GoldbergBlog

How To Celebrate Independence Day

Today is the 4th of July. Every country has it. They may not know it or may not care but here in the United States of America we celebrate it. We celebrate it because it was the birth of our nation. It was when a group of men decided they would not be subject to the whims of a tyrant and decided to forge a nation of freedom and equality (not so much for all the black people that were brought here to work against their wills but still a noble sentiment nonetheless).

On Monday, the latest perversion in a long line of perversions came forth from the Bush Administration as the President commuted the sentence of I. Lewis Libby. Personally, I’m out of outrage. It’s too exhausting to constantly tally this administration’s long line of corruptions and simply not break down and cry that our country has suffered more not at the hands of our enemies but at the hands of those we asked to protect and defend us.

The commuting of “Scooter’s” sentence is purely partisan. Anyone who truly loves America cannot look at this act and not understand that the President decided not to uphold the law, to not respect if not at least agree with the conviction of his crony, and basically spit on the laws of our country and decide those laws were not applicable to one of “his guys”. Is that America? Are we all equal under the law unless you know a guy who knows a guy?

On various news aggregators I visit, people were positively foaming at the mouth when they learned that Paris Hilton would be under house arrest rather than serving time. Libby doesn’t even have to stay home. He has to pay a $250,000 fine which will no doubt be covered by his pals. There’s also the matter of probation but in light of his recent prison-dodge, I think we all know that’s a joke.

But it’s hard to get mad today. Today when we’ll take a day off from work, spend time with family and friends, eat a hearty meal straight off the grill, and marvel at fireworks. Celebrations aren’t the time to get mad. But I will say that sometimes before we can celebrate, we must honor. We must pay homage to the act we wish to celebrate. And so I ask that you please take the half hour (if that) out of your day to contact your representative and contact your senators. Even if you didn’t vote for them; even if they’re Republicans and you think they’ll choose their party over their country. Write because that’s how you truly celebrate America.

I’ll leave you with a link to the more eloquent and intelligent Green Greewald’s thoughts on the matter as well as a rousing and powerful Special Comment from Keith Olbermann:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGq7mqkDJ7E]

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