But our strength is in our dependence.

We depend on one another. We depend on our armed forces to keep us safe. We depend on family and friends for love, sanity and good times. We depend on employers and clients and customers for our paychecks and livelihood.

The loner is the great American archetype. Personal freedom, personal responsibility, personal choice seems to be our national mantra. It’s so often about me, myself and I. The consumerism that drives our capitalism is all about self.

But independence was only achieved by depending on one another. Freedom is not about selfish gain but what we can have and achieve together. Right now Iranians are flexing their democratic muscle by relying on one another. No man is an island.

I think the American way is helping one another, not selfishness. That’s how we have overcome each and every trial that has faced this country. United, willful cooperation is what has made us great. We have relied on each other and it has made all the difference. Even now as the economy crumbles we make it through by helping one another out, not circling the wagons and fending for ourselves.

Struggle is another American ideal. And we should remember that, because though today is our Independence Day, it was not a day of freedom for everyone. When it was first written, ‘that all men are created equal’ only applied to white men. Perhaps we should also remember other days when injustice ceased and freedom was granted in this country:

• Dec. 15, 1791: Ratification of the 1st Amendment and the freedom of speech, religion, etc. (Though religious freedom wasn’t necessarily guaranteed: New Hampshire became the last state to offer Jews full political equality in 1877. The Wikipedia article “History of Jews in the United States” is full of bizarre examples like that.)
• Dec. 18, 1865: Ratification of the 13th Amendment and an end to slavery.
• Aug. 18, 1920: Ratification of the 19th Amendment and voting rights for women.
• Jan. 2, 1945: Executive order enforcing the internment of Japanese Americans is rescinded.
• May 7, 1954: Brown v. Board of Education decision declaring school segregation unconstitutional.
• July 2, 1964: Civil Rights Act is signed into law, outlawing segregation.
• Jan. 4, 1975: Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (Or pick your occasion for Native American freedom—I don’t know what act or movement would be best to note. Our history is full of slights, denials, forced citizenship and worse to the Native Americans.)

And there are many other examples throughout our history when our country extended freedom. I imagine there will be many more in the years to come (depending on your views, homosexuals or the unborn are examples of groups that might gain freedom in the future). It says something great about our country that a person who would not have been granted freedom in 1776 is our president today.

I say all this not to crap all over patriotism or this country for which we ought to be thankful. If anything, it makes me exceedingly proud.

I say this because this union was not perfect in 1776, and it’s not perfect today. We have made mistakes and we will continue to make mistakes. But that’s OK. We can change. It is our freedom that enables us to make changes and correct those injustices and make that more perfect union. Whitewashing our history and overlooking mistakes leads to blind nationalism that can be dangerous. It’s important to acknowledge our mistakes, learn from them and move forward. American history is full of that forward progress.

America’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damn good. And we get there together.

Perhaps it’s worth looking to the closing words of the Declaration of Independence:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

Right there in the declaration is a pledge of interdependence. We need one another to be free.

Since we’re in there all the time (they’ll often start cooking Lexi’s quesadilla when we walk in) we know the owner, Dora, and I’ve talked with her a bit over the past nine months or so as the economy has tanked. Like many small businesses, especially in the hospitality sector, business has been hurting. I know a little bit about online marketing and social networking, and I thought maybe I could help.

So long story short, Dora’s became a Monkey Outta Nowhere client. Today we launched EatAtDoras.com, as well as an accompanying Twitter feed (@EatAtDoras) and a Facebook page. It’s all extremely basic and low budget. We’re talking shoestrings here people. The plan is to post daily lunch and dinner specials to Twitter, which will also push to the web site and Facebook, as well as coupons, special offers and fun updates (I hear rumors about a salsa bar). The site still has additions and tweaks coming (Espanol, a menu, etc.), but the plan is the epitome of fast and simple. When I mentioned the site on Twitter today someone even asked if the CSS file wasn’t loading properly. CSS?! Ha! We don’t need no stinkin’ CSS. (I actually coded the site by hand, something I haven’t done in a decade. True story.)

It’s an interesting experience helping someone who’s not even online get their business online. I don’t know how this effort will turn out for Dora’s, we’ll have to see. But for me it feels like a challenge to social media. Can some very bare bones social media efforts paired with the marketing standby of a good deal make a difference for Dora’s bottom line? We’ll see.

But even more so than the test scenario, I love helping out a neighbor. Because for Dora’s this isn’t just some test. She’s got bills to pay. You don’t know how cool it is to have a local restaurant you love within walking distance until you consider losing it. So if you’re in the Twin Cities, I hope you’ll give Dora’s a try. And wherever you are, I hope you’ll support local businesses. They could use your help, whether that’s simple patronage or spreading the word. If you like something, tell your friends. It seems ridiculously simple, but it makes a big difference to people like Dora.

So go ahead and follow Dora’s on Twitter. Become a fan on Facebook. And if you’re in the Twin Cities, stop in for some tasty eats.

• People mourning the undisputed King of Pop, who for the last 15 years or so traded in that crown for the King of Weird. Musical brilliance and creepiness combined. That’s complicated.
• The ongoing crisis in Iran. Bottom line: freedom and democracy good, bloodshed bad. Beyond that, I’m lost trying to understand the political ins and outs.
• Then there’s Honduras. Did you hear they had a military coup this weekend? The funny part is listening to people argue why one side is legal and the other illegal. I swear if you switch the names it’s the same argument.
• And let’s not talk about the time I tried to explain Twitter to a friend at a party.

For all the complication and confusion and head-scratching, I’m glad that some things are simple:

• Like water.
• Like the importance of having a place to live.
• Like adoption. OK, there’s not much that’s simple about adoption, but kids should have families. Who can argue with that?

For all the complication in the world, sometimes we need a little simplicity.

Read more about the test drive and consider supporting the Camaro drive. That brave mulleted American edited the video for my water walk and helping him score a Camaro for charity is the least I can do.

(If that video isn’t working, you can also watch on Vimeo.)

For many years, [author and local historian Lois] Glewwe said, “Every sixth-grade class in South St. Paul was forced to tour the slaughterhouse. The little girls would be throwing up, screaming.”

I sense the beginnings of a new city slogan.

The hard-working, tough-as-nails demeanor described in the article is still part of the ethos in South St. Paul (though perhaps not reflected in the font choices of the community newsletter). The article doesn’t spend much time on it, but the city has been trying for years to fill the void left by the meat-packing industry. The city’s woes may be best exemplified in this MPR story, focusing on how Governor Tim Pawlenty’s budget cuts will adversely affect his hometown, a city heavily relient on state aid. If that doesn’t sound depressing enough, the city’s own mayor is unemployed (apparently the mayoral position isn’t a fulltime gig).

Remnants of the meat-packing industry can still be found, including the Armour gates and the stockyard exchange building (now a restaurant). The South St. Paul Riverfront Trail gives a good view of the river and the site of the former stockyard and the Makings of a City mural by Robert Zins gives an impressive visual overview of South St. Paul.

Perhaps my favorite icon in South St. Paul is the stone plaque for a missing sculpture. The sculpture is called “Legacy.”

Thank you hardly begins to cover it. To the 57 people who donated, to everyone who spread the word, to those who helped with the videos and publicity, and to those who will continue to act, pray and give to those who lack clean water, thank you.

The joyous pictures below represent the changed and saved lives that you’ve made possible. 130 times over. Words are hardly fit to express the gratitude, but thank you.

My donation widget is gone, but if you’d still like to donate you can give directly to charity: water. (All pictures are from charity: water and their amazing photographers. You can check out their photo of the day on Twitter for more great images of lives changed through clean water.)

Clean water for 30 people in 30 days for my 30th birthday was the goal. You did that in six days, and went on to provide clean water for 130 people through charity: water. Amazing: Best birthday ever. Thank you.

Shaun gave us a reminder that today we are directly responsible for very few of our basic needs. Providing food, shelter and clothing is pretty easy. You don’t have to toil in a field all year to get your food. We don’t spend every morning gathering food for the day. As Shaun said:

At no other time in history have other people been so capable of meeting my needs for me. Strangers are doing all my life-alteringly significant chores and leaving me with nothing to do but wake up every day and simply ask “What do I want to do?”

You and I have more time than anyone has ever had.  More education.  More money too.  So now what?  What will today be about?

And that’s the kicker isn’t it? We have more freedom (economically, politically, socially, etc.) than anyone in history. So the obvious question is what are we doing with it? We can horde it and enjoy it for ourselves, or we can spread it around.

It’s not always an easy choice (Mmm… iPhone, new laptop, new Star Trek flick, day on the couch watching NASCAR, etc.) and it’s not always an all or nothing choice (sometimes you need a day on the couch and sometimes that iPhone opens doors to share your freedom). But in general, the words of Spider-man come to mind: with great power comes great responsibility. With all our bills, stress and deadlines it may be hard to believe that we have such great power. But we do. (If you don’t believe me, look at the example of a formerly and soon to be homeless again unemployed man from Los Angeles.)

If that’s more overwhelming than inspiring, I encourage you to take small steps. We can’t all save the world every day. But a thousand tiny changes will make more difference than you know.

Here’s the video:

Do Something
Water=life. If you’d like to do something, you can:

• Donate. ($20 provides clean water to one person for 20 years, but donate whatever you like. Every bit helps. Donate now.
  
• Pray. If that’s your thing you can say a prayer for the one billion people who don’t have access to clean water. Pray that the 4,500 children who will die today because they lack clean water wouldn’t have to.
• Act. You don’t have to carry water or shave your head, but you can do something. Tell your friends about this issue. Support the Water for the World Act. Cut back on your own water usage (no, it won’t directly help those without water, but it’s an act of solidarity).

More information: charity: water | Pioneer Press article | Day after thoughts | Why I did it | Photos

Big thanks to Jake Nyberg at Three Volts for the editing, as well as the other folks who helped out and the many who have donated. Thank you.

A while back I hung out at the Lily Pond with Lexi, so it seemed appropriate to do it with Milo this time around.

July 23, 2007

June 2, 2009