250 Year Celebration

Images of the Bi-centennial celebration flash through my mind.

I distinctly recall the parade through town, and the men marching in uniform.

We had balloons and floats and waving flags. 

We watched the fireworks at the town park, and as a 11-year old, I distinctly recall being undeniably proud to be an American.

A lot has changed in 50 years.

First off, I learned about life and how it works. As a kid, you don’t see a lot of the rough edges.

As a kid, you don’t have any idea who has money and who doesn’t.

You don’t know who is having troubles at home, or who is sick.

Back then we had a lot of people looking over us. Our friend’s parents  knew us and they’d discipline us or feed us.

Now, as adults, we know all the deep, dark secrets. We understand that there are people in power taking advantage of us.

We don’t have healthcare for all.

We have way too many poor and homeless.

Our education system is in tatters.

We aren’t being led out of the mess. 

We are being dragged into the abyss.

But we still have American spirit, don’t we?

Certainly a portion of the population enjoys the freedom that Democracy is supposed to afford us, but not all of us.

Not nearly all of us.

And when I was 11 years old I didn’t know that it sucks, and it’s not good enough.

I still love this country.

I’ve seen a lot of it.

From California to New York City, and all points in between.

It’s a beautiful place filled with hard-working people who just want to live a peaceful, happy life.

I had a great Sunday.

I played golf, saw the Yankees win, and the sauce was great. I rested a little, hung out with the family and my faithful dog.

A day that I’d script.

And I thought about the 250-year celebration, and how it promises to be absolutely nothing that I’m interested in celebrating.

The White House is in shambles.

We are at war.

The president attacks reporters, ‘dumocrats’ (did anyone know there is a ‘b’ in dumb - pretty heady stuff there).

Immigrants aren’t welcome.

Minorities are treated as other than people.

Gays are treated like villains.

250 years of freedom is hard to celebrate when you realize that we’re headed backwards, and that America may not make it to 300 years.

It’s my last chance to celebrate, and I won’t be attending.