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Been in the spirit of the season this week. Felt obligated.
Take a presidential election year, add the week of July 4th and you have candidates trying to out-do each other’s patriotism. Obama says no one should question his, and of course McCain’s war record speaks for itself. But just in case it doesn’t, he will too.
So, not wanting to be out-patrioticated, I wore my American flag tie to church last Sunday, one day to work this week, and just for good measure, I’ll wear it again today at a wedding we’ll attend.
Now how patriotic is that ... to wear my special tie on the day after the 4th? Kind of like singing Christmas carols on Dec. 26.
I’ve received and forwarded three chain emails about patriotism ... and counting. There’s a brand new flag flying in front of the office. We have our red-white-and-blue placemats out at home, as well as other seasonal decorations around the house.
The Barack-McCains have nothing on me.
But their little tit-for-tat does bug me. Somehow, it makes patriotism some sort of commodity to be traded and paraded.
But it did not put any damper, I’m happy to say, on enjoying the city’s annual party. While the fireworks are great and the music enjoyable, I get patriotic just watching everyone enjoy the day and the occasion.
Sharing a late afternoon that turns into evening with people you know and many more you don’t, gathering as free people in the greatest country on earth, living in a remarkably open form of government for which a group of men put their lives on the line by signing a document 232 years ago ... and for which thousands of others have sacrficed ... that’s what gives me goosebumps.
And I didn’t have to wear my tie to get in the mood.
by MARK MILLER
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