Independence Day

I was listening to the local conservative newsradio pundit the other day, and he mentioned something that I found made sense. Even though I'm a registered 'publican, I don't always agree with the party line because I still believe the common people should be given some consideration from time to time. This makes me not always in lock-step with the constant dribble of fabricated urgency on such issues as immigration, foreign oil, immigration, the Iraq war, and oh did I mention immigration?
But I do agree with the sentiment that our national holiday in July has been compromised by way of what it's called and how it's marketed. The holiday is Independence Day, and the date is always July 4th. We don't wax on and on about "Dec 25th" or "Feb 20th" or "May 30th", we call them Christmas Day or President's Day or Memorial Day. Yet we see ads for July 4th, we talk about the July 4th parade, we get July 4th off from work. As the man on the radio says, this diminishes the true meaning of the holiday from what it represents -- it is quickly becoming a notable day off, a kick off to summer, but not enough emphasis is placed on what it really means to us and how it all came about. Maybe it's because school is out and we (parents and children) are more interested in the summer holiday mindset instead of using mental faculties to focus on the meaning of it all.
Independence Day is more than a Will Smith movie (although I do enjoy watching it every time it comes on). I don't think people realize just how tenuous and dangerous it was to create this country as an independent state. You don't get that message in grade school, you just hear about how we were created and the war that ensued. Let's not forget that people were killed, reputations and careers were lost or changed forever, and the world was never the same after that episode in history (because of the result).
I made a conscious effort this week to correct anyone that said "July 4th" in conversation to please say Independence Day. Especially my kids and their friends. And they reacted favorably and wanted to know more, which to me is always a good thing. It's the ultimate grass roots effort, but it's a start, and I'm motivated to spread the word, especially to marketing folks who run those ads on TV, radio and print: let's reprogram ourselves to call it what it is -- INDEPENDENCE DAY. And who knows? Maybe it will generate more creative thought as well as being an excuse to load up on hot dogs and beer and fireworks...