Okay, so if your view of America is of the "love it or leave it" variety, you should probably stop reading this now. You won't like what I'm about to write. We're celebrating the 246th birthday of the United States this weekend, and this year, the celebration is bittersweet. Sweet, because I still love this country, despite all its faults, and there are many...and the number keeps growing. Bitter, because as we celebrate the independence of our nation, the citizens are the least-free they've ever been in my lifetime. The Supreme Court recently decided that women in this country don't have the right to make decisions about their own bodies, they'll argue that the decision simply put it back into the hands of individual states, but we all know better. That last thing anyone needs is to hear the long-winded opinions of another middle-aged-ish, straight white guy, so I'll just say it's bullshit, it's wrong, and I sincerely hope we, as a people, can figure out a way to right this wrong. And if you think it will stop there, keep in mind that one of the Justices added an opinion to the decision, that outright states that contraception and gay rights are next on the list. In the same week, the same Supreme Court decided that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), doesn't have the authority to protect the environment. Along with all the mass shootings (over 250 this year already, many in schools), cases of police brutality and shootings, the continuing onslaught against voter rights, and the simple fact that nearly half the voting populace still worships a Flaming Hot Cheeto in a bad hair piece, there doesn't seem like there's a lot to celebrate this year. But I also have that same feeling you get when you have a rapidly aging grandparent, and maybe you don't want to go to their birthday, but then your mom tells you, "You need to go, we don't know how many birthdays Grandma has left," and you feel guilty as shit, and go. So anyway, as you enjoy your cold beer, barbecue, and fireworks, keep in mind that "Ol' Grandma America" isn't immortal, and if we don't do something soon, she may not have many birthdays left.
