05 July 2004, 04:06
July 4th: a lesson in American culture
I have been to several Independence Day celebrations. Ever since I have had friends who could drive, we would steal someone’s car and go to Grand Portage or Grand Marais, or even Duluth Superior, depending on how productive we needed to be the next morning. It usually involved nothing more than watching fireworks in a kinda random country, drinking, and free pop at the casino. It was fun, but nothing like the 4th of July celebrations I took part in today. Here’s my take on the whole thing, an inside-outsiders view:
Independence Day celebrations involve attending church (twice) and singing praises to the military and the government instead of God. It involves barbeque. Lots of it. It involves cooking two dozen briskets for 10 people and running around the neighbourhood trying to pawn the stuff off on others. It involves ammo bombs thrown under moving cars and beer and even more barbeque. It involves waiting 45 minutes to get across a bridge for no reason. It involves the police, acting tough with their flashlights and volleyball and pond jumping. It involves yelling obscenities while the person next to you sings America the Beautiful. It involves lessons in American history from people who know less than I do. It involves pictures of Abraham Lincoln and littering the streets with dozens of tiny flags. It involves beautiful fireworks, coming at you from all directions and more beer and more barbeque.
I love patriotism. Regardless of country. Excitement is contagious.