Looking at the real meaning of July 4

It’s the 4th of July; banks are closed, government workers are on a holiday and the mail won’t be delivered. To go about life as if it were any other day would be a national sacrilege. Like good citizens in need of a respite, we party!

Retailers have a booming few days as consumer dollars flood the streets for plastic pools, picnic supplies, fake fireworks and any and everything red, white and blue including our clothes. If gathering with friends and family in the backyard is not an option, thousands will join others in a grander fete at some public venue where they can enjoy real fireworks and part with a bit more of their hard earned cash. 
There certainly is nothing wrong with this picture, unless, the party-hardy attitude outshines the real message? I wonder?

For the sake of this column, let’s do away with the term 4th of July and call it by its full name, “Independence Day;” a day we celebrate only because of the passion and courage of a small numbers of men and women duty-bound not to an institutional concept but rather a set of tools that enable the spirit and opportunity of the each and every American citizen.

On Independence Day, we as American citizens should be thinking about a few ideas.

The definition of independence:

I particularly like the symbolism expressed (though not intended) in the grammatical example of an independent clause, “one that is capable of standing syntactically alone as a complete sentence.”

Wikitionary.org defines independence as “free from external control and constraint; “an independent mind”; “ autonomous, the ability to direct one’s own affairs without interference, (of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces”

- The landmark achievements in the field of independence:

Independence from British rule, Emancipation and the abolishment of slavery, the Right to Vote for all regardless of economic status, race or gender, Freedom of Speech, Religious Freedom, Judicial Rights

-  The cost:

Financial ruin, life, imprisonment, reputation and family.

-  What remains:
This is for you to determine, but think about two things; who may not yet b e enjoying independence and why and are the established freedoms that insure our independence at risk?

-  Who will keep independence secure?

As always it will be up to you and me and a dedication to personal sense of civic duty. May we hold fast to the commitment and courage of those who came before.

From Zann’s little book of memories, I miss the real fireworks, not just the ones that “emit a shower of sparks.” Yes, there were a few unfortunate injuries; brother George had a bottle rocket go off a bit too close to his hand, but lucky for him it only required first aid.

And there were the mischievous pranks of teenage boys; brother Mike and buds would toss cherry bombs near parked cars occupied by the unsuspecting. The difference in then and now was a definitive personal responsibility. No one sued the fireworks company for the injury and Mike had to take his licks for misbehaving.

They didn’t send such activity to court and believe me, the punishment was much worse at home.

Until next week, be well.