Tags
art, Boise Idaho, celebration, Fourth of July, Holiday, Independence Day, photography, poverty, sesquicentennial, United States
Today is a big day in my town. Not only is it a national holiday—Independence Day—but Boise is also celebrating its sesquicentennial. That, for those of you scratching your heads, is 150th birthday, and yes, I did have to cut and paste that great big word! Thankfully, you can’t hear me pronounce it.
The first ten-block plat for our little town was drawn up in 1863. Not many, if any, of the original buildings remain. In the west, wood was the primary construction material. Wood, in highly fire prone regions like this, has obvious disadvantages. Nevertheless Boisians have embraced the sesquicentennial, even going so far as trying to learn how wrap their lips around that word. Among the traditional 4th of July events the 150 theme reigns supreme, including the chalk art contest in the town’s premier park.
I took a sneak peek at the emerging art early this morning before the blazing heat could cook the meat off my bones and before the crushing crowds make photography unpleasant, if not impossible.
I have mixed feelings about 4th of July celebrations. While I’m proud and very lucky to have been born in America, the rampant unexamined nationalism that surfaces during this holiday makes me uneasy. Yes, we are still a beacon of hope for those around the world who live under oppression and poverty. But make no mistake about it, we are tarnished by our own poverty and oppression.
- We have some of the best medical technologies in the world and yet one-third of our population is unable to access that medical care.
- In 2011, the family poverty rate was almost 12% or 9.5 million families.
- Minority families still struggle for the inalienable rights that our Constitution guarantees them.
- America’s image has slipped dramatically around the world because we have been recognized as greedy bullies, meddling in other countries’ affairs and consuming astonishing per-person percentages of world-wide natural resources.
Yet I know how blessed I am to have born in America and into a social strata that has allowed me the freedom to move up, down, or laterally in direct proportion to my luck, talent, and hard work.
Although it was still early in the morning as I left the park, the crowds were streaming in to stake out turf for their all day vigil for the fireworks to come. Coolers, bikes, barbeques, games, flags, and sunscreen rule the day.
Happy 4th of July fellow Americans; Happy 150th Birthday fellow Boiseans!
You said, “the rampant unexamined nationalism that surfaces during this holiday makes me uneasy.” OUT LOUD! I think it’s beautiful how you blend your love for your country with concern for her.
I also must say that the water in your pictures looks eathrial, like something out of a painting that could come alive at any moment and I could splash around in with my nephew!
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Thanks, manyscars. Glad you approve and enjoy. 😉
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I enjoyed reading about the history of Boise. Also, you bring up some serious societal concerns that I also share.. I like how you said that we have the freedom to move up, down, or side -ways in this country. Keep up the good work with your posts.
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Thanks Rae Ann.
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Very poignant and relevant post. Nationalism, or Jingoism, is a facade of patriotism. It does not make it unreal, it just lacks substance. To me watching the celebrities define heroes on the July 4th celebration last night was touching and the people they mentoned are heroes. Yet, to me heroes are also people who every day fight for those who cannot. You correctly stated we have a poverty problem in the US and we are a less economic class mobile country than we used to be, falling down in the ranks of global mobility. We have too many folks living paycheck to paycheck and I see less talk about helping these folks from both political parties, with one party actually making changes in state legislatures (like NC) where they are being more harmful to those in need and are actually hurting the economy. Keep up the drum beat. You are dead on accurate in my book. BTG
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Thanks for taking the time to comment, BTG. I didn’t watch or listen to any 4th of July stuff last night. I watched fireworks from my bedroom window and commiserated with the cat who was hiding under the bed,
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Sidewalk art can be so wonderful, can’t it? And I love your perspective on what is good and what could be better about this country.
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Thanks, John. I am impressed by all art! I’ve even come to appreciate graffiti…at least in some places and some types of it.
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What a pleasantly balanced post! The kind of on nationalism bordering patriotism you mention is of course completely inappropriate for a German which is why I always felt it was *slightly* over the top. It’s as if most US Americans can’t fathom that there are people in this world who, while not hating their country, don’t have any intention of ever living there. Something that is most galling when being scrutinised by Homeland Security upon trying to enter the states.
Anyway, back on topic: Hope you still had a lovely day and thanks for the colourful pictures.
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Ja, as if America didn’t have a stain or two or three to hang her head over. I have often thought it unfair that the post WWII Germans have had to live under the dark cloud of what happened before their time. But perhaps that has contributed to a more thoughtful and a more humble population.
Thank you, as always, for your kind words. You feed my ego. 😉
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Ich denke Du hast viel Spass in Boise.
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Ja,naturlich! I habe jedes viel Spass, Elmar! Danke sehr fuer habt meine Blog gelesen. Ach, meine German speaking friends will laugh at my gibberish! 😉
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Hope it was a marvellous day.
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Thanks! It was.
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