When the Statue of Liberty Weeps, We Must Still Dream.

There are times when a holiday meant to celebrate freedom and independence arrives with a lump in the throat, rather than a song in the heart.

This is one of those times.

As July 4th approaches, I find myself grieving more than celebrating. Our democracy is not just flickering. It stands at the precipice, trembling under the weight of fascism’s rise. I know I am not alone in this feeling. Many of us—empaths, peace dreamers, hope holders—feel a deep ache, a soul-level sorrow, and a mourning for a country that seems to have forgotten its promises.

And yet…

In the still hours of a sleepless night, years ago, this poem came through me like a whisper from something far greater than myself. It arrived not with fear, but with fierce love. Not with despair, but with a steady voice of hope.

I first published it in Peace Dreamer: A Journey of Hope in Bad Times and Good, not knowing how prophetic it might feel in this exact moment.

Today, as I reread it, it feels like a prayer. A plea. A declaration of the world we still must believe in. And perhaps, a gentle nudge from the soul of Lady Liberty herself.

So, wherever you are, whether holding a candle in the dark, marching for justice, or quietly trying to keep your heart intact, this is for you. It is for all of us.

On this sobering Independence Day, this is what freedom should feel like and why we must keep dreaming, even now:

My Dream for Peace

Imagine:
A day will come when those who have the power to destroy the world suddenly feel a transformational shift in their hearts to save the world.

Believe:
A day will come when every heart on earth opens to the healing energy of love, kindness, compassion, empathy, diversity celebration and peace.

Dream:
A day will come when no one is ever judged again based on their color, race, religion, creed, nationality, gender, age, ability, social status or sexual orientation.

Trust:
A day will come when we see each other through the warm eyes of love.

Rejoice:
A day will come when the Statue of Liberty stands tall once again and greets all humanity back to its shores with love.

Envision:
A day will come when the world chooses to cooperate, collaborate, and do what is best for the well-being of the collective whole.

Care:
A day will come when we realize how important it is to stop our busy lives and listen to each other’s feelings, thoughts and life experiences without judgment. We will simply listen from a place of love.

Visualize:
A day will come when conflicts are resolved through nonviolent solutions, empathic listening, common ground compromise, and the healing power of love.

Celebrate:
A day will come when a healing light shines through and around mother earth and the whole world makes a conscious decision to stand for love, unity, justice, equality and peace.
~

When I wrote this poem, I didn’t know what 2025 would look like. I didn’t know how heavy our world might feel, how deep the fractures would go.

But I did know that words matter. That vision matters. That love—radical, inclusive, steady love—still has a place, no matter how dark the times.

This July 4th, I won’t be waving a flag or lighting sparklers.

But I will be lighting a candle for every soul still dreaming of a more just, compassionate, peaceful world. For every child still in need of safety. For every heart still brave enough to feel.

Let us mourn. Let us rage. Let us rest. Let us become the peace we want in the world. And then, let us keep dreaming. Because if we stop dreaming, we stop shaping the future.

As we hold the weight of this moment, may these words wrap around you like a shawl of comfort. May they remind you that hope is not passive.

It is alive in each loving act, each word of truth, each soul who refuses to give up. Let’s keep showing up for that day to come.

~