What the World Thinks About Americans

Just issues, news, and other stuff that matters to you [Fusion] July 4, 2016 Happy Fourth of July! Hopefully you prepped over the weekend to properly celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and make loosely-topical “Hamilton” references. (Although considered a Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton did not sign the document in 1776—he was only 21.) Nevertheless, Independence Day is a day to remember how far we’ve come as a country, and how far we still have left to go. On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass [delivered] one of his most memorable speeches at an abolitionist event. It was a reminder that July 4th doesn’t inspire patriotic nostalgia for everyone in the United States. “[This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.] You may rejoice, I must mourn.” My suggestion? Add Lin-Manuel Miranda’s [“My Shot”] to your cookout playlist for some much-needed hope on this day. —[Darian Symoné Harvin] TODAY IN... AMERICA According to the rest of the world, Americans are hardworking and optimistic, but also intolerant, greedy, and violent. Here’s what the world [really thinks] of the United States on its 240th birthday. BLOODY HELL Pro-Brexit leader Nigel Farage has [accomplished his goal]; the U.K. voted to leave the European Union. So, he’s stepping down as head of UKIP. COMPARISONS Things people say at both the end of Fourth of July fireworks and [Donald Trump rallies] include: “I thought it was going to be patriotic, but really it was just tacky.” THE ENVIRONMENT Exposure to pesticides can cause significant long-term health problems. So what are kids supposed to do when their schools are [filled with them]? BREAKING STEREOTYPES One Syrian-American woman is using her talent for art and baking to [challenge] Muslim stereotypes. THE READ [How can evangelicals be both pro-life and pro-gun?] [DanielRivero_b&w] by Daniel Rivero Right now, the Orlando shooting is still [on everyone’s mind]. But, inevitably, most of us will move on. That’s how it was for Rob Schenck, an evangelical pastor at the center of “The Armor of Light,” a new documentary that premiered on Netflix last Friday. After witnessing a spate of mass shootings, Schenck found himself moved, but not in a way that he thought he could personally do anything about. But after the 2013 [Washington D.C. Navy Yard shooting] happened just a few blocks from his apartment, his outlook started to change. “There were at least twelve people [killed from] gunshot wounds in my neighborhood and I realized I have to address it,” he says in the film. “The Armor of Light” follows Schenck from this moment, focusing on an uncomfortable question that the pastor slowly builds up the nerve to ask of his fellow believers: Can an evangelical Christian really consider themselves both pro-life and pro-gun? [Read more] LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN FLAG Celebrities wearing the American flag and [showing their patriotism] in some way, shape, or form. [Facebook] [Twitter] [Vine] [Instagram] [Youtube] Remember, you can always [click here to unsubscribe] and never see another one of these emails until the apocalypse (at which time it'll be nothing but emails). This email was sent to {EMAIL} Fusion · 419 Lafayette St · New York, NY 10003 · USA