Welcome back sports fans!
2020 continues to be the craziest year ever (and is only half way over!), but there is some good news in the world of sports. The National Women’s Soccer League returned to action over the weekend, all 26 teams in Major League Soccer will be playing in the “MLS is Back” tournament scheduled to start July 8th, the NBA is expected to start back up 7/31, the National Hockey League teams head to training camps next week, and Major League Baseball will start a shortened 60 game season on 7/23.
Whew! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the leagues are able to safely pull this off during a pandemic that appears to be far from over.
Now, on to the 4th of July and celebrating the Red, White and Blue, right?
Not exactly.
Normally, I consider myself to be a very patriotic person. I love my country, and I care deeply about what happens here. But I have to admit I’m not very proud of the United States of America at the moment.
The ongoing uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic, how our country responded, and the rush to get back to “normal” has me feeling very unsettled. The fact that it’s 2020, and we are still having discussions about equal rights for ALL of our citizens is mind boggling to me. On top of that, we don’t even all agree as to what, exactly, makes this country so great.
Those things have really cast a shadow on the upcoming Independence Day holiday, with all of its red, white and blue, cookouts and fireworks.
But I’m trying to remain hopeful, despite the discomfort. If more and more people are paying attention to the injustices that happen here every single day, we’re all the better for it, because that means change must be on the horizon.
So instead of my usual “Happy 4th of July” greetings, and a free printable to decorate your walls in red, white and blue, I decided to go a different direction, and celebrate diversity instead.
Because America is better when we work to understand and appreciate the cultural differences that people have, and advocate for those individuals and groups other than our own. Feel free to download, print and share!
Download both options here, to print at home:
Have a safe holiday weekend, however you choose to spend it. I’ll see you back here next week.
Carrie
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Team Colors By Carrie 