Twitter Users Celebrate Our Independence by Sparring Over #AmericaWasNeverGreat
Happy 4th of July! #AmericaWasNeverGreat is trending on Twitter!
Twitter is, of course, where Americans gather to debate matters of great substance and also tell each other to get stuffed and/or deported.
The phrase “America Was Never Great” is a riposte to Trump’s campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.”
Depending on your point of view, the phrase either spotlights a reductionist, rosy view of the nation’s history that obscures slavery, racism, sexism, homophobia, persecution of Native Americans, et al, or it is the rallying cry for dirty hippie liberal traitors.
#AmericaWasNeverGreat from slavery, to Japanese internment camps,to Jim Crowe,to violence against LGBT pic.twitter.com/D754eXiicy
— so discourse (@sodiscourse) July 4, 2016
Why are people so pressed and defensive over #AmericaWasNeverGreat, you’re a WHITE MAN. You’re as privileged as it gets.
— kaylah! (@ofthenarrative) July 4, 2016
#AmericaWasNeverGreat is what I’d expect to see today from Nazis, communists, socialists & every other group under the “progressives” banner
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) July 4, 2016
WAIT, LEFTIES ARE TRYING TO CRASH FREEDOM DAY WITH #AMERICAWASNEVERGREAT!
THIS WILL NOT STAND.
HOLD ON BURGERFRIENDS, I WILL SAVE YOU.
— Allum Bokhari (@LibertarianBlue) July 4, 2016
White people: how dare you say #AmericaWasNeverGreat???? It was it was it was it was *sheds tear* it was it was.. :( pic.twitter.com/cMgd8RwMAL
— Luke Cripwalker (@sporker_) July 4, 2016
When Democrats say "Of course we love America as much as Republicans!" just remember #AmericaWasNeverGreat. They hate you.
— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) July 4, 2016
If you feel that #AmericaWasNeverGreat, you are part of the problem and are more than welcome to leave. pic.twitter.com/khpmjbcXrn
— Elizabeth [Omitted] (@MissLizzyNJ) July 4, 2016
To the #AmericaWasNeverGreat ingrates: It’s our day to tell you to SIT DOWN==> https://t.co/GRYH1xmaST #IndependenceDay
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) July 4, 2016
Y'all got Cletus and Jolene riled up behind #AmericaWasNeverGreat and their gas grills haven't even heated up. It's gonna be a long day. ??
— ☔️ April ☔️ (@ReignOfApril) July 4, 2016
To Those tweeting #AmericaWasNeverGreat…
YES it was AND
it will be even Better if y’all get the hell out! ??????
Disgusting ingrates!— Jennifer #Trump2016 (@jenilynn1001) July 4, 2016
1865: Slavery abolished in America.
2016: 46 million still enslaved around the world.
Yes, America is great.#AmericaWasNeverGreat
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) July 4, 2016
America: so many points of view!
The phrase “America Was Never Great” made headlines in May when a Home Depot employee wore a custom-made hat emblazoned with the slogan as a rejoinder to her fellow associates who came to work wearing Trump paraphernalia. After the story broke, she received death threats.
Of course, as is often the case with incendiary hashtags on Twitter, it is being buoyed to the top of the trending list, in no small part, thanks to people condemning it.
Put that free speech to good use, America. Happy Independence Day.
