I’ve been so busy getting this website converted that I seem to have bypassed the July 4th holiday. We did our usual routine – charred dead cow at my place with pyrotechnics at my sister’s. Despite the routine, this year seemed unusual for several reasons, some of them personal, some just weird observations, and some of them political.
- Philadelphia – just last week I was where it all began. Despite my comments about rude Phillies, it was pretty cool to be at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell so close to the holiday.
- Fireworks – they may have scaled down M80s and outlawed bottle rockets, but it seems like even greater firepower is now available in SC. The array of mortar-styled artillery available to the average redneck is truly astounding.
Hey, Ya’ll. Watch this!
- Patriot Act – up for renewal, it is a shining example of how quickly our freedoms can be eroded in the name of security.
- Eminent Domain – see above. I am still in shock that the Supreme Court would allow private land to be taken for commercial use. I seriously doubt this is what the framers had in mind.
- Sandra Day O’Connor – We can only hope for moderation, but given Bush’s indebtedness to the Ultra Right Wing, we’ll probably get a fundamentalist.
Regardless of undercurrents, it was still a good holiday, and a fun time had by all. July 4 always marks the climax of summer, followed by the quick downhill slide into the dog-day murk of “back-to-school”. Projects that have to be finished before school starts crank up in earnest, and the relaxed feel of June is long gone.