Berkeley 4th of July
Apologies: this is an all-American story. Here in the states, the city of Berkeley, California is known for its liberal population - it's a nuclear free zone, it's a whale safe community, anybody can marry anything, you get the idea. Perhaps none of this would raise an eyebrow in Europe, but over here it's definitely at the far end of the bell shaped curve. Anyhow, the city happens to own a vacation camp in the mountains for its citizens' enjoyment (it is a beautiful place), but anyone who can pay the freight is allowed to attend as to restrict it to actual Berkeley residents would be to discriminatory. And it's also heavily subsidized, so its' a dirt cheap but lovely vacation in Yosemite. No, really, this is true. So my sister, who used to live there, is wise to this and signs me and my kids up. Our session happened to span the 4th of July, which is our holiday to celebrate our special American blessedness. Now even though our President and electorate are both embarrassing, I am proud of my country and glad to be a citizen. So I was mildly looking forward to the announced 4th of July festivities. Which consisted of:

- a parade of camp counselors dressed in green and yellow, carrying a homemade "Whole earth flag"

- a singing of a "World Anthem", whose words I thankfully don't recall, to the tune of our national anthem.

- speeches whose theme was largely apology for our national existence.

Now there are plenty of bad things to say about America, and please feel free to list them in the "replies, " but come on! At least a single American flag? A little acknowledgment that there might be something worthwhile to celebrate?

OK - now have at me. I don't care.

Mort
(mortdubois lacks imagination, doesn't play well with others, Sat 24 Nov 2007, 2:12, 9 replies)

Its sad
i'm on the other coast, and i feel it too. Its sad, that these liberal individuals have taken it so far, that they feel any sort of pride in where they are from, is a stain on themselves. Frankly, I fly a flag in front of my home, and always will. Sometimes the electorate does make mistakes, but we always end up correcting ourselves later. But on the whole, if you look at what we have done as a nation world wide, I think we have done far more good than bad.

Its funny our media jumps on any case that smells of racism, and when a lot of those cases blow up in their faces, they cant even be contrite enough to say - sorry - we really wanted to make so and so look bad.

Never happen sadly.
(Subway Riding the rails underground, Sat 24 Nov 2007, 2:19, closed)

And there, in a nutshell
is why I could never live in California. I'd laugh openly at these things and probably be ridden out on a rail (of naturally harvested windfall deadwood, of course, which would then be used to make paper for dozens of weepy poets to scribble on).

I'm liberal- even libertarian- but this shit goes a bit far for my tastes.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Sat 24 Nov 2007, 2:37, closed)

Rambling...
I think the American flag and the 4th of July can stand for the unity of all the people living in the US, who come from very diverse countries 'originally' (if you see what I mean - ancestors etc.). I suppose it does have capitalist connotations and also it may be associated with the awful recent wars that have been going on, but I never thought it had the same sort of 'fascist symbol' quality that the British flag (or perhaps more the St. George's Cross) has gained. Although that all sounds incredibly soppy. Sorry :(
(Ovaltina, Sat 24 Nov 2007, 4:01, closed)

yeah, it's a bummer, ain't it?
I'm a knee-jerk bleeding heart liberal yella dawg Democrat free-welfare-for-everybody! kind of gal, but I love my flag, too. I wish idiot PCers would stop kissing everyone's ass and exhibit some common sense.

America is sort of like Christianity. Brilliant in the abstract but sometimes poorly executed in reality.
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Sat 24 Nov 2007, 6:32, closed)

I'm Yanky doodle dandy
... a yanky doodle thru and thru.



I drive my tanks to babylon and I drive them back again to Mt zion......
( buffet_the_appetite_slayer ٩(●̮̃•)۶ jacked in to the ICE on, Sat 24 Nov 2007, 8:00, closed)

Perhaps Dr. Zoidberg ate them all

( The Coast Of Yemen, Sat 24 Nov 2007, 8:06, closed)

I wish we could 'I like this!' replies,
because I want to click on Coast of Yemen's reply.
( Bob Todd whee, Sun 25 Nov 2007, 11:20, closed)

...
You should never feel pride for where you are from; you are only from there through accident of birth.

You should only feel pride for what you and the groups of which you are part have accomplished. And perhaps these people don't feel that there is any pride to be had in America's prominent accomplishments? And let's be honest...don't many feel the same way?
(Musuko, Wed 28 Nov 2007, 13:00, closed)

fly your flag
fly your flag, sing your anthem and be proud of your country, its what everyon from every country should do. although if i started each day saluting the cross of St George id probably get hounded out of where i live foe being in the BNP / NF
(pogo_it, Wed 28 Nov 2007, 16:12, closed)