From the time most Americans are young, the Fourth of July is marked as a particularly fun, special holiday. Carnivals, grilling, apple pie, visits to the lake and, of course, fireworks — it’s more than enough to make even the youngest U.S. citizen a patriot.
During this time of year, it’s almost heresy to question the virtues of the good ol’ U.S. of A. Instead, political pundits from both left and right spend large portions of the day encouraging us to remember why our country, despite near-constant partisan squabbling, is really not that bad. After all, no matter what we think about the Middle East, health care or the economy, we can all unite for one day and bask in flag-waving glory.
Or so the story goes.
This year, though, wouldn’t it be something if those patriotic feelings translated into a genuine spirit of bipartisan cooperation? Maybe we’ve watched a little too much Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but it seems as if at least some of the energy and good feelings we generate by patting ourselves on the back could be used to solve those problems.
If we all love our country as much as we claim to when we’re shooting off firecrackers and enjoying frosty beverages, shouldn’t we be more committed to making our country more lovable for everyone?
Don’t get us wrong; we love the U.S. and believe most of the patriotic fervor is well-deserved. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to direct some of our energy toward reaching the lofty goals politicians woo us with during the elections. This Independence Day, expect more.
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