Independence Day (updated)

A few days back, we were forwarded a bit of satire via email regarding what a Bush resignation speech might look like. In this speech, "Bush" is stepping down in a fit of pique as he is fed-up with what he sees as our (U.S. citizens’) generally ADD-addled and ungrateful nature.

We have two parents that grew up during the Depression and WWII. Theirs’ was a world of shortages, rationing, unemployment, soup kitchens, hardship and suffering but also a world of victory gardens, war bond drives, Rosie the Riveter, sacrifice and courage.

Today's world is also that of a bad economy and a war seemingly without end. A miserable economy that still sees an unemployment rate somewhere in the neighborhood of where it was in the mid-90s. A "recession" that still sees a growing (though anemically) GDP and housing prices that are plummeting.... right back to where they probably should've been in the first place (honestly, were any of you out there planning an early retirement based on the equity in your home 2-3 years ago?).

And how about this war? Strangest damn war we've ever been in - so strange that we have not given up or been asked to sacrifice one doggone thing except maybe having to get to the airport an hour earlier than we used to. In fact, its been just the opposite. Our Commander-in-Chief has urged us not to plant a garden or buy government bonds but rather to do our patriotic duty and hit the mall, go shopping, purchase that hot tub or new flat screen because doing otherwise would be....well, it would be giving-in to the terrorists. Imagine that.

Only in America could we get away with such behavior. The bitching, the moaning, the squawking... like we're really being put upon. Only a country as blatantly amazing and audacious as ours could have citizens with the chutzpah to really believe these are "hard times". We've set the bar high - too high, perhaps. The fantastic prosperity we have created because we are nation of hard-workers, risk-takers and innovators is a double-edge sword: completely unrealisitc expectations but also never looking back and always leaning forward. Its truly an American thing.

So, this 4th of July weekend: a little perspective. A little perspective on who we are, our place in history in this nation, how it is that we wish to be looked upon by future generations and how incredibly good we have it.

Have a safe 4th – we’ll be back tomorrow.

UPDATE #1: For reasons obvious and not so obvious we always try put Springsteen’s fantastic double-album “The River” on the proverbial turntable every Fourth of July. We’ve been trying to convince our British friend that our happiness and sense of belonging as Americans is not derived from our country’s leadership with whom she is rather displeased but rather a common heritage that is passed down from generation to generation that is based on documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Here’s Bruce and the E Street Band performing the first track from that album, “The Ties that Bind”.




UPDATE #2: We don't mean to put anyone on report but we feel its our patriotic duty to call out KT whom we suspect of harboring potentially seditious revisionist versions of U.S. History.