Fireworks

One of the things that struck me on the 4th, during some of the calmer periods, did so during the Macy's Fireworks Spectacular and the Washington D.C. fireworks on PBS.

Those giant displays of patriotic pride on NBC were a massive expenditure of money; small nations could be run on it probably. How many tens to hundreds of thousands or more could be fed by the cost to do that single hour long event? That's part of what the third world tends to see in America, and why it buys the negative propaganda. We "waste" money at times in big ways.

That said, the D.C. fireworks weren't nearly as impressive, but still a heartwarming sight in comparison. I admit feeling the stirrings of pride watching it and thinking how this grand experiment of our nation has gone on for so long, and that we have reason to celebrate.

When mom and my Aunt Pat were little, they'd go to D.C. for the fireworks every year; even meeting JFK one year while sitting near the White House. I've never done either, the fireworks in D.C. or meet the President of the United States; but that doesn't diminish the fact that such things are still possible here in the USA. We can have "wasteful" things like fireworks to celebrate a day that has great meaning to us. We can have the chance to meet and at times challenge our elected officials without the fear of being shot or imprisoned (to an extent). We can let our voices be heard in the streets without worrying about what we say.

We can love our nation, despite its many problems, because in truth, sometimes that's the entirety of Patriotism. Anyone can find and shout a problem in any government or people as a whole to the ends of the world; but to still be able to look upon that nation without regard to its government or to those you disagree with and go "I love this place" is a very rare thing.