BBQ, Fireworks and Tea Parties

Owen, Sarah — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 GMT

For most Americans, Independence Day is a time to gather with family and friends to celebrate the birth of the United States and to honor the brave men and women whose sacrifices secured our freedom. We fire up the grill, chill the beer, don our red, white and blue, sing along to patriotic tunes, and “ooh” and “aah” over fireworks.

For some, however, this July 4^th will be about something else: protesting.

A series of “Independence Day Tea Parties” are planned in cities across the United States. Seizing upon the spirit of the American revolutionaries who dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest England’s taxation of the colonies, these “tea parties” are orchestrated public events at which disgruntled citizens will protest excessive government spending and policies with which they disagree. An estimated 1,300 are scheduled across the nation for the upcoming holiday weekend.

It is no secret that Congress and the administration have invested a fair chunk of change in government programs and other initiatives to combat the ongoing recession. But regardless of what you think about the amount spent or the effectiveness of these policies, it is truly remarkable to live in a country where we have the freedom to protest—or not.

So whether you throw a tea party or a cookout this weekend, don’t forget to celebrate freedom and thank those who secured it for us. Happy Independence Day!

NEMA Currents : Independence Day

BBQ, Fireworks and Tea Parties