Independence Day Musings

This happy gent decorates a friend's lawn each 7/4

I love my country. I support my President. I believe in God. So I think "God bless America" sums up my feelings rather nicely.

Happy to see the couple that has taught me so much about being a good American on the cover of this week's People. He's been gone more than 50 years. She's been gone more than 20. And yet here they are, appearing on newsstands just in time for our country's most patriotic holiday.

Sometimes I wish we could just let them, literally, rest in peace. But then again, maybe we need them. Certainly there are times when I do.

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." I can do more. I must remember that. I must allow him to inspire me to do more than write checks. I must do the work required to help improve the lives of my neighbors. After all, JFK was never one to sit back and let others do the heavy lifting.

And then there's JBKO, sharing a cover with -- of all people -- Bristol Palin. Ms. Palin is spilling her guts about her broken engagement and second pregnancy outside of marriage. Jackie would never, NEVER discuss her personal life with the public. Wonder how she felt about The President's infidelities? Curious as to why she married Onassis? We never heard the answers from her lips. Not once. I know there are RWNJs out there who adore the Alaskardashians  but there is no way Jackie would allow her family to be merchandised the way Sarah Palin has sold hers. (I know of two reality series -- Sarah Palin's Alaska and Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp -- and perhaps there are more.) I think it's obvious JBKO was the real "Mama Grizzly" when it came to protecting her young.

Yet for all we don't know about Jacqueline's internal life, we do know how much she cared about America. How hard she worked on the White House restoration. How seriously she took the architectural restoration of Washington, DC. How badly she wanted this country's schoolchildren to see the Mona Lisa. While her personal papers have been kept private, as per her wishes, just about every piece of paper she touched in her official role as First Lady was preserved and passed along to the JFK Library, also as per her wishes.

Oh yeah, Kendra and Hank are on the cover, too. I wish I could tell you I'm completely unfamiliar with their saga, but I'd soooo be lying. (Shame on me.)

Oh well, Happy 4th! And let's try to think of how we can continue to help our nation on her way to being a more perfect union.