Happy Independence Day!

The fireworks in Charlotte were completely awesome. I am one of those people who are closet 4th enthusiasts. I decorate my house and yard and place flags on graves of veterans. And when I get to sing America The Beautiful with recordings of Ray Charles and watch the fireworks, I cry. I have been the only one in my family to drag the relatives downtown and point and wave and say "See the beautiful lights? Lookeesee the connected emotion of all of us America lovers?" We would all turn our radios up on loudest and open the doors and watch the pretty lights and feel connected-- All of us. Jesse Helms and Harvey Gantt, Ray Charles and Elvis, James Brown and Jim Bakker. Mom and Dad would sigh "Yeah yeah yeah--let's go home"--though Dad would snuffle a tear. The percussion outside of the many fireworks displays is a funky soundtrack to the seed planted when I was so very young "Ask not what your country can do for you..," Yeah, I know that many are celebrating the death of Jesse Helms, and as a Southern woman ,I am offended. He loved his country and he loved North Carolina and he served endlessly while others made buckets of money or watched reality TV. And so I respect his memory. Most people don't give a rusty rat's arse to even get involved--much less put themselves out there on the borderline. And every citizen who called him got a call back saying "Now what is botherin ya'll?" No, I did not agree with him on many of the issues, but I DO agree with him on serving the people. He never got rich off of it. He never made a profit. And he cared about people. How many of the IDEOLOGICAL PURISTS can say that? You may damn Jesse but you didn't know him. I did. And to be human is to be flawed. RIP. Anybody that serves the freaking out , whacked in the streets public--the "I'm in trouble and help me" public--"the who can I turn to if you turn away" public deserves a respectful RIP. He was not perfect but he cared about people. Rest in peace and my condolences to his family.