America's Birthday > My Birthday.

Well, this weekend served as a nice escape from Lebanon for a bit. As I said, Jenn, TJ, Sib, Morgan, and I drove up to Columbus for Red, White and Boom. After navigating through the horrendous traffic and finding our parking lot, we had a great time watching the show. After the short fireworks display, we headed to Lodge Bar to meet up with Clint, Tara, Chris, Pam, and Nathan. It was very nice to see them...it's been a long time.

Saturday, we stayed at Alex's for most of the day and played games. Emma met up with us for lunch and we went to an awesome Mexican restaurant called Mad Mex. Later that night, Toddy and Matt came over. They always make things fun/interesting. Claire came to see us, too! It feels like so long since I've seen her and all we did was reminisce on our time at Miami. Pathetic...

Later on, we went to a couple bars. However, one of the highlights of my night was going to the legendary PJ's. I ordered the Fat Carnie again - which consists of buffalo tenders, french fries, bacon, mozzarella sticks, and ranch. It won't just clog your arteries. It will also change your life. Trust me.

Sunday, after driving home, Jenn and I decided to go to Red, White and Blue Ash. Parking, again, was a disaster, but luckily, we found an amazing spot. We walked around the festival for a few hours, listening to YES and Peter Frampton. FYI - Hearing "Owner of a Lonely Heart" performed live is one of the coolest things ever. Also, I must say that the Columbus fireworks paled in comparison to the Rozzis' display. The Rozzis are the family that set off the WEBN fireworks on Labor Day weekend every year. They didn't disappoint. We accidentally found a PERFECT spot for the show and we watched a half-hour display synced with music that even included fireworks in different shapes (like smiley faces, hearts, and the letters U, S, and A).

This weekend, I spent some time contemplating the meaning of the 4th of July. Instead of meaning American independence, it has come to mean BBQ, beer, and fireworks for most people. Oddly enough, those three things seem like pretty accurate symbols for America. Whether that's a good or a bad thing, I'm not quite sure.

Don't get me wrong - there was absolutely no shortage of American flags and patriotic t-shirts this weekend. I just wonder if we are slowly losing sight of the importance of the holiday. Patriotism and cohesiveness seem to be declining, especially in the years following post-9/11. Why do Democrats and Republicans only seem to unite in universal support of the American system one day a year? Every other day, they squabble over decisions, criticize actions made by the other, and openly belittle each other. Shouldn't this love of country continue in their work every other day of the year? A little more understanding, tolerance, acceptance, and support would be beneficial for the progress of the nation. I know it will never change, but I can't help but worry about the negative effects the divisiveness of the political parties has on the American public...not to mention their critical nature.

I truly understand the benefits of political divisiveness. If the opposition has a voice, rash decisions are less likely to be made and diverse groups have representation in the decision-making process. However, it often seems to me that American politics has become nothing more than a gridlocked dog fight with politicians more concerned with votes than progress. Parties place talking heads on all of the news networks and argue back and forth in an attempt to garner electoral support. However, it seems that all they do is contribute to the country's cynicism. Americans are turned off by the arguments, refuse to take sides, and voter turnout decreases. Representatives seem self-centered and petty, vying desperately for their positions. Elections are strategically covered by the media as horseraces, further engraining the image of cut-throat political competition. Often, there doesn't seem to be any effort made to bridge the gap between the parties and take action collectively. Maybe it's the poly sci major in me talking, but this concerns me.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "A house divided against itself cannot stand..." I understand that divisive issues like abortion and gay marriage are not likely to be settled any time soon. However, in certain situations when issues are pressing (such as the oil spill in the Gulf or the financial crisis), decisions need to be made for the good of the country, not solely to benefit specific politicians or a particular political party. Furthermore, once a decision has been made, the country should unite in support behind that decision. I believe in the importance of critcism, but there is a difference between constructive criticism and harsh accusations made in anger. Unfortunately, I see more of the latter.

At any rate, I think the 4th of July is a perfect reason to celebrate the goodness and freedom found in this country. Although I've only seen a small fraction of the world, I think it is safe to say that we have something special here, something worth protecting. Diversity and freedom are fundamental to the functioning of this country, but in order for it to run smoothly, I think it requires a certain level of support and cohesiveness. If we can stand together in some semblance of unity, we will make more progress and continue to prove why our democracy, the one envisioned by the founding fathers over 200 years ago, is such a great system. If we try to see the bigger picture, have compassion for each other, and strive to work collectively, we can overcome anything.

...and I suppose if we need to start the unity somewhere, it might as well start with BBQ, beer, and fireworks.