S E E A L S O
The Fourth Divided by Nine
2024
Celebrating the Fourth on the Fifth
2021
A Fourth Without Fireworks
2020
The Fourth
2019
The Fourth
2018
The Fourth
2017
Photo Finish
2106
'If You Want To
Be Free ...'
2104
Independence Day
2013
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A S C R A P B O O K O F S O L U T I O N S F O R T H E P H O T O G R A P H E R
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Enhancing the enjoyment of taking pictures with news that matters, features that entertain and images that delight. Published frequently.
4 July 2025
It's a ridiculous time to be an American. From ICE raids based on nothing more than skin color to Republicans capitulating to the Trump's infantile desire for "a win," to Hegseth's reversion of base names to Confederates using the names of soldiers with the same last names as the Confederates, you'd have to be an idiot to celebrate this pike of garbage with fireworks.
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In June, we personally read and listened to some 253 stories from reputable sources covering these developments. In May, we read 308, in April 277, in March 110 and 9 in February, when we started counting. That's nearly a thousand reports we've read about what the Trump administration is doing.
We never thought we'd live in a country in which armed men wearing masks would beat and round up people standing in front of a Home Depot looking for day work. We never thought we'd live in a country where Medicaid and food stamps would be taken from the nation's neediest so the wealthiest Americans permanently enjoy tax breaks. We never thought we'd be living in a county with a Secretary of Defense who believes he he can claim Fort Benning isn't named for Benning but for Benning and fool anyone.
Just to give three examples out of that thousand.
Disagree? Just read through those headlines to see if that describes the America you imagine you live in. The America you can be proud of.
Not likely. It's a betrayal of American ideals, not an example of them. A disgrace.
This administration and those who supporter it act as if America is the name of a country club that admits no new members.
It's not. It never has been. They won't be able to turn it into one.
In the end, their gated community will function less as a country club than a prison. With no possibility of parole.
And a legacy only of shame.