I don't feel much like celebrating the Fourth this year

[MadHound]

Frankly I haven't felt much like celebrating the Fourth for the past few years. An ongoing, illegal, immoral war, the continuous onslaught on American freedoms and civil rights, the rise of the fascist, theocratic state. It has all combined to leave me feeling numb, depressed, and angry. Why celebrate the birth of this country when the very principles it was founded on, freedom and liberty, are quickly disappearing. Instead I find myself in a state of mourning, sad for the passing of the great country America once was, and fearful of what we're becoming.

No, this Fourth, instead of celebrating our independence(which is now long gone), I think I'm going to unplug from the world, work in the garden and orchard, reconnect with nature and myself, in order to face the renewed political onslaught on Wednesday.

Am I alone in feeling this way? What are your plans for the Fourth.

[AlCzervik]

1. Every 4th we have a bbq with our friends and neighbors and it's one

i really look forward to, i refuse to let Bush ruin this day.

[lonestarnot]

2. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will celebrate.

:patriot: hardcore!

[saltpoint]

15. And the more celebrants, the brighter the glimmer.

Hi ya there, lonestarnot.

Cheers & good wishes.

:toast:
:thumbsup: :dem:
:hi:

[lonestarnot]

27. Old Crusoe! It's always so good to see you!

:toast: :hi: and happy fireworks!

[Jeanette in FL]

3. I'm with you for sure

Fourth of July used to be one of my favorite holidays. I would feel so proud that this was my countries birthday and how lucky we were to live in the most democratic and free country in the world. That was when I still believed in the lie.

I don't have it in me anymore. I am ashamed of my country and what my Government has done in my name to the citizens of the world.

I don't know what I will do on the fourth, mourn I suppose for what my country should have been and is no more.

[snacker]

23. Count me in too.

It's gotten to the point that practically anything red, white, and blue disgusts me.

[stepnw1f]

4. Burn a Flag

especially those used to sell foreign oil at gas stations. Of course, don't burn it there.

Afterall.... burning the flag is a way of properly disposing of a flag after it's been desecrated, which every GOPer does on a daily basis.


from the Department of Michigan Veterans of Foreign Wars

snip

3. "3. Place the Flag on the fire."

http://www.vfwmi.org/us_flag_disposal.htm

[Hugin]

5. This is part of my plans...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1539407&mesg_id=1539407

[derby378]

6. Celebrate with your fellow Democrats

It's your country, too, y'know. Use the day to celeberate the impending victory in November.

[MadHound]

9. Sorry, but somehow I doubt that there is going to be victory this year

Or in '08. After all, elections were stolen in '00, '02, and '04, what makes you think that they won't be stolen this year. Sure, sure, all the polls will be on our side, all the exit polling will show that the Dems are winning in a landslide, but suddenly, somehow on election night, the polls will all turn out to be mysteriously wrong.

What I really feel like doing this Fourth is starting a mass march on DC to kick the bastards out, but it would be really depressing to see how few people turn out to join me, thus I won't.

Sorry, just in a deeply dark cynical mood today. I think part of it stems from the fact that Congress is jumping quick as a whip today to legalize what the Supreme Court declared illegal yesterday.

[Hugin]

10. The second round through the SCROTUS will be successful too...

Because Roberts will no longer need to recuse himself.

[derby378]

19. Two things you can do

1. Check out this Bloomberg article showing Democratics beating Republicans in the polls:

Democrats Widen Lead Over Republicans in Battle for Congress
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=apOfHu5ZB9cI&refer=

2. Don't use any touchscreen voting machines, and convince your fellow precinct members to do likewise.

[LibDemAlways]

7. I have a friend who invites my

family up to her mountain cabin every 4th. To me it's an opportunity to get away for a couple of days. Too bad we don't even have a media that cherishes its freedom enough to tell the sheeple in the red, white, and blue flag tee-shirts that the holiday represents ideals that the Bush Crime Family has shitcanned.

[bluethruandthru]

8. I've been thinking about this alot the last few days.

I heard something on the radio about whether or not Americans were proud of their country. I can honestly say that right now..I'm not. It pains me to say it..and to feel this way. When our country is looked at with disdain by most of the world - for good reason - it's difficult to be proud.

[ChickMagic]

11. I'm not as enthused as usual either

However, at work on the 3rd, I'll wear a red and white striped
shirt with an American flag sticker upside down. I'll
also wear my bejeweled costume jewelry dem donkey. Then
I'll dare anyone to say something.

[LoZoccolo]

12. I think lack of patriotism shows a lack of responsiblity.

And I'm not speaking of jingoism either, but real patriotism. If you don't like what's going on, it's up to you to change it, and if you feel the values that this country was founded on are not being upheld, it's up to you to challenge the people not upholding them.

Unfortunately, I've found that for some people, politics is all about expressing themselves and making themselves feel good emotionally rather than giving something to make things better for people. This can be seen in the rise of futile third-party sentiment, in the emotional gestures people make that do nothing for anybody. Or harm people, actually.

[MadHound]

20. And where in the hell do you get the idea that I lack in patriotism?

And furthermore, you who have no clue as to what I do away from here, get the idea that I'm not doing anything to try and make things better? Your assumptions are far off the mark, and it is better that you remain silent than look like a jackass when confronted with the truth.

Quite frankly I'm more than willing to put my record of political involvement and public service up against yours any day of the week and twice on Sundays. When's the last time you ran a political campaign? When's the last time you charged into a burning house to save a life? When's the last time you spent an hour or more on the phone, or in person, talking a person out of killing themselves? When's the last time you donated time, money and sweat to any charity?

I find it idiotic and assinine that you make such assumptions without any sort of basis. Perhaps you should get to know people before you pontificate.

[LoZoccolo]

21. Ask me nice. n/t

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LoZoccolo]

24. I can't stop you from making assumptions.

But you should not post about them here.

[MadHound]

25. Then why don't you follow your own advice friend

And stop posting crap like you did in post#12?

[LoZoccolo]

26. I did not say that that was about you.

That's another assumption.

[MadHound]

29. Then if you don't like such assumptions friend

Stop replying to my posts. Yes, when a person replies to my post, specifically, then I will assume that they are talking to me, specifically, unless otherwise noted:banghead:

[LoZoccolo]

31. It may also be that they are replying to several replies to your post.

Sometimes that happens.

But also, if you don't understand and then ask nice, a lot of times people will explain.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LoZoccolo]

33. self-delete

[Beausoir]

13. I used to let them make me feel that way.

But now I've realized that this is MY country.


I am a TRUE patriot! I believe in the constitution and the founding fathers and their wisdom. I won't let them (those blood thirsty parasites) wrestle this country away from me.

I'm going whole-hog this year. Decorations, parties, flags, blow-up Uncle Sams in the yard..the whole nine.

We even have red, white and blue headbands that have the peace symbol on them for my kids to wear.

THIS IS MY COUNTRY!

[saltpoint]

14. I hear you, but don't let the Bush administration take the 4th away

from you.

Redefine it for yourself next week in defiance of all their shitwork.

Maybe scoot down to the used bookshop and pick up a copy of Gore Vidal's LINCOLN. The Battle of Gettysburg is commemorated next week also, as the battle fell on approximately the same dates of the calendar, and Vidal's novelization of Lincoln includes a terrific passage on Gettysburg.

You run your own 4th on your own personal terms and exclude the Bush administration's tawdry, traitorous vision of our country.

[Revolution_July4]

16. The revolution starts now, in your own backyard in your own hometown!

Cindy Sheehan to provoke the Second American Revolution July 4th, 2006-Hunger Strike at White House!
Gold Star Families for Peace will announce a historic hunger strike against the war in Iraq. At 5pm, they will sit down in front of the White House to eat their last meal and hold a press conference before beginning the fast at the same location in the morning of July 4 at 10am.

“We’ve marched, held vigils, lobbied Congress, camped out at Bush’s ranch. We’ve even gone to jail. Now it’s time to do more,” says peace mom Cindy Sheehan. “While others are celebrating July 4th with barbeques, we’ll be showing our patriotism by putting our bodies on the line to bring our troops home.”

[leftofthedial]

17. Oh, I don't know

In a way I feel more like blowing shit up than I have for a long time.

[blues90]

18. My plan is peace

I will not drive nore will I purchase one thing as a departure from any contribution to just another american day of celebration that used to mean something .

[genie_weenie]

28. Blow up a Flag with fireworks.

http://www.esquilax.com/flag/

[MadHound]

30. LOL, now that might be entertaining! n/t