Approaching America's 250th Birthday

Now that July 4th of our nation's 250th has come and gone, I thought about what I saw, didn't see, what I heard, didn't hear, and where it all came from.  I know that all was not unified happiness in 1976, but it's impossible not to see that things were wildly different this time around.  For the purpose of space and time, I'd say there were about five different trends I noticed when it came to people and our big semiquincentennial (I think that's the right word).     

Conservative commentators, bloggers, and various outlets   

Overall positive, but not afraid of looking  at things like Jefferson's words and his slaves.  Not through the lens of Presentism of course, but to understand the human condition and, to be honest, to use it to look at ourselves.  This included not just non-religious conservatives, but Christian, Catholic, even non-Christian religious.  Which, in the end, shouldn't be surprising.  

Businesses large and small

Two approaches.  Either overwhelmingly positive hurray for the Red, White and Blue, or just didn't mention it.  The majority gave shout outs however.  Especially as Independence Day approached.  That included various outlets or companies I follow in other parts of the world, giving shout outs to their 'American Fans' or 'American Customers.'  Again, I saw none that mentioned the day or celebration doing so in a negative light.  I'll assume those that mentioned nothing were smart enough to follow the Thumper Rule.  Though I'll also add that those businesses whose products aim at a younger, more postmodern and progressive audiences and services also tended to be rather quiet about the whole ordeal, or at least based on what I saw.  I should mention the same goes for educational outlets. I realize that in most cases, schools are out. But still, it didn't keep them for chiming in over George Floyd that summer. 

MSM Press Outlets

A mixed bag. Generally as the holiday approached, it became more of 'positive things and gatherings and a time to celebrate.'  Earlier on they treated us to the potpourri approach of 'America but its sins!' Especially America and Trump, Trump, Trump and his finagling here, there and everywhere.  Closer to the holiday, most contented themselves with the positives.  On our local stations there have been series of stories about the 250th and our history, which I'd say have been about 40/60.  That is, 40% of the stories have been something in the past positive or at least neutral (one recent story about the Wright Bothers and American invention).  But about 60% are either focused on the sins of the past, or wrap up the accomplishments with those sins.  Just like my sons said the schools did when they were in public school. 

Leftwing outlets and organizations and such.

These would be outlets like the New Yorker or SPLC or other leftwing venues and sites.  Easy. Almost 100% negative, focused on the sins, condemning the vile sinners of the past in this 400 year old racist Nazi state.  The odd nod to something good about America, but wrapped almost exclusively in the bad. And usually only if the good involved some liberal ideal or 'minority' group or something similar. And even then, that was the radical exception to the rule of simply 'Evil America - Never Forget'.  Clearly in these cases the mantra was 'not God bless America, but God d**m America!'.  

Leftwing Christians.

I actually spent time going around to various leftwing believers - Catholic and otherwise - I've known over the years.  I wasn't able to track some down.  Some I haven't bothered with for a long time.  But I tried.  Some outlets, like Where Peter Is, I took as a whole and didn't follow each contributor.  With others individuals I looked to see what they said.  Oddly, the bulk said nothing at all.  As if it was just a Saturday in the park with no mention of the 4th of July.  One focused on the Feast of St. Thomas.  Others just generic posts about nothing.  Some nothing at all, the entire weekend going by with nothing written.  Which I found interesting.  No trashing and hashing like the leftwing orgs.  Just nothing but blanks and silence.  And some of them I know full well would once have posted glowing praises for the US, or are not adverse to remembering the anniversary of something like Selma, or are inclined the send shoutouts to Juneteenth.  Yet silence here. 

And that was that.  It's noteworthy that while Corporate America seems to have split from the leftwing juggernaut of a few years ago, most of the traditional leftwing outlets are still that.  So even if the bulk of Americans were waving flags and singing God Bless America, unlike Columbus's Red, White and Boom this year, the key industries of information and cultural molding in our country still appear to have the country in the crosshairs.  

It was a happy 250th Celebration

As I said, fast on the heels of our third son's birthday came this year's 250th Independence Day celebrations.  Because we've been hit was some pretty hefty medical bills over the years, and the various boys have their expenses and lives and all, we were going to cut back on the fireworks that have become a thing ever since they were legalized here in the Buckeye State. But then we decided it just wasn't right, to cut out doing our own fireworks on none other than our 250th birthday as a nation. No way!  So my oldest found a buy 1, get 2 free deal and we jumped on it.   

Don't worry, we practice safe fireworks.  We don't get the monstrous kind.  Usually the type that make pretty lights displays.  We divided the whole celebration over two days.  On July 4th proper we went out while our town was setting off their own alternate fireworks display.  Even toned down, it was a pretty good show.  Better than some of the televised ones I'm sad to say.  And leaps better than the trash heap that has become Columbus's vaunted Red, White and Boom over the years (including this one). 

The next day, we had a grand multi-family cookout with my son's in-laws. That's the parents and one, two, three and four of their sons.  That's right.  The gremlins have six uncles. I'm not worried for their  well being in the upcoming years.  

It was a great time.  One of those weekends where everything seemed to work.  We even let the kiddos see some of the fireworks early on, particularly the quiet ones.  Their reactions are still being analyzed.  Otherwise, a fine time.  Because of schedules and folks going their own ways, we didn't have the usual 'patriotic viewing' of old.  But through July we'll try to catch up on a few things.  

One other odd note.  Some years it was customary for us to visit our big local cemetery and go around to the veterans, much like Memorial and Veterans Day.  Even if it would have been only our youngest with us.  But they had the cemetery closed on July 4th. I've not seen that before.  Strange. I can't help but wonder why.  But otherwise, a July 4th in our own humble way to be worthy of this country we've inherited on its 250th birthday. 

And now the pictures!

Impromptu baby cleaning with a couple of the uncles from the other family -
six in all, and not an aunt between them

Washing baby bucket is what happens
when babies eat July 4th picnics

My new official favorite pic of her

Dueling with giant sparklers - don't try this at home people

Looking more like a Victorian mystery than 4th of July

Our three oldest introduce our daughter-in-law to the
more dangerous ways to handle a sparkler

Our youngest tries to get fancy

Bad photo from dim lighting, but I like the effect

A Griffey family tradition: Build sculptures of sparklers and then burn away, 
trying to compete with the sun if we can

Another new tradition is run before the fireworks explode

A shot of our little finale for the year - a fine time

Though I seldom post any home videos, I figured it would be apropos to post this, the last of the fireworks we set off in our own humble display.  Happy 250th Birthday!

 

Happy 250th Birthday America

I was in third grade when our Bicentennial came along.  It was quite a show.  Half of our year starting January was taken up in a vast, lavish production our school put on.  Each grade did something different.  Our third grade did a combination skit of settlers traveling into the West (including what had to be a guffaw inducing attempt at the Virginia Reel) with a nod toward the 1812 era as well.  My best friend was Uncle Sam. I was the narrator.  We saw videos, read books, and it seemed the Spirit of 76 was everywhere.  It wasn't so much by the time I entered 4th Grade later that year.  In fact, I remember little about the Bicentennial being dwelt upon by then.  I suppose July 4th had come and gone and that was that.

That was a different time of course.  I hear there were divisions then, as I'm sure there were.  I do recall some talk about America's best days being behind us.  But that's about all.  Otherwise, when it was mentioned in my earshot, it seemed to be talked about rather enthusiastically.  And though that was the first time I remember learning about things like Indian Wars and slavery, the overall package was one of positive praise and thankfulness for our country and those who came before: 

The president on the dollar

That Yankee Doodle dollar

The president on the dollar

George Washington's his name

I still remember that song we sang at the time.  And it was just one of many.  Again, by then we were being given a kiddy portion of 'they weren't all saints and angels'.  But the overall focus was on the good. At least from a kid's perspective.  A focus that, at least officially, remained until well into my college days. 

Looking back at the pop culture output through my adults eyes, however, I'm amazed at how counterculture such an upbeat and patriotic celebration really was.  Certainly most things we were celebrating were, by then, held up to derision or mockery by our emerging post-Western social standards, if they were mentioned at all.  As Mark Shea once said, back then if you wanted to know who the patriots were in popular entertainment, well there was Archie Bunker.  He was a patriot.  Frank Burnes on the TV show MASH was a patriot.  

Other ideals like honor, duty, loyalty were as often as not punchlines, not life principles.  People wrapping themselves up in the flag and singing God Bless America must have been seen as freaks or losers or, well, how our popular media culture and progressive society today see those who want to make America great again.

Back then, however, I have a feeling there was still the benefit of a majority witness for those who wanted the bands and bunting and Kate Smith renditions of patriotic songs.  We weren't quite finished yet, and the arrival of Ronald Reagan in 1980 would make patriotism cool again.  It would also force a shift in the Left's anti-patriotism to a new manifestation of patriotism. That is, you declare your patriotic love of America, but insist that love is only valid when you focus on the evils and failures and horrors of its past and present. It's still patriotism, just patriotism done right.

Nonetheless, in 1976, to my third grade mind in a small Midwestern farming town, patriotism wasn't that bad.  And not only because the big celebrations got us out of the usual school doldrums.  Not that it wasn't lost on us. But I remember feeling genuinely good about being in America.  And even today, after everything for so many decades, and so many attempts to get me to think otherwise, somehow I'm able to feel good about it again.  So raise a cold one, thank - not curse, thank - those who came before who made this possible, and say happy birthday #250 USA.  I still think it's not a bad way to spend a fourth. 

Did I mention the Spirit of 76 seemed to be everywhere?

The Battle of Midway

Famous photo of the USS Yorktown ablaze during the battle

It was eighty four years ago that one of the most decisive days in military history occred.  Technically the battle lasted for several days.  But today is the day people remember.  Not that the US had no significant advantages, but the Japanese definitely had many on their side.  Not the least of which - so it appeared - being their superior grasp of the fledgling carrier combat doctrine. 

But we all know how it turned out.  My mom's older brother was on Midway island proper.  It appeared to be, as the Duke of Wellington remarked about Waterloo, the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life, until it wasn't.  

If you're interested, watch the below video.  I'm usually skeptical about Internet video versions of history, though there are some good productions out there.  I wouldn't say I'd take everything the fellow in the video says as gospel truth.  But he does an excellent - and I mean, excellent - job of unpacking the battle from the Japanese point of view.  He uses 'the fog of war' to keep the viewer from knowing any more than what the Japanese knew.  And he unpacks how America's own bumbling approach to carrier warfare ended up saving the day.  If you have time, I heartily recommend it.   

It was 46 years ago

To the day that the US won the gold this year, that the legendary Miracle on Ice took place.  I was in 7th grade when that miracle happened, and only vaguely aware that a sport called hockey existed.  This is football country after all, with the occasional nod to college basketball or baseball (see the Big Red Machine from a few years earlier).  But in February of 1980, on the 22nd, I became very aware of hockey.  

It was the Cold War.  And though you already had a significant portion of the American Left working overtime to turn as many Americans against our own country as it could, they were still a minority. Even if they enjoyed a disproportionate representation in many of our nation's elite institutions, the main gist seemed to be a desire for God Bless America to continue.  So needless to say, that underdog victory against the Soviets came as quite a patriotic boost.  Especially in the doldrums of Carter's last year as president.  

Fast forward to today.  We always try to watch the Olympics.  The first one I was aware of was the 1976 Montreal Olympics, when young Nadia Comaneci wowed the world in gymnastics.  Others would follow.  In most years it's a mix of astonishing victories and crushing disappointments.  

Perhaps the most enjoyable games as a spectacle were the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan in 1998.  Beyond the famous Hermanator's crash of the ages (He'll be back!):

it was probably the most interesting, for the media did wonders unpacking life in Japan, its history, its culture - you felt like you were there visiting in person.  

For my older boys, there will never be one like the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  You had Usain Bolt absolutely stunning the world in a track record that has yet to be beat.  Quite simply, he is bult like a distance runner but has the speed of a sprinter.  And of course, you had the aquatic phenom Michael Phelps becoming the record breaking gold medal winner in one of the most thrilling photo finishes in Olympics history: 

Phelps and Bolt would be back to do it again in the troubled, yet exciting, 2016 Rio Olympics, that also saw the rise of swimming superstar Katie Ledecky.  When the broadcast showed an animated map demonstrating how many miles she has swam and how many times that would circle the globe, the boys still chuckle thinking of it. 

So not only are there always thrill a minute moments, there's just a certain pride in seeing one's own country do well.  I know, there have been protests over the years.  In fact, my sons asked me this year if any Olympic athletes outside of the US have ever protested their own country at the Olympics like we've had happen. I told them I'm sure I don't know.  

But those are usually the exception to the rule.  And we saw it this time, as Americans couldn't help but be proud on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice (and Washington's birthday to boot!), when the (once again) underdog USA hockey team pulled a stunner in yet another nail biter for the record books. 

We got home from Mass just in time to see the last seconds of regulation time before they went into overtime with a 1 to 1 score.  Knowing very little of hockey, I get the gist - get puck in goal.  And apparently the US goalie is legend, because through the entire Olympics I believe he allowed only two goals.  Without knowing much, I can tell that's impressive. 

But it was an exciting, nail-biting win.  And it was a good feeling, and a little bit of a return to Proud to be an American thinking.  Not a bad thing in these crazy times. 

From the man who made the winning goal

Eighty years ago

An elderly French couple prays over the body of an American GI killed in front of their home

The press is paying particular attention to this anniversary since it is likely the last of the 'milestone' anniversaries that will have many, if any, actual D-Day veterans present to remember.  So one last time, for old times' sake. 

D-Day is basically the WW2 remembrance day.  In a vast global struggle that saw people die by the tens of millions, and entire regions decimated, all over the world, D-Day sort of encapsulates the whole conflict for those youngsters who even have heard of it.  

Which is a good thing.  At least it is remembered.  And so far, remembered well.  This too shall pass, however.  As all things do.  But it's right to pause and reflect. To recall a different time and a different generation. By no means a perfect generation.  But one that possessed qualities worth celebrating.  

As if from another world, FDR summed up the national mentality of time and the event rather well: 

My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

 Amen."

Happy Birthday Americans

 

As America enters into its phase as a nonagenarian, that is someone in their 90s, you have to be honest.  At that stage in a person's life, you don't begin plans for their next thirty years.  You pray they have many more happy and blessed years ahead.  You just know those years will not equal out to another twenty or thirty in all likelihood, much less another ninety.  

America is there.  I doubt it dies any time in the next few years.  On the other hand, I doubt my grandchild will know a world of freedom, equality or democracy in any meaningful sense.  In just the last few years, the forces opposed to God, Man, Liberty and Life have made massive strides forward.  

We've seen the speed with which people will sell their birthrights of freedom for a bowl of stew.  More and more young Americans are open about their hatred of this country and desire that it be burned to the ground, along with anyone who dares defend it.  Ideas thought safely condemned and put behind us, like racism, violence, discrimination and  censorship have come back in a blaze of glory, fully endorsed by our media, entertainment industry, education institutions, corporations and even among many religious leaders and traditions.  More and more are coming out of the closet and donning their merry communist apparel. 

In typical form, several leftwing outlets came out a couple weeks ago and mocked those worried that Juneteenth will replace July 4th as Independence Day.  I say typical form because if you Google this in so many words, you will see a couple fact checkers dismissing the concern, followed by dozens of results in which we're told Juneteenth should be our real Independence Day.   Emperor's New Clothes level denial has been a bulwark of leftwing activism since I was in college. 

Remember, last year we saw government buildings, churches, businesses, homes, and entire neighborhoods laid waste and burned, while hundreds of innocents were attacked and many killed in the name of a demonstrably false narrative - Black Lives Matter - yet with the full endorsement of not only the above national institutions, but plenty of international level support as well; including, but not limited to, the pope.  That's progress.  It was like Operation Cobra for the Left.

Where we'll be in the next ten years, I don't know.  I find the Left makes much more progress when a Republican is in office and the media can frame it as 'bold revolutionaries against a Nazi regime.'  When the Left is in the White House, things seem to slow down.  There is probably some of that good old American skepticism about too much power for one side that kicks in.

Nonetheless, many things we assumed were true for the long haul have been thrown down in barely a decade.  Even now, saying sex and babies are connected or that boys and girls exist can get you fired from your job in short order.  Having something like a movie or even commercial with all white people would be like having a Jewish gathering in 1930s Germany.  And last year churches allowed themselves to be reduced to the same level of importance in the popular mindset as put-put golf coursers and strip clubs. 

So no predictions, but I'm not worrying about how America's tercentennial will be celebrated.  It is enough that my children are old enough to have at least learned and seen some of what America could be at its best.  They will have to bear the brunt of our folly, but hopefully there will be enough to pass down the lessons and keep a light shining, not only for the best of what America was, but for the Gospel light that, however imperfectly, was a major basis for what America and the West brought into a dark and troubled world. 

Happy July 4th - Independence Day 

The two Americas of Juneteenth in one image

One tweet praising the day as but one step toward realizing the highest hopes of the American experiment.  The responses, on the other hand, showing what happens when you try to use Juneteenth to rally Americans around our nation instead of dividing.  There were more, similar, responses, I just couldn't fit them all in the page.  If nothing else demonstrated the two worlds in which moderns live, this would suffice. 

UPDATE:  Meanwhile I'm seeing this reported more and more, that Independence Day celebrations are being nixed due to Covid, while Pride and Juneteenth celebrations, parades, parties and other gatherings are not only allowed, but promoted by the same places that are keeping July 4th Celebrations banned.  In our neck of the woods, Columbus banned both Red, White and Boom, but also the Pride Parade.  It has allowed Pride and Juneteenth gatherings and celebrations however.  Our town is still going on with July 4th, but today had extensive celebrations and gatherings for Juneteenth in conjunction with Pride events, such as family friendly Drag shows at a local park.  Again, Juneteenth has bupkis to do with unity or America, and everything to do with divisions to bring America down.  Those advocating for it are either the ones wishing for America to burn, or are useful fools.  

Thank you Veterans

As I said, I'm not shutting the blog down for good.  I'm merely backing off.  Certainly from the polemics and the politics and barking against the obvious.  What I will do is post occasional thoughts when I get around to it.  Or tributes.  Or memorials.  Or pictures of the family.  Or things like that.  An only diary so to speak.  

For today, on this 100th anniversary of World War I - that some call the first stage of WWII - I send out a special thanks to veterans from that war (including my own two grandfathers).  But I also remember all veterans, living and deceased, whose sacrifice and service have made my precious liberty possible.   

Here are some links from Veterans Days of the past.  Here, here, here, here, here and here.

The right way to honor the country

Courtesy of a high school softball game in Fresno.  Donald McClarey has the lowdown.  That's the way we do it. There is a movement that would have America be gone.  Resist by insisting the old America was the good America - for all its woes and failures - and we're not about to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  It might only be the National Anthem, but it speaks volumes.

The wrong way, of course, is demonstrated by Mark Shea, who uses the opportunity of Memorial Day to score points against what he calls the Alt Right  (not, it should be noted, including the Alt-Left).  Mark now openly admits he will vote for and support the pro-abortion/assisted suicide/gay marriage/embryonic stem cell research/compromise religious liberty for contraception/punish those Christians who dissent from liberalism party.  But apparently it only jeopardizes one's salvation when you support a party that advocates intrinsic evils when it isn't the Democratic Party.

In following this course, Mark embraces the same attitude hoisted by the modern Left, and demonstrated by those like Colin Kaepernick,   There is no such thing as Our country, there sure as hell is no such thing as Your evil country, there's only My country when it finally lives up to my lofty standards.  The way we tell the difference is not over religious or ethnic or national origin, but over failure to conform to a particular political-social agenda.

Sorry, I'll take the Fresno model.  That way I don't have to be perfect to justify the demands for perfection that I put on my own nation.  I simply join hands with fellow Americans and work to love our country, though we might disagree on different issues - even passionately.  Democrats, liberals, atheists - this is our country.  And as long as they don't seek to divide and destroy the nation that gave us the right to rise up and protest, I'll be happy to find common cause with all who seek to build our nation and not tear it down.  And that, Charlie Brown, is what National Anthems are for.

Memorial Day 2016

There are many things I could have posted on, or pictures I could have posted.  But on the whole, the best picture we had was this:

As I said, if we can't get to visit my Dad, we'll go to a local cemetery and visit the graves of veterans.  We try to pick out of the way markers, on the theory that they might get fewer visitors.  Seeing the boys take an interest in reading the markings and writings and just pausing to reflect makes it worth while.  Perhaps in its own way, it honors those who are there and those who never made it home again.

Yep

Happy Birthday America

Right now your citizens aren't living up to their potential I'm afraid.  But there's always hope.  Hope that a generation will rise up able to learn from the mistakes of the past, without using them to excuse the chase after wild and absurd ideas focused on ourselves.  A generation so immersed in the bad of our past and present that we've lost the ability to celebrate our blessings.  Yes, there's hope.  Maybe God does still shed his grace on thee.  I'm fine with that idea. Time will tell.  But for now, happy birthday.  You may not be perfect, but at your worst you've seldom been as bad as others at their worst, and sometimes you've been better than some nations at their best.  As a fellow from Uganda said, "America has never done bad that well."  And that's a great thing to be thankful for on this, our country's 238th birthday.  Happy July 4th.

Not one of my boys' textbooks had this picture that once appeared in multiple textbooks when I was growing up.