Re: “They are as serious as any words spoken in American history.”
I partially agree - they are seriously irrational.
The Fourth of July is an American celebration of independence from Britain.
Douglass joined in the celebration knowing that all American slaves would be free if the British had prevailed.
Douglass chose to identify as an American, primarily because of the “ringbolt of our nation’s destiny,” the natural moral law principles of our Declaration.
And that identification proved in the end not to have been ill-placed or irrational.
Sadly, as in Douglass’ day, too many today have abandoned that ringbolt, and then cannot understand why the ship of state is going on the rocks.
Those who forget history are bound to repeat it.