The United States of America, a country that became world renowned for freedom and justice, died on January 20th at its home in Washington, D.C. The United States was 250 years old.
The office of the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
The United States was born in 1776, the child of immigrant parents, who had come to North America seeking freedom from religious oppression. Her grandparents were born and raised in Great Britain and her early years were consumed by a struggle to establish independence on her new continent. She succeeded, despite violent resistance from her forbears. Over the years they reconciled.
Life was challenging for the United States, but the drive for discovery and self-reliance forged a strong and enduring identity. In the 19th century, a moral crisis interrupted her development, resulting in several years where she suffered from a Dissociative Identity Disorder. The several identities clashed violently from 1861-65. While subsequent therapy mitigated the disorder, vestiges of the conflict remained until her death, with a flare-up in the months just before her passing.
Her middle years were a period of astounding growth. She expanded her sense of the possible, became one of the world's most prolific artists, innovators and entrepreneurs. Many of her inventions dramatically changed the world for the better.
Perhaps these years were most distinguished by her generosity of spirit. She welcomed beleaguered women, men and children to enter her embrace. She adopted them as her own and watched with great pride as they forged their own lives, adding richness to the mosaic of their new home and adding immeasurably to its vitality and diversity.
In the 20th century, she was faced with her greatest challenges. Twice, the world faced potentially cataclysmic threats. She joined with her grandparents and other allies and justice prevailed. The cost was immense and she, along with the rest of the world, lost many children to the unthinkable ravages of war.
During her later years, she expanded the concept of justice, demanding equity and justice for all her children, regardless of race, gender and sexual identity, religion or origin. In the months before her death, she suffered great pain as these hard-fought gains withered under pernicious political assault.
She leaves behind hundreds of millions of children and many generations who benefitted from her grace and wisdom.
Among her most notable survivors are Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Margaret Mead, Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Billy Collins, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Otis Redding, Thurgood Marshall, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Thelonious Monk, Harriet Tubman, Rachel Carson, Barack Obama, George Carlin, Ella Fitzgerald, Albert Einstein, Arthur Miller, Audre Lorde, Mohammad Ali, George Gershwin, Arthur Ashe, James Earl Carter, Richard Pryor, Will Rogers, Dorothy Parker, and Tatanka Yotanka.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made to:
Memorial services will be held in communities of conscience every day until Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020.