No one cheered

Complicated feelings about celebrating the 4th of July

Jul 05, 2026

I am a big believer in using art to process hard feelings.

And sometimes my feelings have to do with our country—especially this 4th of July, after the awful winter we had here in Minneapolis with ICE’s occupation.

Here’s a recent diary comic I made:

K. Woodman-Maynard, diary comic. Fourth of July America. Text reads: “We attended a pops orchestra concert next to a lake in Minneapolis. The Scottish conductor cheered the 250th birthday of our country. He paused expecting our applause, but no one cheered. It feels hard to celebrate the US right now.”

There’s a lot I love and appreciate about the U.S. too, but patriotism isn’t something I’m able to tap into right now.

I hope you’re with your family and loved ones this weekend and enjoying good food and company.

Vera & Leif love

Vera is significantly faster than Leif which is a sight to see.

Take care and keep creating!

-Katharine

Barbara Osborn

Thanks so much for uttering what I, and I suspect lots of other people, feel. Serendipitously I am out of the country and by sheer chance found myself in front of one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta - the no man is above the law document of 1215. It was a reminder how easily good things established can be dis-established.

1 reply by K. Woodman-Maynard

Joshua Robinson

Makes total sense. I've been wrestling with conflicting feelings all weekend, too. What you and so many other artists did with the ICE Out Comics is, I think, what America is really all about--not a government or a flag but a desire to come together and build something better, whatever form that takes. That's worth celebrating! ✨

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