VOA常速英语:特朗普斥巨资庆祝独立日

Fighter jet flyovers, armored vehicles on the streets and a president’s salute to America. We celebrate our history, our people and the heroes who proudly defend our flag, the brave men and women of the United States military. The 4th of July celebration in Washington is not usually about partisan politics, but this year, there are protests which include the Trump baby blimp and a trump robot tweeting from a toilet. I think it’s very clear the president is politicizing a nonpartisan event, particularly by putting himself in the middle of it. And I feel like the bringing out of planes and tanks, they’re like his little toys so that he can feel better about himself at the taxpayers’ expense. I think Trump is a very divisive president. He does not fundamentally know or care about the difference between right and wrong, as well as Trump supporters. I think he’s doing everything he needs to do to celebrate the country and to support his people, the Forgotten Americans.

We have all of our enemies. They come out and they do these up these grand displays with their military equipment. They talk a bunch of nonsense about the United States and you make it like they can beat us. Well, if I was an enemy of the United States, I would be scared right now. Since Trump attended Frances Bastille Day celebration in 2017, he had wanted a military parade. Last year’s plans fell apart amid cost concerns and criticism of militarization, the same issues raised by critics this year. Our strength is the citizens. Our strength is our deep patriotism to this country. Our strength comes from the people and it comes from the Constitution. It just doesn’t come from the military and I think that that creates in accurate perception of what the United States really is. The White House insists the focus is on patriotism not politics. The administration has not released a tax payer price tag for the celebration estimated at millions of dollars.
Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, Washington.