Independence Day

I've never been the kind of person to get all pumped up about Independence Day. Oh, when I was a kid, sure, because the 4th of July always meant blowing up mailboxes with M-80's. But as an adult, however, my sense of "Patriotic Pride"(TM) has been stung more than a few times, and I know I'm far from alone there. That's an understatement to say the least.

However, it shouldn't go without saying that I do not, and never have considered myself unpatriotic or ashamed of my country. I have certainly been ashamed of a great many things that my country has involved itself with over the years, whether in my lifetime or not, but I have never been ashamed to be an American.

Being an American for me, just like being a gay man, was something I had absolutely nothing to do with. It just happened that way without any effort on my part. Having traveled to many different countries and been exposed to many different cultures in my lifetime, I can say with certainty that I feel very fortunate to have been born in this country. But having said that, I've never been the kind of person to flaunt it as though it was my God-given birthright, as many in this country have a tendency to do.

I could have very easily been born in Darfur.

So as our country celebrates its 232nd year of Independence, I still hold out hope that, as the current regime comes to an end, we will move away from this collective sense of righteous indignation and stand-alone isolationism and learn to view our place in this world with more humility and humanity.

Oh yeah, and Jesse Helms died today. Sweet! Now if you'll excuse me, I got some mailboxes to blow up.