Every year, my local neighborhood of Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida hosts a Fourth of July celebration. Sponsored by the City of Miami, the event takes place at a park near city hall.
In recent years, before the fireworks show, the event has featured a free concert by a local orchestra. The orchestra plays patriotic, classical American marching music. Or at least it’s supposed to.
Just three songs into this year’s concert, the conductor began repeatedly and bizarrely shouting “Venezuela, Venezuela, Venezuela,” which was met with cheers from the crowd. He then declared to the audience that “we have to play a song from Venezuela,” which he and the orchestra proceeded to do.
So instead of leading the crowd into a “USA” chant, and instead of honoring our country, the conductor decide to honor a foreign country at the City of Miami’s July 4th celebration.
I took a video of the orchestra playing Venezuelan music, and left the event immediately after.
It’s shameful that any 4th of July celebration, much less one hosted by city government, would toast a foreign nation.
It’s incidents like these that make people want to identify with the term “America First.” Americans are tired of being put second in their own country.
I shared this and a few other thoughts about the event in a “Letter to the Editor” to the Miami Herald. I don’t expect the paper to publish my remarks, so I’ll share them here below.
Coconut Grove’s Fourth of July concert in Peacock Park was supposed to be a celebration of America. It quickly turned into anything but.
Just three songs into the performance, the conductor began repeatedly chanting “Venezuela!” He was met with cheers from the crowd as he added that “we have to play a song from Venezuela,” which the orchestra proceeded to do.
That any 4th of July event, much less one organized by the City of Miami, would toast a foreign nation and play its music is a disgrace.
I left the event immediately.
It goes without saying that I have nothing against Venezuelans or any immigrant community. But the actions of those in attendance were inappropriate.
My ancestors fought in every major American war dating back to the Revolution. I am entitled to feel that my own Independence Day should be respected.
People wonder why “America First” has become such a popular term. This is why. Americans are tired of feeling like strangers in their own country.
It’s sad that the City of Miami couldn’t even put America first on her own birthday. The City of Miami and Commissioner Damian Pardo should be ashamed.
I expect some might read about this incident and ask, “what’s the big deal, it’s just one song/toast.” But that’s exactly the point. “Just one” thing and the indifferent “what’s the big deal” mentality are excuses for a larger concern.
The whole country is changing—its cities, towns, people, culture, and society itself. And it’s as though we aren’t supposed to notice.
But it’s always the small changes that come first. If Americans can’t or won’t object to these things, then they shouldn’t even bother when the significant, unalterable changes occur. It’ll be far too late.