July Fourth

[ciroccoj]

Just checked my e-mail. Got a Happy Fourth of July greeting card, sent to members of a group who are not all American. I'm sure some non-Americans could take offense at being sent a greeting card for a national day that isn't their own, but that's not why I'm feeling... hm. The greeting card thing is fine - it's a small group, most of the members are American, and what the heck, I celebrate Fourth of July in my own way too. It's a day worthy of celebration, IMHO, whether you're American or not.

No, the reason I'm feeling verklemfpt is the nature of the card. It shows a flag, then a tank. "The Land", it reads. Then a naval ship. "The Seas". Then a fighter plane. "The Skies." Then a saluting soldier. "God Bless Our Country, God Bless Our Home."

Christ. Let's celebrate American aggression wherever we go, shall we? Let's not bother to think about everything else America has going for it.

So, to cleanse those images from my mind, here's my little "Reasons to Celebrate The Fourth of July" list.

• Democracy. Not an American invention, but they've provided a shining example to much of the rest of the world of what a government of the people, by the people and for the people can really be.
  
• Freedom, religious and otherwise. Somewhat flawed in practice, but still more ardently defended in America than in most of the rest of the world.
  
• Equality. Again, flawed in practice. But at least America gives lip service to the idea that all men (and women) are created equal. In most of the rest of the world, the idea that blacks, women, Jews, the poor, etc are just simply inferior is ingrained and passively accepted.
  
• Opportunity for all. It's not true that any child of a crack whore has the same chance of becoming President of the United States as do the children of Bill Gates. But at least they can't be barred by law from even making an attempt.
  
• New York, Washington DC, LA, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, Las Vegas, New Orleans, etc etc...
  
• The Grand Canyon, Hawaii, Yosemite Park, The Everglades, Alaska...
  
• The Space program, computers, and other technological, medical and scientific breakthroughs that have affected us all. No, Americans are not responsible for every advance in modern science and technology. But they have certainly influenced just about every single such advance, even those developed in other countries, by providing people or knowledge or funding.
  
• Hollywood. And other places across the country and around the world where Americans have created or influenced movies, TV shows, music, and other forms of art and entertainment.
  

And that's just off the top of my head.

Happy Fourth of July.

Comments

[bear.livejournal.com]

Thank you. You just singlehandedly restored my faith in how the United States projects itself to other countries. It's nice to be reminded of the stuff we have at least some claim to -- balances the scale, a little, against our creepy foreign policy. Gah.

Happy Friday to you! :)

[gypsum.livejournal.com]

I echo Kylliki. Nice to know we haven't totally screwed up our image in the eyes of the rest of the world, though our administration is certainly putting forth a good effort in that department.

I saw the card. Considering who sent it, I am frankly not surprised. But I am somewhat tempted to find a bleeding heart liberal card espousing equality before the law, all that peace, 1960s, Warren Court-y stuff to send. Form a society of Greeting Cards against Jingoism.

[snarkhunter.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just about bit through my figurative lip trying not to respond snarkily or bitchily to that little greeting card. The tank REALLY got me. And you know, I'd like to see one of those damn saluting soldiers be a woman some time. A woman who isn't white.

And I'd like to echo the thanks for your list. Sometimes the burden of knowing how awful we can be tends to weigh one down. And one more for the list: jazz music. :)

[gypsum.livejournal.com]

"I'd like to see one of those damn saluting soldiers
be a woman some time. A woman who isn't white."

A lesbian, African-American woman who practices Islam.

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

It's nice to be reminded of the stuff we have at least some claim to -- balances the scale, a little, against our creepy foreign policy.

The creepy foreign policy just gets so much more play than the less exciting, but ultimately (IMHO) much more important other stuff. Which is too bad.

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

Considering who sent it, I am frankly not surprised.

No, me neither. ::sigh::

But I am somewhat tempted to find a bleeding heart liberal card espousing equality before the law, all that peace, 1960s, Warren Court-y stuff to send. Form a society of Greeting Cards against Jingoism.

ROFLMAO!! www.GCAJ.com, I can see it now :)

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

And one more for the list: jazz music. :)

:) :) :)

And Tex-mex cuisine.