Most Americans have fond memories of the 4th of July celebrations. Perhaps you met up with family and friends from out-of-state, or you went to Unity Park to enjoy the fireworks with your fellow Greenville residents. Either way, for many of us, the 4th of July is a day of jubilation; it is a distinctly American way of celebrating the freedom that has formed the basis of this country for the last three centuries. As someone who comes from Singapore, a “short” 25-hour flight from South Carolina, this was my first time celebrating the 4th of July, and I had an absolute blast! Yet, as I sip on my coffee from the Commons and watch the grand firework display at Unity Park, I am also painfully aware that there are many within our own communities that have not achieved the freedom and independence that Independence Day is supposed to guarantee. Predatory lending and racial injustice, among others, are just some of the problems plaguing American society and Greenville today, and there is still so much that we can do to dismantle the structures that prevent others from realizing their freedoms. Thus, one of the concerns that I’ve always had at the back of my mind has been: what is the nature of freedom, and what can we do to ensure the freedom of all peoples?
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