The 4th of July 2006 - Will we see a divided celebration?

[Chipper Chat]

At the official 4th of July celebration in 1976 Barbara Walters became so choked with emotion and nationalistic pride that she broke down in tears while reporting it. The majority of Americans sympathized with her. After all, the Vietnam war was over and the leftover Watergate scars were healing up. We would soon have a democrat in the White House. Republicans were midpoint in their 8-year scandal-triggered depression - praying for a saint that could lead them out of the wilderness (He arrived via Hollywood 4 years later).
At any rate a united populace celebrated what a great country we lived in. Scouts proudly marched in BIG local parades. So did World War II vets. We waved flags and were confident that minor problems like rising gas prices would be soon be under control. The 4th of July was still the only holiday where we actually celebrated its true meaning.
Fast forward to 21 days from now. July 4th falls on a Monday which wont help the atmosphere. The kiss-ass media, especially Fox, will "24/7" us with scenes of happy republicans, fundies, and "guns,gods,and gayers" eagerly waving little flags, praising our "godly" president, and lecturing us with blurbs about supporting our troops. They will cheer Ann Coulter and her ilk for "telling it like it is" as she and Bill O serve as grand marshals of parades.
The rest of us, well, where do we go to endure this day? Personally I dont feel like waving a flag until every last kid is home from Iraq. I just cannot celebrate a country that allows this evil illegitimate administration to rape us. I guess a hot dog, a beer, and an old movie will have to be the best part of my day. How about you?

[Swamp Rat]

1. I make my own flags now.

[Chipper Chat]

2. Beautiful!

But watch out. Lou Dobbs may mistake it for a Mexican province flag and run you over.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. For me, the 4th of July is a celebration of our PAST greatness...

There's nothing about our nation, in its present form, to celebrate. We've drifted sooo far from the ideals of our founding fathers - Dr Franklin would weep if he were alive today.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Uh, one small correction

July 4 is Tuesday. I plan to be in mourning that day.

[Chipper Chat]

7. Damn

I knew I shouldn't have drank that glass of Koolaid for breakfast!
Oh well, Tuesday can sometimes be a bummer too.
Thanx for correction.

[Earth_First]

5. Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day have all become synonomous with...

A long weekend.

Not for all Americans, but for most it is mostly viewed upon as a long weekend in which to kick back from the drudgery of their 9-5 lives.

Sad, really.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

6. Barbara Walters wasn't the only American choked with emotion

on Sunday, July 4, 1976, I was too. I've never forgotten watching the "Tall Ships" in NY Harbor with the Statue of Liberty as the backdrop or the fireworks displays from Philadelphia, Washington DC, and most especially from the Esplande in Boston with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops.

Surrounded by my extended family it was an absolutely wonderful day. Mom had planned a "family party" and there were about 75 people in the backyard and sitting down the driveway. Grandparents, great aunts and great uncles, uncles, aunts, cousins, very young nephews and nieces, you name it, they were there.

Copious amounts of food were eaten, stories were told from men and women who had immigrated from the "oul country", survived WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War and VietNam, a lot of beer was drunk and my father for the very first and only time allowed my brothers to go to Indiana and buy fireworks.

Unfortunately, that was the last time the entire family got together. Death and divorce took its' toll of course, but now I find it extremely hard to be in the same place with some of these people. Some of them became "Reagan Democrats", some of them became "fundie wingnuts" but the worst part is that most of them are totally apathetic.

Three weeks from today, will be just another ordinary day in my abode. Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 neither Mr. Wonderful nor myself can find any reason to celebrate July 4th.

What's the point? Present day America is not the same place it was 30 years ago, thanks to cowards like GWB, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and the rest of that ilk and I find that extremely sad.

However, on the bright side, maybe TCM will show Yankee Doodle Dandy. I still love that movie and Jimmy Cagney's dancing...

[Chipper Chat]

8. Yes, I should have mentioned that the TV coverage was great.

That fireworks display set the standard for future "extravaganzas." Even droll Howard K Smith had a hard time staying contained.
I feel talk show'ers like Sean Hannity, O'Reilly, Laura Ingraham, John Gibson, and Tweety will really pour on the gushy patriotism - bashing "liberals" who oppose the war as traitors. This is of course because they know the Pubs are on the defensive heading into November.
"Yankee Doodle Dandy" still rocks. Cagney was one of a kind. I played George M Cohan in our community theatre production of "George M" in the summer of '76 - quite a thrill.