Independence Day is what we celebrate, not “The Fourth of July.” This really sticks in my craw. Can’t help it. Perhaps I paid too much attention during history class, maybe I watched too much History Channel back when it was worth watching. It doesn’t matter. Every sale flyer polluting my mail box and every chunk of spam contaminating my inbox around this time spouting “4th of July Sale” just jerks my chain.

Retailers so gaga for green backs trample all over this coming holiday. I actually have mixed emotions over celebrating. Oh, I’m as patriotic as many, growing up rural we tend to be wrapped in the flag when brought home from the hospital and rocked in our NRA cradle. Unlike many of my neighbors and family I never served. Not due to lack of desire during my youth, rather it was due to the severe allergies I had. We weren’t in the desert 30+ years ago, we were in the jungles. Everyone I knew who was in told me the allergies would disqualify me because it would make me a beeper for the blind troops on the other side.

Gettysburg

My mixed emotions over the holiday come from the fact all of the hoopla tends to forget Gettysburg. At a time when the entire population of the nation was less than the occupants of modern day Manhattan on any given week day we fought the bloodiest multi-day battle in our history. That time came July 1-3, 1863. We tend to remember Lincoln’s most famous speech of November 19th that same year. The phrase “Four score and seven years ago” has become ingrained in American culture, but we tend to forget just why it happened.

It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that I own a copy of Gettysburg. Even less of a surprise that during the weekends around Independence Day I try to watch it. Not just part of it, but the entire thing. During the days of VHS I used to watch the entire 4 tape set.

Independence Day

Yes, the day on the calendar is July 4th, but we celebrate Independence Day. The day chosen as the rememberance of the official signing of The Declaration of Independence.

According to an episode of “Dr. Who” the human super power is that of forgetting. Perhaps we should thwart that super power and start remembering? Perhaps remember that before it was converted into The Battle Hymn of the Republic it was a song called John Brown’s Body. Remember that before it became a great nation it was a country bitterly divided.

To all of those who served, thank you for your service.

For those who think that level of sacrifice is no longer required to keep America both safe and a country should rent Zero Dark Thirty.

Featured image by James Smith from Pixabay