MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THESE
by Carl Fombrun
The 4th of July is a holiday that I compare to Thanksgiving. As a matter of fact Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an official holiday with the following proclamation: "I do invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November, as a day of Thanksgiving ...”
Those two holidays have no religious connotations. The 4th of July is a holiday to reflect on the origin of the United States of America. Of Haitian background, I am an American and a U.S. citizen. It's Independence Day.
All of us want to be independent, individually and as a country. What does Independence mean? Independence means so many things.
For instance, the language that one speaks. Choice of worship, Choice of not to worship, Choice of where to Live. Freedom of not being told where to live and how to live. A the same time it's a responsibility not to go to extremes, realize one is in a social order and must be aware of other people's rights and freedom. Compromise is the name of the game.
I would liken this day, the 4th of July 2004, to the use of fireworks for those festivities. When used in discretion, a delight; when used with abandon, a disaster. One of my memorable 4th of July 1973 was spent in Holland, Michigan, 31 years ago, in the heartland of America. It was a day spent on the shores of Lake Michigan on a clear blue sky and a marvelous time to celebrate the Red, White, and Blue.
We spent the day watching the parade from row boats to luxurious yachts going by and ended with a wonderful fireworks display. Everyone was doing their things with everyone else in peace and harmony. At night I remember eating a gooseberry pie made by my American, as apple pie, wife of 48 years; those gooseberries were transparent pale green, each the size of a blueberry, picked on an old bush in our friends' backyard.
Memories are made of these. America the beautiful has so many great traditions to offer to its people and to the world.
On this memorable occasion, with my good wishes, I dedicate this poem to all people of good will.
Each life has a purpose, each purpose a plan; Great minds find a reason to do what they can.
A hope for tomorrow, a task for today,
Through troubles or sorrow, each trial on life's way…
A purpose for living, a test you must meet,
Accepting each challenge, the bitter the sweet.
- CARL FOMBRUN 4 th of July 2004
4 Juillet 2004
Il est bon de rappeler aux jeunes Haitian-Américains que La Declaration de l'Indépendance des Etats Unis d'Amérique c'était prononcée le 4 juillet 1776. Beaucoup d'hommes courageux et de femmes vaillantes sont morts à Savannah au nom de la liberté. Pour nous autres haitïens, le 4 juillet a toute son importance, car nos ancêtres, eux aussi, ont participé à l'indépendance des Etats Unis. Il est bon aussi de souligner que nos jeunes n'ont pas eu la joie et la fierté de célébrer et de commémorer avec nous les 200 ans de l'indépendance de notre pays. Nous avions ignore 1804. L'histoire dira peut être de notre génération que nous étions aveuglés par nos contraditions et n'avions pas compris l'importance et l'ampleur de notre révolution.
L'Amérique et d'autres pays du globe nous hebergent tandis qu'il pleut chez nous. Beaucoup de nos enfants sont nés et grandissent aux Etats Unis. Actuellement, parmi eux, il a déjà des professionnels qui donnent leur savoir pour l'avancement de la sociétè Américaine. Alors, que nous le voulions ou non, notre histoire, d'une façon ou d'une autre, se lie au destin des Etats-Unis. Nous devons donc, sous la bannière du drapeau américain, nous défendre et réclamer nos droits en tant que citoyens américains. Nous devons, fièrement, faire connaitre à l'Amérique entière, notre participation à son indépendance et à son developement. Plusieurs de nos ancêtres sont morts à Savannah, nos frères sont morts au Vietnam et aujourd'hui, côte-à-côte avec les Américains, nos enfants combattent le terrorisme. Quoi de plus patriotique et émouvant que la celebration d'un 4 Juillet 2004 pour un émigré qui a la nostalgie de ce qu'aurait du être le 1er Janvier 2004.
Bonne Fête América !
Mireille Sylvain-David
Ecrivain/Poétesse
Fondatrice et Directrice
Haitian American Youth Organization of Kendall ( HAYO )