A note on Independence Day

 ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Hi {NAME}, Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. Not just because my family comes together every year at the farm to eat hot dogs and grilled salami (it’s amazing — you should try it), put on amateur firework shows, see a parade or two, and enjoy some Pure Michigan fun. The core reason I love the 4th of July is because it’s a time to come together and celebrate the nation that we love and the radical idea that we were founded on: It’s the idea that we, the people determine our fate as a nation and our future — not a king, or an autocratic government. At a time where Americans disagree on so much and politics feels so broken, and when our Supreme Court is handing down rulings that feel contradictory to our founders, it’s important to remember this big idea. The Declaration of Independence did not promise that everything would turn out perfectly. In fact, it expected problems and crises. It was written to grant Americans the opportunity to determine our own future. And that opportunity is there for us to take, no matter how tough it can feel in this given moment. So on this holiday, I hope you and your family enjoy some summer fun over the holiday weekend. But I also hope you let the few days off rejuvenate you to continue the work our founders started. We can’t give way to fear and despondency, and must instead fight for the country we love. Thank you, Elissa PAID FOR BY ELISSA SLOTKIN FOR MICHIGAN P.O. Box 4145 East Lansing, MI 48826 This email was sent to [{EMAIL}](#). Email is a very important way we communicate with supporters like you, but if you want to, you can [unsubscribe here](. Elissa Slotkin served in the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense. Use of her job titles and photographs during service do not imply endorsement by the Central Intelligence Agency OR the Department of Defense.