No I have not forgotten what day is today, nor have I forgotten to make sure to wish you my readers a happy one. Yes it comes a little late in the day, but I worked 11 hours plus today. Not moaning and groaning, just letting you know why this is tardy.
While I am at it, allow me to tell you something about the folks I wished happy Independence Day, or happy 4th of July to here in the Tucson area yesterday and today. Not one - except for my coworkers and a barmaid at my hotel - greeted me back likewise. In fact a young lady working at a burger joint in South Tucson looked at me quizzically then sneered at me after I wished her a Happy Independence day yesterday. Then this morning, at an overpriced snooty coffee shop that is in business nationwide, when I wished the counter clerk a happy independence day, his response was: "Ha-Hah"! I wish I could relay to you the sarcasm and nastiness that was in that simple little reply to me as he rolled his eyes in the true fashion of what I believe to be an ultra-liberal jerk-off. Other folks just looked at me as if I had two, maybe even three, heads when I wished them likewise.
I do not get it - I thought Tucson and Arizona in general were bastions of freedom loving Americans. now I am none to sure of that. To tell you the truth I was absolutely flabbergasted at the responses or lack of them I got when I wished folks a Happy Independence day or Happy 4th. Even in New York City I would have gotten more enthusiastic and patriotic replies than I did here - many more. As a matter of fact, besides the lack of reciprocal patriotic well wishes for this great day I noticed a few other differences between out here and the rotten apple. In NYC and the surrounding areas you likely would see lots of American Flags flying today, and you would likely hear a good amount of fireworks going off all throughout the day. There was absolutely none of that in area of Tucson, South Tucson or Phoenix that I visited today. Now I am sure there will be some fireworks tonight - those permitted by the government - but what about regular Joes and Janes celebrating the fourth as it has been for over 200 years - with a bang. Heck it is INDEPENDENCE DAY - you would think that if only on this day the citizens would be allowed to show some independence from the government control, wouldn't you! Just does not seem to happen out this way. What a shame - I miss it!
All the best,
Glenn B
2 comments:
Bart,to lift your spirits, I'd like to tell you that here at Highland Lake, CT the ritual is fly your flag high and proud and get off as many fireworks as you can before the cops figure out which house they're coming from. Some of the waterfront homes are actually in cohoots and put their "illegal" expression of patriotism on a float barge out on the lake. Then light it and head back to shore. When the cops come, they have no idea who they belong to. Sad that it had to come to that. But American pride and spirit is strong here and we all say Happy Independence Day to our neighbors and get a response! The pride is there, but it is sad that others have it so suppressed and smothered they think it is the right way to be American. Let's hope and pray it turns around. So Happy 4th to you, my friend, and God Bless the USA. Jo
Thanks Joanne. That did lift my spirits. I must say that today, when i worked the streets of South Tucson, i did find evidence of a few families who0 lit off some fireworks and celebrated the 4th - but not many. I sure hae not seen much evidence of it in Tucson itself but of course i am limited to the neighborhoods I have traveled; then again I saw and heard little evidence of patriotic celebration last night or yesterday during the day. It is a shame. Note I am not saying people in tucson are less clebratory than others in our nation, I think there has been a general nationwide decline in celebrating what made us the great nation we have been throughout the years. It is nice to hear though that the tradition is still alive and well in some places.
All the best,
GB
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