[Correspondent Diary] The Meaning of the Lunar Eclipse on US Independence Day

A fireworks display celebrating Independence Day is taking place at the Empire State Building in New York City. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] July 4, 2020. It is the 244th Independence Day of the United States. Strictly speaking, the US Independence Day is not the day independence was won, but the day on July 4, 1776, when the Continental Congress of the 13 colonies approved the Declaration of Independence. The United States actually gained independence from Britain later, in 1783.

This year’s Independence Day was observed amid the fear of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the most serious threat in the history of the founding of the United States. The changed scenes of Independence Day compared to previous years reflected the current self-image of America.

The Independence Day holiday is the biggest holiday in the US and marks the start of the summer vacation season. However, this year, the bells signaling the start of vacation are not ringing. The situation where more than 50,000 COVID-19 cases are reported daily nationwide makes it awkward even to mention the word vacation.

Even the fireworks, which symbolize Independence Day, were largely canceled or postponed across the country. The Macy’s Department Store fireworks show in New York, a representative Independence Day event, had to announce the location only an hour before the event started due to concerns about COVID-19 infection.

The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest held every year on Independence Day at Nathan’s Hot Dogs in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, also looked different from previous years. Unlike before, when it was held outdoors with many spectators watching, this year it was held indoors without an audience. Participants were separated by transparent acrylic walls. What remained unchanged was that Joey Chestnut, who has recently dominated this contest, ate 75 hot dogs in 10 minutes and once again took first place.

On the 4th, Independence Day in the United States, participants in a hot dog eating contest held in New York are competing across partitions.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The usually bustling shopping malls, restaurants, theaters, concert halls, and various sports stadiums were similarly quiet.

Rather, this Independence Day is feared to be another catalyst for the spread of terror rather than a festival. The recent resurgence of COVID-19 in the US is widely attributed to the Memorial Day holiday at the end of May. Although the Easter economic reopening hoped for by President Donald Trump initially failed, most states began reopening economic activities on Memorial Day despite experts’ concerns.

The result was an explosive resurgence of COVID-19 infections a month later. The learning effect that more than 50,000 new cases occurred daily after the holiday raised concerns that COVID-19 could spread again around Independence Day.

Of course, the current spread of infection is generally diagnosed as different from the situation in March and April when there was no defense against COVID-19. The New York Times, critical of President Donald Trump, also reports that fatality rates are decreasing due to expanded testing, improved medical response, and changes in the age groups infected.

Social conflicts added to the fear caused by COVID-19 also undermine the meaning of this Independence Day. On the 3rd, President Trump revived the fireworks in front of the presidential faces on Mount Rushmore, which had not been held for over ten years, expressing dissatisfaction over the removal of presidential statues related to racial discrimination following the death of Black man George Floyd. On the 4th, he again attacked the far-left forces.

The attack of COVID-19 has brought to the surface many weaknesses of the United States that had been carefully hidden. Overcoming these weaknesses is the responsibility of the American people.

Coincidentally, another event took place in the evening sky of this Independence Day: a lunar eclipse that obscured the full moon with the Earth’s shadow. Since ancient times, lunar eclipses have been considered ominous. This year, the lunar eclipse occurred on the US Independence Day.

Whether this lunar eclipse will become a turning point or a signal of ominous signs depends entirely on the actions of the American people. People around the world are watching those actions closely. While we hope they will show behavior befitting the stature of the United States, it does not seem easy.