Have a safe 4th?
I was driving down the road the other day and passed by a sign in front of a business that read: Have a safe 4th.
These businesses are only wishing us safety on “the 4th”? Why not the 5th, or the 12th, or the 23rd? Why not every day?
It’s obvious that they are speaking about the “4th of July”, but this is something that just kind of irked me. What is the “4th of July”? Is it just another day, except that gives most of us a day off work to, perhaps, get together with family and friends, eat food, drink beer, and light/watch fireworks?
No. But you would think that is all it is about from signs like these, and the practices of some folks. But, what is the day all about? What is the significance of the fireworks, parades, and other civic events?
The “4th of July” is the celebration of Independence Day — the birthday of the United States of America on July 4th, 1776. We declared our independence from England. (For more history, you can read the Wikipedia entry on the Fourth of July).
This is the only holiday that is dedicated to the United States as a nation.
Let us not forget that. On this day, let us come together as one nation, under God, to celebrate the freedoms and opportunities we have because of those who came before us. Let it give meaning to our picnics and parades.
Fly the flag of our United States, with respect and dignity, as a gesture of your respect and honor of your fellow Americans and those who made life in these United States possible.
God bless America!
[tags]4th of july, independence day, united states, catholicsphere, flag, fireworks[/tags]
Hoo-ah! You said it, brother!
After celebrating “the 4th” semi-privately, the family and I went to a resort for a few days, in anticipation of the advertised brilliant fireworks display on their grounds the following Saturday. There were NO public celebrations anywhere in the area on the holiday itself!
Anyway, we stayed in the hotel for a couple of days, had a wonderfully restful time, and geared up for one heck of a patriotic observance on Saturday night. I had all my patriotic “gear” on… You can’t have too many flags, as I always say.
So, anyway, people were assembling at the bottom of a hill at the appointed time, so down we went. The smell of weed permiated the air in various spots along the way, eminating from scattered groups of people who were not hotel guests or even “locals.” While waiting for the show to begin, we were told that a reggae band would be providing the entertainment.
The band played what one would expect a reggae band to play - reggae music - and the fireworks began. It WAS a brilliant display (one of the best I’ve ever seen on that scale), and somewhere toward the end - if you listened very carefully - you could faintly hear Hendrix’ version of the National Anthem. Then there were police everywhere, the crowd dispersed, and the night was over.
I told the head of recreation at the hotel of our dissatisfaction, calling his attention to the pot-heads and the presence of families with young children, the necessity of police, the perplexing choice of entertainment, and the absence of any explicit reference to this as a patriotic observance (aside from the three-minutes of faint background music by the Hendrix impersonator). “If you want a Carribean Festival,” I asked him, “why don’t you just have one? As for tonight, we were supposed to be celebrating the 4th of July.” Not the faintest hint of comprehension.
I think I’ll go find a Carribean Festival this Summer… Do you think my traditional rendition of “God Bless America” will be well received?
God bless the USA.
Cocol
Cocol said this on July 13th, 2007 at 12:14 am