learn?
- Freedom means different things to different people.
- Independence is a word defined by the freedom people feel to be their true selves on one hand; while loosely functioning within the parameters of who they can actually be based on their individual circumstances of life.
- Celebrating a holiday like this that has history, meaning, symbolism, and yet much commercialism is varied based on culture, tradition and for a lot of people make-shift convention based on geography, weather, the economy and social class.
This info-gathering was eye-opening. This story expanded
beyond the ‘fluff’ assignments one might think about that might only be
packaged by people putting the U.S. flag outside their home, or duct taped to
the tailgate of their trucks still recalling the 1970s TV jingle “Baseball,
hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet.”
It was complicated to edit. How does one compile all of the
above in a 120-second neat package with a tidy red, white and blue bow?
It was such an oxymoronic (yeah, I took the ‘liberty’ to
make that word up) thing and probably why I became so verbally verbose vomiting
as many words as I could. My life in broadcasting, advertising, PR, and
promotions was about using as few words as possible, the “tagline” the ‘edited
word count’ crammed into a tight space like a star-shaped peg in a round hole,
making things fit – almost appearing censorship-like by task.
Here I was reporting on a story about freedom and
independence and I had no freedom or independence to expand beyond two minutes
to provide a true picture of what freedom means to people and how they
celebrate their own independence.
- So how would YOU answer the three bullet point questions?
- What has FREEDOM and INDEPENDENCE meant to you in your life?
- What parts of your life have been lived utilizing those two key words?
- How do you reflect back on your 4th of July experiences of tradition, or unconvention?
As you think about the above questions, how would you CHANGE
your own definition of what this means to you and what have you learned about
yourself thinking about the freedom and independence you have vs. what more you
can do to get it, fight for it and/or expand your perception about it?
Growing up, the words Freedom and Independence in the breath
of the 4th of July holiday meant something different to me.
For one, as a third-generation Japanese American - my
parents were part of the U.S. Japanese Internment Camps – so those two words had
both a bittersweet context as much as my 180 degree out-of-the-box childhood 4th
of July celebrations.
At age six, while my friends slept in thinking about the
barbecues and tri-colored desserts of berries and (ugh) Cool-Whip; I was using
an old toothbrush scrubbing my sneakers white with baking soda at 4 a.m. This
was in preparation to march twirling my baton in the largest 4th of
July Parade West of the Mississippi, in Surf City U.S.A.
I did this for seven years. My goals for the day were: Stay
in step with the band. Pray to be marching ahead of the horses. Don’t drop the
baton.
This was 1D as a child. As an adult – I see in the 3D – this
is two-fold duality. I also comprehend the 5D spiritual realm of “Life Lessons.”
Staying in step with the band – was keeping time, yes – very
important to be in rhythmic balance. But
it is also marching to the beat of one’s own drummer, while you do this.
Praying to be marching ahead of the horses, wasn’t just to
not step in crap – but to learn to be a leader.
Not dropping the baton, was sure – yes, don’t look mess-up/fall
behind or you’ll get trampled on by the rest of the parade; but also be
accountable, hold up your end of the teamwork.
Independence and freedom?
Hell to the yeah…. And yes, I just exercised both words writing that –
as it would be ‘edited out’ of mainstream journalism. Hehe
Working the highest traffic and attendance holiday at Disney
wasn’t exactly a ‘no sweat’ endeavor wearing wool in 90 degree heat as people
crammed their bodies into the Happiest Place on Earth to “ooh-and-ahh” over the
firework display, Tinkerbell’s descend sprinkling light magic and pixie dust on
everyone. Amid the smell of vanilla
piped into the vents of the Candy palace, Orville Redenbacher non-GMO popped popcorn,
tourist sweat excreting Dole pineapple beverages from the Tiki Room hearing “God
Bless America” on symphonic repeat… Freedom and Independence took on a
different meaning.
In what Universe is the 4th of July taking on the
3D in what appears to be a 5D ethers fantasy?
Yes – that is Freedom and Independence, too.
Dare to dream on unfathomable levels… Isn’t this why people
from all over the world flock to America?
YES, IT IS!
Working years in 4th of July Chili-Cook-Off
competitions both as an event and media producer as well as a cooking
contestant, I learned everyone’s “Spice of Life” was an individual choice. Catering,
producing, publicizing and media wrangling Red, White & Blues music
festivals – I learned that Americans pick themselves up from the trenches, sing
the Blues as a form of expression for how the journey made them stronger and
they celebrate their freedom and independence having become a better version of
themselves.
My years working PR with 4th of July Indie documentary
film screenings taught me that the human lens on life makes up one’s own
on-the-ground and simultaneous bird’s-eye-view of what freedom and independence
mean as a way they take life in to appreciate what it is they have. It is a privilege and honor to witness life,
another to experience it and yet another to tell a story about it one’s own
way.
Securing sponsorship in the production of a Health &
Wellness 4th of July weekend event, freedom and independence took on
a different harmony. The culmination between Western and alternative Eastern
medicine uniting together for the benefit of community became its own melting
pot of individuals and families finding their own liberation in making choices
for themselves. The preventative realm was
an opportunity to create a foundation of equality to show people that their
right to choose ways they took care of themselves was something they could have. Freedom and independence became an
empowerment arena to take information and make choices for the better living.
While grilled vegetables, dairy-gluten-free frozen treats
and a Radio Disney fitness “TRY-athalon” in trying to steer kids clear from
deep-fried-barbecue glory-glory Hallelujah may seem unconventional for 4th
of July, it is a freedom, it is exercising (literally) independence - this has its
place here, too.
So no matter what you are doing this 4th of July,
take a moment to examine how YOU see, experience and LIVE freedom. Reflect on how you view INDEPENDENCE.
Let’s rejoice in both and be grateful for what that means
individually, collectively and yes, as the United States of America and what
that means.
July 4th, 1776
is 7+4+1+7+7+6= 32. Condensed to
a single digit it is 5 – the number of freedom.
July 4, 2019 is 7+4+2+0+1+9=23…. Condensed to a single digit it is 5 – the number
of freedom.
Coincidence I am writing this blog right here, right now to
share all the ways to view it?
NO. Welcome to
Linkronicity – Where Your Journey and Destiny Link™.
If you are reading this blog, that is not an accident either.
You are being asked to review all the ways you see Freedom
and Independence and how they LINK your life together. Look at how they shaped YOU and your journey
thus far and what you choose from here on out to UNITE with your higher mind,
your earthly self and SEE things from a perspective to give you greater freedom
and greater independence in TRULY LIVING. Whew – AH the freedom of a run-on sentence….
Hallelujah indeed!
Go FORTH ON THE FOURTH.
May you stay in step with the band as you march to the beat of your own
drummer. May you lead ahead of the horses
while staying accountable for your part in life. Make sure there is enough ‘spice’
within your so you can balance out your Blues. My hope is that you see life
though many lenses, educate and liberate yourself exercising your right to be
healthy and find your own freedom and independence along the way.
The whole point is to learn something greater than the sum
of the 5 on the 4th – but to reach for a higher love (80s Steve
Winwood song pun) within to appreciate what THIS TRULY MEANS on all levels.
HERE, we can express GRATITUDE and enjoy life on yet,
another level than the current existence of conventional human zombie
celebrations where there is no meaning and context is lost for what you declare
in your own life.
In conclusion: May you
LINK to your own lessons of independence and freedom and express yourself
beyond a 120 second story package with a red, white and blue bow.
Happy 4th… in the “5th” Dimension
(yes, that was an oldies music group pun) of Freedom & Independence. Find joy. Dare to dream. Liberate yourself in
new contexts.
Namaste.
Stacey Kumagai
