A Patriotic Act

I'm not one for celebrating the Forth of July. I usually let the day slip without much attention. Perhaps because I'm not big on loud noises, crowds, or traffic. Or because, I haven't been behind our government and its policies, ever. All my life the government has been about corruption starting with Watergate through Reaganomics, the rise of corporate rule into globalization which has aided the diminishment of the middle class, farther widening of the gap between the haves and the have nots. Education, healthcare, environmental responsibility, wild life sanctuaries, clean energy acts, everything to do with creating harmonious living seems to be an act of terrorism against the capitalist monopoly of the ruling class; don't tell me the American Revolution wasn't an act of anarchy. Likewise, the motivation behind the Civil War, I'm sure, was underlined with the intention of industrializing the southern states ( buy stock in the cotton gin), and our involvement in WW II fueled by interested in the German Empire capabilities in the art of domination. Of course, I'm not attempting to down play the humanitarian acts of liberation associated with both these wars, however, I feel, it's necessary to look beyond the obvious.

When I turned 18 and registered to vote, I chose the Democratic Party even though everyone in my family was very republican. Mom clenched her teeth when I told her (she has a very tight jaw and a twitchy eye). At that point, I really had no idea exactly why I choose that party other than I was instinctually going against my conserved upbringing. It was the start of a political pattern, my vote is usually cast against someone ( or an issue) rather than for them. It was after I moved to Eugene, Or. in the early nineties I started developing some political awareness. At the time, I thought Eugene had it together as far as being grounded and progressive. However, the longer I resided there, the more frustrated I became at the town's politics. Overall, I like Eugene's mayor and Oregon's congressman, Peter Defazio who are very good representatives of the state's tilt to the left. However, Eugene is more to the far left. A place known for its radical ways and controversial people: Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters hosting the likes of, The Grateful Dead, Timothy Leary, The Hell's Angels, Hunter Thompson, and countless others. Also home to The Cascadia Gorillas of Anarchy (they were blamed for a lot of the property damage during the WTO protest in '99). However Eugene is in Oregon, Oregon is not in Eugene. The majority of the state ( though not necessarily, the population) is very conservative with strong generational roots in the timber industry. Being a logger, a log truck driver, or a mill worker were the top blue collar jobs. The employer, the red necks in the white collar world of Weyerhaeuser ( now, that's patriotic). In presidential elections, Oregon will waver due to these two polar opposites. One election the state will go red, the next, blue.

I've always assumed Washington State was liberal like Oregon is liberal sense both states make up the Pacific Northwest. It wasn't until I become a resident did I start appreciating the state's politics on a level that reflected a truer democratic process. I attribute this to it having a large metropolitan area, the majority of the population seems to be well educated, and its diversity which adds a level of tolerance. I registered as a Washington voter to participate in the presidential election between Obama and McCain. This was an election where, I was voting for a candidate who I really wanted to take office. When Barak Obama was declared the winner, I felt a strong shift in the tide. Perhaps, We the People, really did exist.

This last Forth of July, I did adventure out in search of a firework display. I'm in walking distance of the Tacoma water front so I set out on foot. The neighbor was lined with people hanging out in their yards with bbqs, lawn chairs, and coolers. Kids played and dogs wagged their tails. Small american flags decorated flower pots, fences, and everything else. A quintessential scene; it felt as though everyone had a piece of the pie. As the sun sank and the night sky filled the air, a cool wind arose sweeping over the sound. I started to move back towards home with the booms of firework cascading through the night. I would stop periodically to take in the rockets red glare, and shimmers of color before they faded into darkness. At one point I was standing half way up the hill. The street was blocked off to traffic and taken over by spectators. I could make out the faint shape of the boat launching the rockets on the distanced water. A street lamp illuminated an american flag waving gently in the breeze as fireworks broke behind. The spirit of America was prevailing.