Sometimes, I find something online that is so compelling and aligned with my feelings that it stays with me for a while. Here’s something posted by Bob Gower that perfectly represents how I feel on this 4th of July. 

Like many Americans, I’m deeply disappointed in yesterday’s Senate vote. While this bill is big, it’s not beautiful. It’s cruel, shortsighted, and reckless — and will almost certainly lead to increased suffering, for citizens and non-citizens alike.

I don’t say this lightly or from a place of pure ideology. I’ve long identified as a progressive-leaning liberal, but I also recognize that reasonable people with shared intentions can still come to different conclusions. I also know that fear and a need to belong can lead otherwise good people to support harmful things.

Still, clarity matters. And clarity starts with values.