So depressed today. I looked forward to the country coming together to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, but that is sooo not what happened. Somewhere along the line, the country has become so tribal that it’s incapable of coming together for even one day to celebrate the fact that –through good and bad—the country has managed to keep its act together for 250 years. As revolutions go, that’s an amazing success rate.
I was a teenager during the Bicentennial celebration and I
admit to a certain amount of teen sullenness when I was forced to participate
in the festivities. But, looking back, I was impressed by the moon rocks
traveling on the Freedom Train, the Tall Ships on TV and the musical 1776.
Rockford had both a raft race and a rock jamboree in honor of the occasion.
And, of course, there were souvenirs as far as the eye could see.
I was really looking forward to the 250th
celebration. I wanted to experience the national party sans teenage ennui. The
agency I work for had a rough year so I was ready for some joy in my life. I
wanted to revisit the Freedom Train and maybe catch a patriotic play, parade or
concert. And yes, I wanted souvenirs and specially packaged foods.
So I scoured stores for trinkets, but the pickings have been
depressingly slim. I found picnic supplies, a scattering of clothing, an Uncle
Sam Mr Pototo Head (ok, that’s cool) and a rather uninspired 250th
knock-off Monopoly game. I bought a commemorative coin to support veterans, but
I’ve yet to find one of the special 2026 quarters in my change. I had to go
online to get a rather blasé 250th
mint tin and I entered a drawing to win garden seeds that were planted by the
Founding Fathers, but to no avail.
All in all, Rockford didn’t seem to be in the celebratory
mood. Even now, as I listen to the
fireworks from a country club a few miles away, they don’t sound any different
than they have in previous years. Perhaps Rockford’s downtown display is more
impressive. I’ve honestly lost interest in them at this point.
It’s not the lack of swag that’s soured me on the holiday.
It’s the rampant --and vicious- tribalism. I get it, half the country hates
Trump (and Trump-supporters). But is it really so impossible for the country to
come together for one day to celebrate our shared history? But no, the Left won’t even concede that we
do share a history. And they seem hard put to find anything good in our past
that’s worth celebrating. And –most annoyingly-- they seem determined to make
sure that anyone who’s determined to celebrate is branded racist or fascist or
some other disagreeable ‘ist’.
Is it really so impossible to say that a restored reflecting pool looks good? Or that a military
flyby is inspirational? Or that high temperatures –not disgust for Trump--
reduced the expected crowd at the national fair? Apparently so. Which is why I’m sitting here
feeling depressed.
