Sun, ball, friends, eats

Independence Day, as all holidays, has lost its meaning. Currently, it is at best an excuse to watch fireworks, cook food, and share time with friends and family. At worst it is another excuse for nationalistic flag waving and mouth-foaming jingoism. I don't think either of these are what the many colonists envisioned when at last the war was over, but the former probably comes closer to the hopes of those many people who took a risk to overthrow their current government for whichever reasons made sense to them.

History books have handed down a neatly packaged mythology of Founding Fathers, Revolutionaries, and historic horse rides. While all of that has a place, the reality of epic change rests on the shoulders of the many rather than the few, for the many have to decide that the great risk is worth it. There will always be rhetoric, leaders, and visions, but the times and the people must move behind them for change to happen.

Right now, we have leaders, rhetoric, and vision in abundance. What we don't have is a motivated populace to make change. People, even in this recession, are still mostly complacent. When public demonstration or action is attempted, it has been corralled in approved zones and hushed up by the media. What will it take before Americans decide it is time for a change?

Until then, we are stuck with the frat boys next door having obnoxiously loud parties in the middle of a quiet, kid-filled residential neighborhood. Independence day is just another excuse to set up drinking games, pee on the fence, and yell from garage roof to patio incoherently.

This is the tail end of a drunken musical interlude from the drunken shouting.


Reena and I went to Alicia and Leslie's annual kickball and cookout. It is about friends, fun, and food, and it doesn't irritate the neighbors. Rose got to hang out with Zach(sp?) who is very close in age to her, and I enjoyed running around kicking and catching the ball. I don't get to play active games all that much, so I love the opportunity to stretch the legs and have some fun.Rose's attention is captured but soon returns to Lesley. Zach looks on. There were a range of young children as well as expectant moms. Very young family friendly event.Alicia chats and comforts her beer during a break in the action.