Constitutional Libertarianism

Constitutional Libertarianism

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Is it "American" to Celebrate Independence Day?

Now obviously, most intelligent people are going to look at a question like that and say "What a stupid question.."  and in most cases,  I would agree with them.

The real question here has more to do with how one celebrates Independence Day.

There are those who say that the typical cookout/picnic and lighting off of sometimes hundreds and thousands of dollars of fireworks is not what Independence Day is all about.

Some would suggest a somber reading of the Declaration of Independence and/or the U.S. Constitution would be more fitting.  They might be right.

Some might suggest that a moment of silence or even a group "prayer" would be appropriate to remember the soldiers and others spanning from the "Founding Fathers (and Mothers) to those on the forefront today.

I am here to suggest that the picnic and fireworks, regardless of how over-blown and gaudy, really are the "reason for the season".

Every time American citizens feel safe enough and confident enough to go out in public and be relaxed, argue about the latest nonsense in local, state and federal government, give the kids some sparklers and such.  All of these thing are truly special things that are worth celebrating.

My friends, the very fact that we feel comfortable enough that terrorists aren't going to stop us from hanging our flags out in public and making a noisy display of ourselves, that is a "real" celebration of independence.

Every time we don't even have to think about what if some local bureaucrat wanted what we had and just showed up with police or soldiers to take it, we are celebrating independence.

Any time Uncle Whoever can knock back a six pack and stand up to tell the whole world what he thinks of some politician or government policy without worrying about being dragged off immediately or in the middle of the night sometime soon because of it, we are indeed celebrating independence.

Certainly, we have more somber, grandiose ways we could be celebrating our independence. Those are just as fine and expected too.

True independence, real independence, is in the little things.  

It's in the ability to wear your politics on your sleeve if you want to.

It's in the off the cuff decision we make to make that last minute stop at the fireworks stand and spend an extra twenty bucks for the cookout that night.

It's in the ability to even feel safe enough, secure enough to have a cookout that night.

It's in the not even thinking about things like not being able to have a cookout because of gestapos or terrorists or strict authoritarian laws.

We do those things because we are free to do so.

We celebrate because we can.

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