A Few Thoughts on the Fourth

for once

This is the first time that I have been home on the 4th of July for many years. In all honesty, I’m a bit ambivalent about it. We were never the flag-waving type as I was growing up: no fireworks, flags or parades. There was usually work to be done on the farm, with time carved out for a big spread at lunch. Before dark, there might be homemade ice cream. I’ve never purchased fireworks–I don’t like loud noises, or spending money on such things.¹

But this is a significant date, worthy of remembrance. The world didn’t begin on July 4, 1776, but it certainly took a turn. What troubles me about it all is what we’ve done with it; how every holiday is now militarized, along with the accompanying glorification of that militarization. I’m all for “supporting the troops”--especially after their service has ended. But that does not mean approval of our militarism. I would rather we don’t drop bombs on others, or sell bombs to those who do; or assassinate foreign leaders; or engage in regime change. These views came into clearer focus for me shortly after Bush’s invasion of Iraq, and I have been consistent ever since.

I am proud to be an American–just don’t set it to music, for I won’t sing along. This is still a land of incredible opportunity and I feel fortunate to live here. Both my sons are also proud Americans, and yet each live happily elsewhere.

I have recently finished Ralph Adams Cram’s The End of Democracy (1937). I can’t imagine what he would entitle it today–perhaps, Democracy Remembered. He has a few points to make about liberty; a good, solid word that we often casually abuse.

Many crimes have been committed in the name of liberty: also as many errors and indiscretions…

first, that liberty cannot exist without corresponding and definite limitations to its action; second, that liberty in action is the result of and follows after an interior and spiritual liberty that must be achieved by each individual for himself; third, that liberty is relative to each man and each action in which he may be involved…

Liberty is an interior thing and may be achieved under slavery, tyranny or ‘triumphant democracy,’ but freedom of the spirit demands and deserves corresponding freedom of action.

And, from others:

…the State has no finality, and that therefore in the last resort the individual is not for the State but the State for the individual. Señor de Madariaga

The danger of anarchy, that is to say, of definite disintegration, is always lurking in the background, when our initial freedom is centered upon itself. Nicolai Berdyaeff

The passion for equality made vain the hope of freedom. Lord Acton

I hope everyone has a safe and quiet Fourth. For me, patriotism begins and ends with home and hearth. Now, there’s some watermelon cut-up in the refrigerator, so I must attend to that now.

1. I once won a party game in which others had to guess something that I had never done–mine was having never purchased a package of gum. I could add fireworks to that list.