This is a holiday weekend for people in the USA. This holiday, ostensibly, formalizes the beginning of American colonials' path to political self-determination. The manner in which we Americans celebrate this 'birth' of a state is both glorious and abhorrent. By design, Fourth of July celebrations, unlike memorial day, are devoid of contemplation; and it is difficult to otherwise be both observant and introspective.
The wife and myself have a Fourth of July policy. Ignore the jingoism. Ignore the platitudes. Avoid the glitter of explosive and deafening displays. Embrace quiet gatherings with your family and close friends. Observe and evaluate your community. Bask in the boundless glory of what we are, and supposedly allowed to do and read. And last, but foremost, love your significant other on the morning of the Fourth like there is no tomorrow.
My tribe would be considered, by non-Americans, unusual, perhaps bizarre. 'Woke' advocates to 'Trumpers', arms collectors to gun-control fanatics, libertarians to socialists, highly decorated career jarheads to passionate anti-war protestors, flaming queer to staunch heterosexual. Christian to Buddhist to Muslim to Atheist. PhD-level scientist, construction, retail, soldier, Marine, rancher, engineer, and retired. Gen Z to boomer. Black, hispanic, muti-racial, caucasian, Asian, and one of unknown origin (he was an abandoned orphan). These people would not co-exist in Europe or Asia; I've spent too much time in Europe and Asia to not see these 'other' peoples for what they are.
As for the 18 (out of 27 invites) members of my tribe, we started gathering on my property Thursday morning. And I am about to leave for the local airstrip to fly out in my trusty little bird and pick up my niece, a teacher of math and music in a public high school. Our gathering will include family members, a godson and his main squeeze and two young people from his unit, dear friends (and their SOs) that I met during a misguided military stint over 45 years ago, and an aged mentor. And, of course, their dogs and cats.
There will be no incendiaries, other than the emotive type of explosions. There will be huge and loud arguments, gross levels of pandering, disgusting and nausea-generating displays of affection, excessive consumption of alcohol, many songs sung off-key and off tempo, total disregard for the King's English, and condemnation and praise of others not within the tribe.
This is America. We are America. Fucking deal with it, because the arrogant and plebeian and condescending mutts of America will be here for the duration.