The 4th of July- Means Independence-Fireworks and Responsibility
Posted: Sunday, June 27, 2010
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
The Fourth of July is coming up. It's right around the corner and people are getting ready to "party hardy". Hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, and sodas are being purchased and the economy (thankfully) will get a little boost from the sales. Family gatherings are being planned, boaters are planning excursions, picnickers are getting baskets ready and let's not forget fireworks. Fireworks, seem to be illegal to shoot off almost everywhere, but pretty much everywhere people shoot em off anyway! Thankfully, for those that do blow them off on the Fourth, police seem to turn the other way unless the fireworks are really over the top.
Someone once told the great Muhammad Ali that he had changed over the years. He said he surely hoped he had changed because if he wouldn't have, his ideas and knowledge would be the same now as they were 20 years earlier. He went on to say if he wouldn't have changed, he'd be the same man as he was 20 years earlier, without additional understanding and growth and that would terrible. Very true words! We all should be open to that kind of change.
Those of us mired in only conservative or liberal views should open our eyes and let everyone's ideas be considered. We must not feel like traitors when we change a view point or two as long as we continue to listen, give real credence to others views, and in the long run, try to come up with realistic solutions for us all. Team work makes the dream work and that means working together.
When we declared our independence we took on a tough role. To be taken care of by others is easy. To have self determination and responsibility is harder but worth it. Personally, I won't take the Fourth for granted anymore. Sure, I'll barbecue, eat too much, and maybe even blow off some fireworks, but mainly, I'll give thanks for our independence and continue to do my best to make the best with it.
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Great article, Steve, thanks. I've been thinking a lot about it is to separate the intrinsic human, who deserves my respect, from ultra conservative ideas that I feel are harmful.Thanks Jennifer--Ultra liberals, ultra conservatives and ultra whatevers all cause problems in my view. There are times to become completely adamant or "ultra" in our views, however, in my opinion, the continuous process of being locked in without giving real consideration to others views is foolish (no matter what side of the aisle you're on) and counter productive to success. Thanks again for commenting and my best to you.
Great article! I will definitely be getting stuffed on Independence Day.Thanks and it sounds like a plan...I'm getting stuffed too...
A great article! With the loss of so many lives in Iraq and Afghanistan (and prior wars), we all need to give some serious thought to the deeper meaning of the 4th.Well put Mel, well put...thanks
Yes Steve with all of our problems here in the USA, it is still undoubtedly the greatest nation in the world. Let us remember our founding fathers this 4th.of July, for our constitution.Good advice Dave and thanks for writing.
We are a country who started out as the dregs of society. Unwanted criminals who had their choice to spend life in a British prison or take their chances in the wild new world recently discovered by Christopher Columbus for Spain ;but for some reason basicly Great Britain took an interest in the land. We are a country where deadbeats once skipped to escape their debtors and Puritans settled to kill suspected witches. For many years after Great Britain sent the unwanted away the establishment lords were happy to just get rid of the pesky scum and glad not to be bothered by such pests. But then King George got the idea to tax the rascals. Why not make a few more dollars. The upstanding citizens have to pay so the lowlifes should pay too. Many of the so-called lowlifes did not take to the idea. They built the colonies through sweat, strain, attacks from the wild, and death without the help of the establishment so why should they have to pay taxes. One thing lead to another and so came the Revolutionary War, lead by General George Washington and the outcome, as you know, the upset of the century: Washington's team won.The barbaric new country evolved into the greatest nation in the world. We have always had our quarrels (look at the Civil War), our problems (look at the Great Depression), and our dregs of society (look at the Prohibition featuring the great Al Capone.) But we survived and flourished. We will always have our problems; such as our economic crises of today. But we are a country who has and I believe always will come out on top. And we are a nation, unlike many, who have the freedoms to talk about what bothers us or Steve would not have this column (he might because who would mess with a top level martial artist) Or you or I would not be writing to him.Interesting take and words Mike AND funny how you put "The upset of the century"--I guess it was. Yeah, I think the country will do OK in the long run. I always thought what made this country so special was all the different nationalities coming together bringing their special talents, abilities and ideas to the land--yeah, I think we'll do ok...thanks for writing Mike.Steve
And maybe a good day to declare our personal independence, from demagoguery, propaganda, and rhetoric, where we have the courage to make up our own minds after considering what is really going on in our lives, not merely by our impressions of life based on what we read or hear.Thanks Steve.Yes, I agree, can only be a good thing to discern and follow the truth. Thank you.Steve
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Good point - we tend to fall in love with our ideas and believe they are the only truth. It's all just beliefs and perspective, which live in only in our heads. Being able to see other's truths is a gift. Happy 4th.
Well put, great insights and happy 4th!
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