Happy Independence Day

I never was a History freak. I liked my history in broad strokes: give me the main ideas and I'm happy. I'm not normally sentimental either, although certain things can take my breath away- the way my husband says my name, the sound of my children laughing.
But I just love The Fourth of July. I can sing the songs, I wear the colors, I do my nails all patriotic like. I barbecue, go to parades and wave like a mad woman, and I especially like fireworks.
I love this country. I can agree or disagree with anything any one says. In theory, I can have my own beliefs. We have the right to defend ourselves. I have the right to worship (or not worship) whomever/whatever I choose. Our soldiers have saved the lives of many, many, many citizens of other countries. I think I read somewhere that we give more money for aid to other countries than any other country. We believe in the spirit of helping others. And bettering ourselves. We have the right to get rich.
In other countries (North Korea, China, Cuba) people don't have any rights. Say something against the people in power and your entire family goes to a concentration camp, including the children. Get assassinated in China and your family gets to pay for the bullet. Children starve in the gutter while fat pigs in power get richer and richer. And why we haven't bombed that bastard in North Korea into 50 million pieces in beyond me!! That Piece of Shit gave up any right to breath about 30 years ago.
I have the right to burn the American Flag, or not stand when the Pledge of Allegiance is said, or not be respectful to our military. But I would no more do that than I would smack my mother in the mouth. It's wrong. It's disrespectful. It's despicable.
Some people might be tempted to do these things to show off our freedoms. Fuck you, says I. Yeah, it's great for shock, but you still suck for doing it.

Yes, you have the right to do those crappy things, but you're still wrong.


Happy Fourth of July to all...