Friday, July 24, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Independence Day
Went downtown last night to celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day fireworks show with friends, and although I must say I had a great time, I couldn't help but wonder ...
Just like how Christmas is 'supposed' to be the celebration of the birth of the Christian Messiah (although its not at all what he wanted), Independence Day is the celebration of our independence from the foreign soils ...declaration that we can and WILL govern ourselves. Yet, it seems to me, the Fourth of July is more today about a show and a party, commercialized like Christmas has been. Has the American populous lost touch with or forgotten what it means to be an independent people celebrating freedom?
As I stood (with a beer in my hand) watching the fireworks display, I could feel in my heart a pride welling up. Proud to be an American. Proud to make the choices that remind me 'I'm free.' The fireworks are supposed to be a display of the battles fought to gain independence ...yet as I look around on the streets, behind me at the bar, and watch commercials on television, I feel a disconnection. What is this holiday now? A day off from work (for some); an excuse to party; a commercial convincing us to buy?
Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy the show, and hanging with my friends, but I can't help but wonder, "where is the pride? What are we doing here?"
Today's global scene is anything but order. The citizens of every nation have lost sight of what it means to be a part of the human race. The only race, it seems to me, is to be the first with and last without. Selfish 'anti-them' attitudes are prevailing over the cause of humanity ...and it scares me.
Not to borrow a pageant cliche, but where is world peace? Is it my neighbor's job to keep, or mine? Are we approaching an impasse where all things fail? Or, can we push a reset button somewhere and get back on track?
Just some thoughts. I'm probably wrong. Guess we'll see in a few short years. Oh, and by that, how does one prepare?
Just like how Christmas is 'supposed' to be the celebration of the birth of the Christian Messiah (although its not at all what he wanted), Independence Day is the celebration of our independence from the foreign soils ...declaration that we can and WILL govern ourselves. Yet, it seems to me, the Fourth of July is more today about a show and a party, commercialized like Christmas has been. Has the American populous lost touch with or forgotten what it means to be an independent people celebrating freedom?
As I stood (with a beer in my hand) watching the fireworks display, I could feel in my heart a pride welling up. Proud to be an American. Proud to make the choices that remind me 'I'm free.' The fireworks are supposed to be a display of the battles fought to gain independence ...yet as I look around on the streets, behind me at the bar, and watch commercials on television, I feel a disconnection. What is this holiday now? A day off from work (for some); an excuse to party; a commercial convincing us to buy?
Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy the show, and hanging with my friends, but I can't help but wonder, "where is the pride? What are we doing here?"
Today's global scene is anything but order. The citizens of every nation have lost sight of what it means to be a part of the human race. The only race, it seems to me, is to be the first with and last without. Selfish 'anti-them' attitudes are prevailing over the cause of humanity ...and it scares me.
Not to borrow a pageant cliche, but where is world peace? Is it my neighbor's job to keep, or mine? Are we approaching an impasse where all things fail? Or, can we push a reset button somewhere and get back on track?
Just some thoughts. I'm probably wrong. Guess we'll see in a few short years. Oh, and by that, how does one prepare?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)