Happy Independence Day to all y’all Americans out there.

The Zomby Rules of Order for the Day:

1. Enjoy some explosions (and do it safely). You can take both active and passive roles, but, frankly, it’s not much of a 4th of July without things going boom. Beautiful blossoms of light in the sky and showers of sparks delighting young eyes form the basis for many of my happy memories. When, years ago, I lived in Deerfield Beach, I remember going to a fireworks display that we watched from the beach--and the awesome sight of those brilliant stars hurling through the dark sky being reflected on the waves below still make me smile.
2. Enjoy your freedoms and your phenomenal good luck. We’re lucky to be Americans and lucky to be in one of the most free nations in the world. Some don’t acknowledge this, but it is easier to succeed and harder to fail in America than in most of the rest of the world. Remember the opportunities that you have and the good of our nation today. Imperfect, vital, always changing, and yearning for even better: this is the America that I know and love.
3. Eat something good. Intentionally vague, indeed, but just realize that we all mark our most special days with food. Whatever your own personal traditions are, make sure it’s something special to commemorate such an important marker in our nation’s history.
4. Hug someone who provides service to our country. Soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine certainly qualify, but so do the teachers, jurists, cops, firemen, and all of the civil servants who work to make our lives safer and better. Except those bastards down at the DMV. No hugging for them.
5. Try to put aside the partisan politics for the day. This isn’t a day to make cheap points, but a day to celebrate not only what America is, but also what America can become. We are all stewards of our nation, and, as cheesy as it sounds, we really can work together to help America fulfill her potential. We won’t always agree, we won’t always be nice to each other, and we won’t always get our way, but I think we’ve done pretty well so far.
6. Celebrate patriotism. It’s become a bad word in some circles, but patriotism isn’t “my country, right or wrong”, it’s “my country, and I’ll strive to make her better.” My love of country doesn’t mean that I believe everything America has been and done is perfect; my love stems from my belief that America is basically good and, with the guidance of informed and caring citizens, will be even better. Patriotism isn’t a bad thing: it’s an expression of faith in and love of my nation and her place in the world.

Here’s to America and all of the things that make her special: to the constitution and the poetry of freedom; to the defenders who, with bravery and self-sacrifice, keep her safe from harm; to the flag that flies reminding us of all that has gone before; and to the dreams of a future as bright and beautiful as those fireworks in the sky.

To you and yours, I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday.

Now, go forth and celebrate.