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The US Capitol, Fort Pelosi is Closed for July 4th
Why are some Democrats working so hard to tamper down Independence Day celebrations?
Independence Day celebrations are a long staple of hamlets across America, but especially in Washington, DC. Before the pandemic, thousands of people would flock to The Mall and camp out most of the day; others would arrive late in the afternoon, at the risk of occasional summer thunderstorms, mostly to get a good look at the fireworks launched from near the Washington Monument that evening.
Sometimes they engender controversy. The one I first remember was in 1983 when Interior Secretary James Watt canceled a concert by the Beach Boys because they attracted “the wrong element.” They would play instead in Atlantic City and were replaced in Washington with Wayne Newton and another band. President Reagan was unhappy with Watt’s decision and invited the Beach Boys to the White House.
I remember sitting on the west lawn of the US Capitol to catch the 8 p.m. live National Symphony Orchestra and musical show that always ended with a rousing rendition of the 1812 Overture as the fireworks display began almost on queue. Eventually, as a Senate official, I would take my family to the Capitol’s west front portico for the concert and fireworks before relocating to Philadelphia.
I’m back in the DC area now, but the US Capitol remains closed to visitors since January 6th. Security fencing is still found around the Capitol building. That is an interesting way to celebrate independence; by shutting down the nation’s greatest symbol of representative democracy to visitors and even an annual, traditional celebratory concert.
US Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) penned a terrific op-ed in the Washington Examiner that details how parts of the Capitol remain closed to even its elected Members. It’s worth a read.
During an average year, the U.S. Capitol welcomes 2.5 million visitors, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to reopen the Capitol to visitors — school groups, families, or anyone hoping to see the legislative branch in action. To make matters worse, Pelosi’s refusal even to allow visitors on the Capitol grounds resulted in the outdoor concert regularly held on the Capitol’s west front to celebrate our nation’s independence being canceled.
What could have been a unifying celebration of our Independence Day and defeat of COVID-19 will instead be virtual performances streamed online.
Washington, D.C., has fully reopened. Americans traveling to Washington, D.C., this summer can attend sporting events, go to concerts, take their families to the National Zoo, see monuments, and visit most Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. The U.S. Capitol should be open for tours.
Unfortunately, keeping the Capitol closed is just part of the speaker’s larger effort to exert more control over the House.
That isn’t all, of course. Many of us remember the powerful July 4th air show and fireworks at Mount Rushmore last year. President Trump attended. In the midst of a pandemic that had shut everything down, the event lifted American spirits. It was impressive. But this year, President Biden denied South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s request for fireworks on Independence Day at Mount Rushmore. Killjoy.
“After telling us they’d ‘circle back,’ the Biden Administration has not responded to our request to uphold the Memorandum Agreement between the State of South Dakota and the National Parks Service to host a safe and responsible national celebration and fireworks show,” Noem wrote.
The lawsuit was rejected by a federal judge, who said the administration was justified in its reasons for rejecting the permit. But the issue generated renewed controversy after the Biden administration announced plans to host a fireworks display at the White House, a decision Noem called hypocritical.
“What a hypocrite. President Joe Biden wants ‘a summer of freedom’ where we ‘mark independence from the virus by celebrating with events across the country,'” Noem tweeted after the announcement. “Translation: fireworks are fine at the White House, but not at Mount Rushmore.”
This will be your Pelosi-approved image of the US Capitol for July 4th, from this past Spring. Enjoy. At least there’s no fencing I’m aware of around Mount Rushmore. Yet.
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What do you expect from anti-American Nazis like Pelosi and Biden?
We have already had our national holiday for all with “Juneteenth National Independence Day”. The fourth is being reduced since it does not represent the new leadership and ownership of the country
In Oregon there is a big effort to ban the use of fireworks, ostensibly because of fire danger. Many local jurisdictions have prohibited their use. (State statute reportedly does not allow a state wide ban. Considering her abuse of emergency powers during the pandemic, I’m surprised the governor hasn’t banned them anyway.) But Portland and some other jurisdictions have said, “don’t call the police.” So likely there will be plenty of celebration.
Ya gotta be careful with those wild and crazy Beach Boys fans. Are they still allowed to perform in California? :-)
Gosh, it’s almost as if President * and his Regime hate the USA.
Is Jarrett now totally out of the picture?
Because they hate America, and everything that reminds us of our real history and the good things about America.
They hate it.
I’m going to celebrate every year from now on on Juneteenth the burning of the Rosenbergs for treason.
Gonna fry burgers.
Because they hate America, dontcha think?
Myself, I’m not going to be celebrating anyway. I think America WAS a great country founded on great ideas of individual freedom, but it’s is not that country now. Maybe it will be again. My patriotism is now relegated to “proceed cautiously”. When our elections are obviously compromised, when the news is corporate and fascistic propaganda, when the First Amendment and the Fourth Amendments are being violated continually with no shame. When nearly every public agency funded by taxpayers has become politicized and now weaponizedWhen American patriots are being gunned down for essentially “trespassing” on public property… and more, what’s to celebrate? Our glorious past?
Independence Day when our government is working to globalize and essentially make America more dependent on, and beholden to world bodies like the UN and W.H.O. and other entities, not to mention using China as our remote manufacturing facility for slave labor.
A country that allows its representing athletes to disrespect its symbols and legacy? Where our public schools and institutions are allowing our children and public servants and soldiers to be taught that our country is systematically racist?
Nothing to celebrate. When the F-15s fly over the crowd, are we supposed to salute and be proud, or should we take cover?
With all due respect, while I appreciate and respect your concerns, you are missing the bigger picture. Please read the post that I’ve got planned for the early morning of July 4th. Perhaps it will provide some optimism that you are sorely lacking.
Interesting. I had never heard about that.
The only letter I ever wrote to a President was one to Reagan, urging him to fire James Watt, not because he had “a black, a woman, two Jews, and a cripple,” but because he used his connections to get one of his critics in a private company cancelled.
I have attended the July 4th concert and fireworks on the Washington D.C. Mall several times with my family. I’ve even watched it while sitting on the steps of the Capitol Building. What a bunch of lousy weasels to cancel it again this year! That photo of the fencing with the armed soldiers makes it look like there was a coup…I guess there was: Pelosi has taken over that branch of the government. It is sickening.