Ah yes, the Fourth of July. A time of fireworks, frivolity and ... fearing the end of democracy?

Well, yes, for some people in this country. The last few years have rattled and riled up many Americans, with the past few weeks being particularly worrisome. Between former President Donald Trump and Hunter Biden's felony convictions to President Joe Biden's puzzling debate performance to a plethora of Supreme Court decisions including Trump's immunity case, some are feeling like it's a tough time to truly celebrate our nation.

"This July 4 will won't be a celebration, it will be a day of mourning for the democracy," wrote one X user. Another added: "No reason to celebrate the Fourth of July this year." Of course, others haven't let their patriotism falter.

The truth is Independence Day can feel be tough for Americans who have felt unwelcome in the U.S. or jaded by its politics, though experts say there is room for personal growth in such discomfort. And if you find these opinions unpatriotic, at least try hearing them out before making any snap judgments.

"Ambivalence can be a very productive space for pursuing much needed change," Fordham University critical race theory law professor Tanya K. Hernández previously told USA TODAY.

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Why people feel unpatriotic

A lack of patriotism surrounding July 4 isn't new.

Hernández invoked abolitionist Frederick Douglass' 1852 speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" while ruminating on the subject. "The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me," Douglass said.

"It is disconcerting how many of Douglass's concerns with social and civic exclusion still exist long after the abolition of slavery," Hernández says.

A recent Gallup poll found that just 41% of Americans are "extremely proud" of their country – the fifth year in a row the number has lay between 38% to 43%. Extreme pride in the country has been falling since 2015.

About two-thirds of Americans are "extremely" or "very" proud, hovering around a record low for the poll. Nonetheless, that's a majority of people who are indeed happy to be Americans to some extent.

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What to do if you’re feeling unpatriotic

First up: Know you're not alone.

Psychologist Miranda Nadeau works with women, LGBTQ+, people of color, immigrants and children of immigrant patient populations – all likely to have experienced systemic oppression and may pause before praising July 4.

"As the nationwide dialogue advances around how to approach equity work, many people who fit one of those criteria are finding it increasingly hard to wave the stars and stripes, and patriotism in others is increasingly viewed with skepticism," Nadeau previously told USA TODAY. Of course, not everyone agrees.

It's OK to not celebrate. But maybe there's room to meet in a semi-patriotic middle.

• Compromising is your friend. Debra Kissen, CEO of cognitive behavioral therapy treatment centers Light on Anxiety, previously suggested making room for social justice while also taking time for happiness. "Whatever social justice actions you want to take, engage in those behaviors and create the change you want and still find ways to weave in joy within the culture that you do live in."
• Recognize there is no perfect solution. "In life, there isn't going to be a perfect solution. But we pick one that feels good enough for the moment that we're in, and then just proceeding forward and owning that decision," Kissen says.
• Take time to reflect. "The best way to celebrate the holiday is the same way Frederick Douglass did – by using it as a day for honest reflection on how best to have 'the rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed (by our forebearers)' extended to us all," Hernández says.
• Write down your feelings and plans for the day. "I might help a second-generation American client in creating a gratitude list that focuses on the special meaning that the U.S. has to them and their family – while also helping the client develop a plan for antiracist, anti-oppressive, and/or anti-colonial action on July 4 and beyond," Nadeau says. "With another client, who enjoys the barbecues and fireworks but struggles with patriotism, we might work together to plan a celebration of summer, or of rest, or of friendship – something with meaning for them."
• Find perspective. Living in America grants people certain freedoms not found elsewhere, and that is something to celebrate. "While folks reckon with the country’s past and present – and strive to all do better – there is much to be grateful for about the privileges that we have just being here," Nadeau says.