To Our U.S. Readers: Happy Fourth!

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by von

I’ll not try to express what America means to me.  I won’t wave the Red, White, and Blue.  I’ll not tell you about my patriotism.  I won’t go rah-rah on your asses.  Every other blog will be doing that, and, in any event, going on (and on) about patriotism on July 4th is a little bit like going to Temple only on Yom Kippur, or to Church only on Easter and Christmas.  It’s expected (and maybe needed), sure.  But too much is gauche; too much is for show, not substance. 

Patriotism, especially during wartime, should be made of deeper and quieter things. 

So, instead, let’s focus on other things.  Let’s rave over the food.  Let’s talk about the music.  Let’s have a beer.  (Let’s have a couple.)  Let’s talk about kids, big cities, and small towns.  Let’s discuss our travels.  Let’s dig the show that we saw last night, or argue over Tom Cruise’s mental health.  Let’s, well, take a break.

There are lots of threads for disputes, arguments, insights, and analyses.  (Here’s a good post by Charles for that.)  This thread is for chillin’ on the birthday of what is, to me, the greatest nation on the face of the Earth.  And everyone — ’round the world, agree or not — is welcome to it.

25 thoughts on “To Our U.S. Readers: Happy Fourth!”

  2. Let’s have a beer. (Let’s have a couple.)
    Did that last night, actually, so if y’all could keep the noise down…

  8. I hate the Fourth. I hate the noise, the drunkenness, the inevitable abuse of animals and the fires. Four years ago some asshole threw a firecracker on my roof and started a fire. Watch thhe newspaper this week: count up all the stories about boys blowing up dogs and lost pets. and can’t . What a crappy way to celebrate a birthday.
    Well I admit I have a pissy attitude. I had to put my dog to sleep yesterday and I want the whole world to cry. How can anybody party when Charlie is dead?
    Well there, I have rained on the parade. Sorry! This is my least favorite holiday, a day for hiding swomewhere until the explosions stop. I wish i felt differently about it, but i don’t.

  9. “I can see the lights way out in the harbor
    And the cool, and the cool, and the cool night
    And the cool, and the cool, and the cool night breeze
    And I feel the cool night breeze
    And I feel, feel, feel the cool night breeze
    And the boats go by
    And it’s almost Independence Day
    And it’s almost, and it’s almost Independence Day
    Way up and down the line
    Way up and down the line…”
    Van Morrison wrote my July 4th song. Tho it isn’t really a song but 13 minute
    chant or prayer. Got to hear it to get it. He slowly builds the tension til the words “Independence Day” explode like fireworks of joy.
    And maybe it is different for Native Californians than for us tourists, tho I don’t think so. Been there, done that. Sat on the Northern Cliffs with a few friends late on a holiday night and saw the party a mile north and the party a mile south and knew there were thousands of people sharing whatever California means to America.
    No offense to Asian-Americans, no offense to anyone. But the East Coast looks back to the past, when you stand at Monterrey you got history at your back and a wall of water in your face and no place left to run. The edge of the the world. Western Civilization and America and me stopped at the redwoods and beaches, calmly reflected at the beauty amd immensity of the place, took pride in the courage and determination that got us there, turned around and went home to work.
    The Eagles were wrong. It took an Irish immigrant, of course, with a new house and a new lady and a couple of hits to get it right. America is the hope of history and the world.

  11. I hate the Fourth. i hate the noise, the drunkenness, the fires, the evitable abuse of animals. Watch the papers this week; there will be stories about boys blowing up dogs or setting cats on fire. Watch the telephone polls around your neighborhood; there will be an outbreak of missing pet posters. A couple years ago some drunk asshole threw a firecracker on my roof and set my porch on fire. What a crappy way to celebrate a birthday.
    I know my attitude sucks. For me, this has always been a good day to hide somewhere until the explosions stop.

  13. Here in IE6.0 worlds, comments are finally linked, but everything else is futzed up. The comment boxes are teeny, past posts are strangely configured with all blue background, and the editing section doesn’t have that html tab. I step forward, many steps back.

  14. Lily: I’m sorry about Charlie. I’m also in agreement with you about the holiday. Personally, I hate sudden loud noises so firecrackers annoy me, even without the dangers of drunks trying to light them.
    Everyone else: Sorry about adding to the downer side of this comment thread.

  15. Lily: I’m sorry about Charlie. I’m also in agreement with you about the holiday. Personally, I hate sudden loud noises so firecrackers annoy me, even without the dangers of drunks trying to light them.
    Everyone else: Sorry about adding to the downer side of this comment thread.

  18. Happy 4th, y’all!
    July 4th is the one day of the year I wish to be in Philadelphia.
    I was there in ’76, for the Bicentennial, and it was The Best Ever. You couldn’t swing a cat without hitting half a dozen Ben Franklins and Thomas Jeffersons; all the history high spots were spiffed up; there were millions of people and they all seemed happy. (Possibly because that was also the Summer of the Chocolate-Covered Giant Strawberries 🙂
    I doubt I’ll still be around for the Tricentennial. Which is a shame; I’d love to see how we celebrate it then; what kind of country this will be then.

  20. Charles Bird: It’s just as well that you’re the one who did the July 4th post, Hil. I was thinking of one with a picture of Jessica Simpson in it. Made me want to..er..salute.
    I’m pretty sure that outfit is a violation of the flag code.

  21. I’m pretty sure that outfit is a violation of the flag code.
    Nah, the Supremes voted to allow it on a 7-2 split. In other news, CJ Rehnquist died of a massive heart attack brought on by a sudden loss of blood pressure. Or increase. Or whatever.

  23. A news story, passed along without comment.
    Think I’ll go for a late drive, so I can listen to Van the Man at full volume. Thanks for the reminder, Bob. I disagree about the Eagles, however: ‘there is no more new frontier, we have got to make it here . . .’

  24. Changing topic:
    I found this Billmon post interesting on a lot of levels.
    First, I am very familiar with the wonderful hot dog stand he describes in this piece. While some of the details are slightly wrong (e.g., the decorations go further back than the New Deal — there’s a lot of railroad stuff from the 1880’s and 90’s, as well as a hilarious letter from Clyde (of Bonnie & Clyde fame) to Henry Ford stating how he found Ford vehicles to be the most reliable and he always tried to use them as his getaway car), he does a great job of describing what makes Jimmie John’s so authentically American and why that part of America is disappearing.
    Second, the issue of homogenization of America, especially through the changing of the retail landscape, is one I have personally wrestled with. As an attorney who negotiates retail leases, I am aware that I am playing a part in the disappearance of local and regional differences. I am also aware that this is not a good thing for this country. It reduces our entrepreneurial spirit, as the possibility of success is smaller if you are competing with a national chain than only with other locals, and the poential of being a local manager is not the same by any measure (especially remuneration and autonomy) It reduces our sense of community, as a chain store has far less desire to take the sorts of actions which encourage a local community (whether it is supporting the local high school play or charity drive or honoring the local success stories).
    That said, he may have chosen the wrong retail field as a starting point, as food service is both less nationally consolidated and gives better opportunities for locals as franchisees than nearly any other.

  25. It’s just as well that you’re the one who did the July 4th post, Hil. I was thinking of one with a picture of Jessica Simpson in it. Made me want to..er..salute.
    Posted by: Charles Bird | July 4, 2005 04:15 PM
    Dude, that was way cool and patriotic!
    (all kidding aside)
    GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
    (and i’m not, really, into blondes)

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