WASHINGTON (AP) – First Weekend: A vision of a nation founded on the principles of inclusivity and liberalism—a concept that embodies a generational struggle to broaden the meaning of what it means to be American, driven by equality and compassion.
Second Weekend, in the same city: a public demonstration of strength and nationalism rooted in military might. A display of law, order, and armed forces.
Meanwhile, in a city 2,000 miles from the capital, a fierce battle rages over the federal government’s use of military power to detain and deport individuals who oppose the current administration.
Today’s America can be summed up in a week in June 2025, showcasing its possibilities, strengths, divisions, polarization, and fragmentation—victory and conflict laid bare.
As events unfold chaotically, many Americans find themselves grappling with two critical questions, often with passionate urgency. What are they?
Pride, Protest, Parade
Let’s consider two recent statements from markedly different Americans.
First, last weekend The pride of Washington, when a 58-year-old gay man from Philadelphia, David Beverler, expressed the sentiments shared by many in response to intensified attempts by Donald Trump to target the LGBTQ community: “I want them to send a message to the White House, focusing on unity rather than division.”
Conversely, the President remarked on his 79th birthday, prior to a military parade commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army: “I’ve never even heard of protests; these are people who hate our country, and they will face a very strong response.”
In the competing visions of America for 2025, the desire to protest and express dissatisfaction with the government collides with the pursuit of order, dominance, and authority.
The volatile mix of demonstrations and U.S. military presence has deep roots in the protests against the Vietnam War of the 1960s. The Baby Boomers of that era frequently clashed with the police—and at times, the military—in what was characterized as a war against Southeast Asian communism. Historians credit these protesters with significantly contributing to the conflict’s conclusion in 1975. President Jimmy Carter eventually pardoned over 200,000 individuals who evaded the draft due to the war.
Then, as now, many establishments vehemently criticized the protesters for allegedly undermining the country they should appreciate. Issues of loyalty and betrayal were hotly contested. The military’s involvement in suppressing civilian protests became a contentious topic, especially after guards fired on and killed four students who were protesting against the war at Kent State University in May 1970.
This echoes in the recent order by Governor Greg Abbott to deploy 5,000 state guards in areas such as Los Angeles and Texas. “There is no day for rebellion against the king,” he declared, in response to ongoing immigration raids by the Trump administration. Questions arise as Los Angeles protesters confront troops, with guards stating they feel “embarrassed.” How can patriotism and protest coexist?
Washington, the Epicenter
Democracy has always been messy and resistant to consensus, which is part of why the U.S. national motto is “e Pluribus Unum.” Washington, D.C., as the nation’s capital, is where many individuals recognize themselves as part of the larger community.
It has witnessed World War I veterans, known as the “bonus army,” march in 1932 demanding promised post-war benefits, leading to violent clashes. It served as the backdrop for the first National Boy Scout Jamboree held at the National Mall in 1937. The Washington March, central to the civil rights movement of the 1960s, concluded with Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Additionally, the Million Man March in 1995 aimed to address issues facing the African American community, and hundreds of thousands of women demonstrated in Washington just after Trump’s inauguration, largely in protest against him.
Moreover, it is where Americans gather at memorials dedicated to World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It is a nation that has built monuments of various shapes and sizes to honor admired presidents, including Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. From the Holocaust Museum to the Smithsonian Aerospace Museum to the African American History Museum, this capital showcases some of the most distilled cultural expressions.
Therefore, it is not hard to believe that within a week, the same two events—military parades and displays of world pride—could unfold here. In a politically charged climate where discussions about Trump, Gaza, Israel, immigrants, and LGBTQ rights are fraught with tension, could this stark juxtaposition of two vastly different events be among the most American experiences of all time?
One of the most celebrated poets in American history, Walt Whitman, encapsulated this notion of American diversity when he wrote American songs as “I sing America,” emphasizing that citizens collectively contribute to the nation’s song.
As we navigate the turmoil of June, with America’s fate debated at every turn, the capital becomes a living showcase of these messy democratic expressions to the world—be they for better or worse.
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Ted Anthony, Director of New Storytelling and Newsroom Innovation at the Associated Press, has been covering American culture since 1990.
Source: apnews.com