The Fourth Of July. Like any American with common sense, I'm of two minds about my country.
On one hand, there's a sincer, non-ironic love of country. If it was good enough for Marvin Gaye, it's good enough for me:
On the other hand, even aside from the current administration, there's the knowledge that this land of liberty was built on a lie: the professed belief that everyone was free, unless your skin was dark. Nobody was ever caught the deep flaw in the American character with greater eloquence than Randy Newman, who welded a gorgeous melody to bitterly ironic lyrics for this classic:
So hey, America, let me wish you a most heartfelt yet ambiguous Happy Birthday!
