Debbie Schlussel: Happy Birthday, America! 230 Years Strong
Happy Birthday, America! 230 years. We hope for an endless, infinite number of repeats and an endless supply of freedom and liberty.
Here are some 4th of July items of interest. We'll start with the bad and end with the good:
* The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" reported that 18,000 new U.S. citizens will be sworn in this July 4th week. Will all of them be loyal Americans and good citizens? We hope so, but past experience says not all will be. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) pushes through many applications that should never have been approved. Many new citizens are from countries with terror ties.
* On Friday, the WSJournal's Jeff Zaslow also reported this disturbing item:
In Los Angeles, the National Immigrant Solidarity Network each year supports an "activist carnival," dubbed the "Farce of July," featuring pro-immigration networking and speeches. CodePink, a women's peace and social-justice group [DS: "justice"? Not really.], has invited immigrant-activist groups to join its "Troops Home Fast" hunger strike on July Fourth and report on the immigrant-rights fight and rallies nationwide.
Actually, they mean "illegal immigrant rights fight." This is an outrage. Leave it to Code Pinko to foment it. They probably wouldn't enjoy real meat hot dogs and fireworks, anyway.
* PBS a/k/a "Palestinian Broadcasting System" or "People's Broadcasting System" earns both of those nicknames with its new choice of host for its annual televised "A Capitol Fourth" 4th of July celebration from the Mall just in front of the Capitol. While our troops are fighting terrorists abroad, PBS enlists as its new host, terror apologist George Costanza a/k/a Jason Alexander--who thinks Israel should team up with HAMAS. Should we team up with Al-Qaeda? Give PBS your answer and don't watch him. Well, at least Costanza has to share hosting duties with a muppet--Elmo. They should scrap both and return to able host, actor, and patriot Barry Bostwick (who hosted for the past several years and did a great job).
**** UPDATE: Reader Brian M. writes:
Well, my wife wanted to watch the 4th of July program on PBS this evening and in the past it's been good so I said Ok. I must say I don't know what was worse - Jason Alexander (looking like Rob Reiner!) or Stevie Wonder praising Allah. And what was up with having Stevie Wonder playing his hits while during the fireworks? It just didn't work.
* No, freedom is not free. A reminder of that is a touching, moving story about injured Michigan National Guardsman and Iraq war vet Sgt. Duane Dreasky of Company B, 125th Infantry Regiment. Badly burned and wounded, he is the lone survivor of an IED explosion that hit a HumVee in November 2, last year. Six others died. A martial arts devotee and former football player, Dreasky has burns over 75% of his body.
He keeps hope alive and is a symbol of the determination, struggle, and will to survive of all our brave men who are protecting our freedom, so that America can celebrate many more birthdays like today. He was "born to be a soldier." Despite all his current hardship, Dreasky and his wife are thinking of others and setting up a foundation for scholarships for special needs kids to attend the Special Olympics and for others to pursue medical careers.
**** UPDATE, 7/12/06: Tragicly, after an 8-month long fight, the brave, valiant Sgt. Duane Dreasky passed away on Monday, 7/10/06. Duane Dreasky, Rest in Peace. ****
* French jewelry, writing implements, and time pieces company Breguet--founded in 1775--took out a full-page ad in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, celebrating 230 years of America and the active role of then-brave French leaders--like King Louis XVI, General Lafayette, etc.--in helping and encouraging America's independence way back then. We wish France's leaders were similarly supportive of America today. But glad to see that at least somebody in France--Breguet--still likes our country.
* The 209-year-old U.S.S. Constitution takes its annual July 4th voyage down Boston Harbor. Also known as "Old Ironsides," the ship is the Navy's oldest active warship and has 54 cannons.
* Interesting countdown of "America by the Numbers" includes the fact that $5 million of the $5.5 million in U.S. flags imported here in 2005 were made in Communist China.
* Historian David McCullough and descendants of Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and John Adams have a question and answer session about freedom, democracy, and America.
* Take the Patriotic Movie Quiz (bottom half of page). Our fave movie quote from the bunch:
This is a revolution . . . We're going to have to offend SOMEbody!
--William Daniels as John Adams in "1776"
* Hot Dog Nation: Yes, the 4th of July is not about hot dogs. It is about freedom. Still, hot dogs are a major part of 4th of July culture in America, and we say that while we are appreciating freedom and the sacrifices to have it, there is nothing wrong with enjoying a hot dog.
The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire says the Census predicts 150 million hot dogs will be consumed at cookouts today.
Today is the day of Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating championship. Favorites are Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut. 40 hot dogs or more in a single 12-minute sitting is what it will take to win. USA Today's "Much More Than a Mouthful" details the contest.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA! 230 YEARS AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS! LONG LIVE FREEDOM.
Posted by Debbie on July 4, 2006 07:43 AM to Debbie Schlussel