Independence Day
4 07 2008Today is the day for hot dogs, watermelon and homemade ice cream and the grand finale of fireworks. Lori says they are going to watch the fireworks in Decatur. I have to say that with the bandstand, the bars and restaurants around the square, and usually pretty good fireworks show, it’s one of the best places to spend July 4th. This is my first year since moving back home that I’ll be watching the fireworks at the fairgrounds. Though it’s more complicated than that. The show originates from the fairgrounds but it’s way too crowded to actually get there, so people usually picnic at Meredith College and watch from the campus. This year construction may hamper that choice. For a few years I live across the street and could watch the firework pop in my living room window. One year we didn’t make it downtown in time and just stopped on the over pass. That made for a quick exit. No matter what we end up doing today, it’s sure to be a fun time.
I hear a certain Italian man is begrudgingly celebrating the holiday with Julia. At least she has some American (and Italian) friends over there that can embrace the spirit of the day. I don’t know first hand his reason for being a grump on my 3rd favorite holiday (behind Halloween and my birthday) but this next bit is for him anyway.
This is the day that our nation stands up together to say Hell yes, We Are Americans. We are idealists who conceived of a new nation where equality, freedom, independence, and righteousness were laid as the cornerstones. This is the day that we remember that in the beginning we kicked the ass of our oppressor. Because of the war waged against King George and the strength of the principles set out in the Constitution that create our government, we don’t have to take up arms and overthrow the current administration. In 123 days we exercise our right to choose a new leader.
These days with so much despair over the economy, the erosion of our civil rights, thousands of lives lost for the lies we were told, the heavy fog of apathy hangs in the air. But today, on Independence Day, we celebrate that our country was born with high ideals of perfection. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness– today let those words resonate within all of us. But also these:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
Let the Revolution begin.
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Categories : Dreams, Philosophy, Politics, Rants




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