July 4
This is the day every year when I am thankful to be an American citizen. Not in a jingoistic way… I’m not blindly patriotic, and consider America to be a work in progress. However, I am thankful for our freedom and for the principles that the country was founded upon.
And yet, the 4th of July is also a little strange to me. I’ve never completely internalized the connection between fireworks and patriotism. I know the national anthem and can reference the rockets’ red glare stanza. It’s just a little ironic that we celebrate our love of America by blowing up small parts of it.
Say what you like about this country. I love it. I’m proud and thankful to be a citizen. And I think Lady Liberty is kinda cute, although my masculine ego is slightly threatened by taller women.