We’re sitting out the neighborhood 4th of July parade and brunch this year. We’d planned to go, but it’s just too damn hot. We’ll celebrate instead with a patriotic shrimp and sausage boil. It’s the sort of thing I’d normally cook over a gas burner on the patio, but see previous excuse. We’re not stepping foot outdoors today if we can help it.
So anyway, the Glorious Fourth. Sure, we celebrate. We’re white. Our fight for independence was a white man’s war, fought to preserve and protect slavery. Patrick Henry didn’t just say “Give me liberty or give me death” — after the revolution, he cautioned his fellow founders against giving too much power to northern federalists, warning “They’ll free your n-ggers!”
Honest to god, the more I learn, the more I support reparations. It’s the absolute least we can do.
Now historians are beginning to place the American Revolution in the context of a wider and on-going war between major colonial powers, Britain and France. A world war, no less, with British forces spread thin around the globe.
What I’ve always celebrated on the 4th of July is the promise of America, our aspiration to be the City upon a Hill to mankind. As we get older, we learn America isn’t as exceptional as they taught us in school. Yet we still aspire, and as a country and society continue inching forward to justice and equality and all (despite the best efforts of those who would return us to a way of life Patrick Henry would embrace). That is something to celebrate and encourage.
By way of celebration and encouragement, we’re basking in feelings of accomplishment after a major toilet repair job. As mentioned, later today I’ll prepare a shrimp and sausage boil. Donna’s set aside the afternoon for sewing projects. Maybe tonight we’ll watch Independence Day, if it’s streaming, and later I’ll sit up with the dogs in case the fireworks and gunfire frighten them (you never know … sometimes they get upset, sometimes they’re oblivious to the commotion).
In my previous post I wrote about the javelina family hanging around our house, and my worries about walking the dogs with them nearby. I did take Fritzi and Lulu out yesterday morning, just for a walk up to the end of the cul de sac and back, keeping my head on a swivel the whole time. The dogs stopped two or three times to stare at something in the distance but to my relief didn’t start barking at whatever it was. No walk today, because as noted we’re skipping the parade and I don’t want to be seen walking the dogs by anyone who’ll think I’m a hypocrite for doing the one and not the other.
Whether you celebrate it or not, I wish you a meaningful Independence Day. And as always … stay fresh, cheese bags!