Just as millions of Americans were preparing for Independence Day across the country, conscientious New Yorkers were insisting that the country’s founding was not worth celebrating.
Patriotism among liberals is extremely low, with recent survey According to Gallup, only 34 percent of Democrats are extremely proud to be Americans.
Meanwhile, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have issued a warning to those planning to celebrate the holiday about possible “lone wolf attacks” by extremist groups, cautioning that large crowds are often seen as “attractive targets.”
Ahead of the holiday, DailyMail.com took to the streets of New York to ask young liberals how patriotic they are this July 4.
“I saw a meme the other day that said ‘America doesn’t deserve a birthday party,’ and I feel like that kind of sums up how I feel about the Fourth of July,” said Denise Parker, 34, a wellness director at a high school.
Denise Parker (pictured), 34, said America doesn’t deserve a birthday party this July 4.
“I think America is a really inclusive place, especially New York. It’s like a welcoming melting pot, though obviously not without some conflicts.”
Anita Gitta, 25, said the “American mentality is not right.”
“Capitalism just forces people to work tirelessly just to survive, that’s what I hate about America,” Gitta said.
Others expressed concern about the state of politics and Biden’s chances of winning after his disastrous debate performance.
“I feel like no matter what happens, I have my passport ready and I’m ready to go to Mexico,” said Giselle Hernandez, 26.
“What’s the point of our government being there if it doesn’t really help us?”
Meanwhile, Jack Weerts, 23, visiting from California, said: “I just don’t feel like the vast majority of our current politicians represent the general wishes of America.”
“I just don’t think our current President Biden has what it takes to run the office as he should,” said Frederick Schultz, 25.
Anita Gitta (pictured), 25, said she hates that capitalism is a driving force that makes Americans work tirelessly.
War veteran Steven Johnson Jr. (pictured) said he believes democracy is crumbling before our eyes.
Jack Weerts, 23, said it’s hard to feel patriotic given his concerns about the current state of politics.
Although it was mostly young people who complained about the state of the Union, some older adults expressed a similar sentiment.
“I feel like America is going through a tough time right now, mainly because of the upcoming election,” said 85-year-old retiree Gino Musso.
Steven Johnson Jr., 54, an assistant principal at an elementary school in Charleston, North Carolina, and a war veteran, said he thought the world was “on fire.”
“It’s almost like watching our democracy crumble before our very eyes. It’s really scary.”
While many feel unpatriotic this July 4, others say they are proud to be Americans.
“I feel patriotic, more patriotic than I expected,” said Alonso Mayorga, 22. “We have to focus on core values and get back to them.”
“I think one of the best things about America is that it has a lot of problems, but everyone is free to say what they think about them,” said Sahil Sen, 21.
A Buddhist monk was also very positive about the United States.
“America is peaceful and free for all,” he said.
According to a new ranking from WalletHub, Virginia (home to the US capital, Washington DC) is the most patriotic of the 50 states.
While many feel unpatriotic on July 4, others like Alonso Mayorga (pictured) said they are in the spirit of the holiday.
Patriotism among liberals is extremely low: A recent Gallup poll shows that only 34 percent of Democrats say they are extremely proud to be Americans.
Sahil Sen (pictured), 21, said the best thing about the United States is the freedom to speak out about issues he believes are problems in the country.
Alaska and Montana rounded out the podium, while Florida, New York and Arkansas fell to the bottom of the nationalist pack.
The rankings took into account a number of factors, including military commitment, jury participation, voting rates, number of volunteers and history teaching in schools.
Speaking about the rankings with Fox News, WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said, “The most patriotic states have many residents who serve or have served in the military, high voter turnout during elections, and a large share of the population who volunteer with national and local organizations.”
“Patriotism is also not concentrated in one particular area. The major states are located in very different geographical regions,” he added.