A 4th of July Report Card - One Man's Opinion

In a little while, the summer sky will fade from blue to gray and then to black. As evening falls, a cacophony of sounds will bombard our senses with “bombs bursting in air” as we celebrate our freedom with firecrackers and cherry bombs, of course, only being safely used to scare away nuisance birds in accordance with state ordinances. Duh! 

Across the country, our politicians, from countless podiums, will laud the “American way” while simultaneously, shamelessly and blatantly pandering for our votes with enough hot air to reinflate the Hindenberg while the milling crowds await the advertised fireworks shows – the real reason that they came.

Politicians are a necessary evil in our society; we can’t do with him and we can’t do without them. Many of them, unfortunately fit an all too apt Shakespearian definition: “full of sound and fury but signifying nothing.” A joke questions that if 100 lawyers, wrapped in chains at the bottom of the sea are a good start, what are 100 politicians similarly bound? Even better!  

When I graduated from high school, back in the Stone Age, my stepfather offered the following poetic advice:

First comes grammar, the comes high,

after college, my oh my,

pretty soon, before you know it,

You’ll be a doctor, a lawyer or poet.

But if you find you’re not so smart

don’t discourage, don’t lose heart

backward people have their missions,

some become our politicians.

Nuff said.

Here’s a thought: What if we actually had term limits, where new blood, and fresh perspectives created a continual influx of ideas and each generation had the same opportunity to make its mark, unfettered by political machines and agendas? Let freedom ring!

What if decisions actually reflected the needs of the people and not the greed and undue influence of lobbyists, P.A.C.'s and now the new and improved super P.A.C.'s? What if our checks and balance system was actually allowed to work without politics rearing its ugly head to influence momentous decisions in the highest court in our land? Wow! What a country we would be.

If the President of the United States, in response to a question about the state of the country, could first respond that it was “fine” and then backtrack, when questioned, like a tenderfoot who just stepped in his first cow paddy, I think our politicians’ report card rates no better than a C, if that. I’m sure that there are still millions of the disenfranchised, homeless, foreclosed or forced into a short sale like me, jobless folks who just might take a wee bit of exception to President Obama’s remark.

Although the 4th of July is a time for celebration, it is also a time for remembrance and reflection on those who came before us. I know that, between the hot dogs, hamburgers, barbequed beef and ice cold beer, we can take a few minutes to remember those who came from all walks of life, laid down their pitchforks and pencils, picked up their rifles, defended our liberty and then returned, anonymously, to their interrupted lives again.

Even more importantly, we must remember our wounded warriors, devoid of limbs and suffering their own private, on-going wars with PTSD in VA hospitals and homeless shelters across our county.  I am happy to say that I have lived long
enough to see that the cries of “Baby Killers” and garbage being dumped by anonymous cowards, from building roof tops on dress uniforms for service during the Viet Nam war have been supplanted by “thanks for your service” by
complete strangers to our returning veterans.  They so deserve it!

Equally fitting, lasting homage must be paid to those who made the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefields of WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Afghanistan,
Iraq, and on and on, an endless litany of both man’s inhumanity to man and man,
in his finest hour: “Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends …” John 15:13 – and therein lies the irony.

Why must we continually beat our plough shares into swords? It’s too bad that our memories are so short. The lyrics from an old protest song from my generation asks the universal question: “When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?”  Mankind grades: savagery – A+, humanity -D. 
 
As a card carrying member of the animal kingdom, we are really a pretty puny specimen. We lack the strength, speed, stamina, cunning, instinct, sharp teeth and claws of our furrier counterparts. Our young, unlike in the wild, are dependent on us for many years. Yet we have dominion over all species, great and small. Why? Lacking our opposable thumb which allows us to grip and our highly developed brains that supposedly allow us to reason, we would probably be extinct by now. Animal grade - F but humanity will try harder next time.  

Seemingly endless wars and rumors of wars and more than sufficient stockpiles of nuclear weapons may yet portend mankind’s final solution. I read a poem years ago whose author I have forgotten. Its message is easy to fathom. “To split the mighty atom was man’s greatest intent. Now patiently the atom waits to return the compliment.” How can you equate reason with war?

Let’s face it. We have teetered and continue to maintain our precarious perch on the brink of annihilation and yet we survive; in better times, we have even prospered in spite of it. It is all of our “unwept, unhonored” who deserve our thanks and continued respect. They move, unseen, walking among us in police and firemen’s uniforms, nurses and medics garb. They serve and protect in ghettos and affluent neighborhoods alike, speaking the language of love and humanity in the tongues of many countries, now calling our country their own.

They are young; they are old; they are foolish; they are wise. They volunteer in our hospitals, and schools and worship in our cathedrals, mosques, temples and street corners churches. Grade – A++. They reflect what is best in our species and on this 4th of July, I am proud to say that I still get a lump in my throat and a feeling of pride when I think of their accomplishments and hear our national anthem - hopefully played in some semblance of its original tune, although questionable renditions at some sporting events have sorely distorted its content - I am an American.

Well, since I live in the good ole US of A, I have the right to say what I think and this is just one man’s opinion. What do you think?