Adam Rubin, Special to the Standard Examiner
“It means freedom, man. People not telling me what to do. As long as I am not hurting anyone else, leave me alone. I am an ex-Marine … I saw people putting their life on the line to defend freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, freedom of lifestyle … It (pisses) me off seeing people want to take that away.” — David Jones, Ogden
“Not so long ago, Independence Day marked the real beginning of summer. It was a day to swim, a chance to grill, time to spend with the family between working. It was meaningful only in the time spent with others. But, as I have grown up, it has become just another day on the calendar. It is completely meaningless now as a holiday. I, like so many others, feel disappointed by our country and celebrating patriotism is the last thing on my mind. So, to me, with Independence Day, it is just another day off from work.” — Karleigh Sheehan-Drumm, Salt Lake City
“I think it is about remembering what Independence means to us, what we did to get it and what we can do today to keep it. What comes to my mind is — I think it is important to look at all of history. Obviously, we celebrate the Revolutionary War, which is super important, but I think that the freedoms that we have earned throughout the years within our own country. You know, women’s rights, all the rights, really. It is important to remember all of those, because that is what we celebrate with our freedom, not just the fact that we have our own country, because that does not mean a lot if we are not free ourselves… Things are a bit crazy right now, I think people politicize Independence Day too much, I think it should be a day where we get together, and appreciating the freedoms we have, like I said, and just come together. I think we should leave politics out of Independence Day, you know, it’s just another holiday.” — Nicholas Day, Cedar City
“We are taught in school that Independence is our separation from the British and forming our own form of government and things like that. You know, maybe we’ve gotten a little bit lost, it has been 200-plus years since that separation happened. I have been to Washington DC and I have made some connection there, it is beautiful place with lots of history there. Maybe we are a little bit disconnected from that time. Now, it has become more about the fireworks and things, and maybe we should focus a little bit more on being connected to that. You know, it’s just like it sounds, ‘in-de-pend-ant’ — sometimes having that freedom really gives you that opportunity to celebrate your own freedom and do your own thing, experiencing your life and the liberties that come with it. ” — Nate Staker, North Ogden
“I get to have the freedom to do, not everything, but most things. You know, the freedom to speak, to go out and do stuff, the freedom to get together more and do more stuff about something when it comes up. It gives society the freedom … For example, the male abortion stuff, if there are people who are needing to do something like this. … I think little by little the government is kind of taking most of our independence, and I do not think they are realizing this because we do not speak out about it.” — Emily Valero, Ogden
Adam Rubin, Special to the Standard Examiner
Photos and interviews by Adam Rubin, Special to the Standard-Examiner.
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Nicholas Day
Nate Staker
Emily Valero
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