The Art of Repatriation

Somewhere along the line since late 2001, it became passe to be patriotic, to show an emphatic love of country, of nation, of the red, white, and blue. And not that my little rant is going to get us back to that unprecedented ignition of such patriotism, I thought I'd throw this quick list out there. The top 8 ways to show you love America today:

(1) Re-read the preamble to the Constitution. Just do it. You won't be sorry.

(2) Buy a popsicle. But not just any popsicle. A rocket pop! The red, white, and blue kind that can only taste good when it's batshit hot outside...which it always is on the 4th of July.

(3) Buy the Born In The USA album by Bruce Springsteen. It's not just the title track that will leave you wanting more. It's the whole damn thing. Note particular genius on Glory Days.

(4) Watch fireworks. Unless you're from the midwest, don't set them off yourself. You don't know how to do it and you'll probably hurt someone else. Not probably. You will.

(5) Pull tape on Obama's victory speech from November 4, 2008. It holds up--even if you don't like him and even now, almost two years after the novelty of his election to President of the United States.

(6) Watch Far And Away or Gangs of New York. Every once in awhile, it's good to have a reminder of what badasses our immigrant predecessors were. It doesn't hurt that they look like Tom Cruise or Leo DiCaprio either.

(7) Go to a baseball game on the Fourth of July. Or play baseball for that matter. There is a reason it's the national pasttime. Abner Doubleday would love to know he's still selling out Wrigley Field--even if it is for nostalgic reasons.

(8) Study the Four Freedoms by Norman Rockwell. Or any of his paintings for that matter. The master illustrator literally made an artform out of being an everyday American.

I don't know why the list isn't the Top 10. It just isn't. But I'm open to hearing additions. After all, today we are celebrating our freedom of speech.