IT WAS WITHOUT DOUBT THE MOST SUBDUED FOURTH OF JULY THAT I CAN REMEMBER SINCE WATERGATE AND MUCH FOR THE SAME REASONS…..the usurping of the Republic political and economic ends. In a move that one day I fear will be harkened to the caning of Representative Summers in 1856, King George pardoned his lackey the traitor Libby. This was nothing less than a cold dagger thrust into the back of Lady Liberty, for it blatantly reveals that the Law in the United States is dead. Without Law anarchy will follow soon thus the forthcoming ‘suspension of the Constitution’ is sure to appear in the next few months.

The recent and growing wave of mass shootings reinforces this. People nationwide are feeling helpless and disfranchised, seeing only a lifetime of servitude for the wealthy elite yawning before them. They are constantly barraged with advertisements of goods and items that are unnecessary, unaffordable and only serve to chain their owner to said possessions and thus their corporate masters. The new AT&T looks and suspiciously acts like the old AT&T, a corporate are mouth without care or concern for its patrons or the law. ‘Free press’ has been replaced by monopolies that spew forth their corporate spin, spurning or spinning the truth for their benefit. It is no wonder that fragile minds oft explode in seemingly random violence. What is wondrous is that there are so few incidents. These acts of violence are but a part of the cancer.

Where I live the Fourth of July is usually an awe inspiring spectacle. We have the usual city-county public fireworks display (which is really quite good, better than most urban shows that I’ve seen) but on the Fourth as dusk falls the sleepy little towns awaken. When the dark arrives the skies are usually lit up in color and stay that way until 12:01a.m. One can usually see the neighboring towns at work and it is a spectacle, the little towns on the vast plains and the fireworks spewing non-stop above them. Black powder floats through the towns like a fog…..but this year it was lackluster. I did not wonder why.

For in the tradition of Sgt. York, I try to fire off one of my weapons every year on the Fourth, in memory of my ancestor that fought in the Revolution and my Father and Grandfathers that fought in the subsequent wars. I fly my flags. I did neither this year, my heart was too black. I’m afraid that I will need the ammunition.