I'm keeping it simple today. The week has been crazy. From meditating on the death of MJ to witnessing a 9 year old black boy getting handcuffed for stealing a wallet to wondering why the weather's so unsettled in NYC, I'm ready to light a firecracker and just chill. Wait, that's a huge contradiction… anyway.
The Fourth of July is usually a mixed bag for me. I love the eating and gathering and festiveness. However, I detest the meandering of a bunch of consuming Americans seeking ribs and bottle rockets in an effort to celebrate independence. There's something troubling about celebrating the birth of a country with people who can't agree on anything. Religion, marriage, the effects of bad eating, meaningless apologies for slavery. But wait! Now that Obama is president maybe I can relax and celebrate our independence, or at least have a more faithful attitude about it. In fact, with Obama as president I don't have to celebrate the birth of American independence at all; I can celebrate the re-birth. Well, the PROMISE of rebirth. I don't know. I'll have to think about this one. Have a great weekend.
Keith Josef Adkins is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and social commentator.