Freedom for Whom to do What? Is Valid Question on Fourth of July

Three Comforting Myths from the Declaration of Independence

By Ibram X. Kendi  truthout/op-ed

"We, the people" seem to enjoy sleeping on our comfortable bed of myths about the United States' "founding fathers," documents and creeds. Every 4th of July, we seem to remake this bed of mythology.

It is a bed that comforts our belief in American exceptionalism. It is bed that comforts our belief that the United States is the leader of the free world. It is a bed that comforts our belief that US ideals are inherently good. It is a bed that comforts our belief that the founders of the United States were great men who did great things for us, like creating this great country.

"We, the people" seem to avoid the hard floor of truth. And too often, our historians and memories are hindered by duty, blinded by patriotism and restrained by ideology in splashing water on us, in soiling our bed of mythology, in forcing us to wake up to the complex and sometimes awful truth of the American foundation.

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