Comments on: City sees self in mirror of Fourth of July parade http://kykernel.com/2009/07/08/city-sees-self-in-mirror-of-fourth-of-july-parade/ University of Kentucky's daily student newspaper. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:52:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Oolon Colluphid http://kykernel.com/2009/07/08/city-sees-self-in-mirror-of-fourth-of-july-parade/comment-page-1/#comment-5381 Oolon Colluphid Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:31:00 +0000 http://kykernel.com/?p=17019#comment-5381 "Well, there’s nothing sacred about a Fourth of July parade; I’m all for having fun." I don't think you are. It's a parade not a triumph. It's not there to crown heroes or instill civic virtue. It's there for fun. It's a lark, not a somber remembrance. I find it absolutely absurd that you decry irreverence and skepticism (where was the skepticism in the parade? Was there a giant bust of James Randi?) and yet speak with reverence about Jefferson and Paine. Jefferson and Paine were skeptics, rationalists, anti-religious establishment, anti-monarchical culture. They were radicals. I think the only reason Uncle Sam is over 200 years old is that people won't let him die. America has changed, it has to change. We can't be forever ruled by the ideas of a handful of pre-industrial revolution people. we're not living in a british controlled world anymore. We're not a handful of colonies anymore. We're not a nation of farmers and corner stores anymore. We're not a nation of slavery anymore. We're not a world of superstition anymore. We should be creating our own heroes and not worshiping at the bones of our forefathers. “Well, there’s nothing sacred about a Fourth of July parade; I’m all for having fun.”

I don’t think you are. It’s a parade not a triumph. It’s not there to crown heroes or instill civic virtue. It’s there for fun. It’s a lark, not a somber remembrance.

I find it absolutely absurd that you decry irreverence and skepticism (where was the skepticism in the parade? Was there a giant bust of James Randi?) and yet speak with reverence about Jefferson and Paine. Jefferson and Paine were skeptics, rationalists, anti-religious establishment, anti-monarchical culture. They were radicals.

I think the only reason Uncle Sam is over 200 years old is that people won’t let him die. America has changed, it has to change. We can’t be forever ruled by the ideas of a handful of pre-industrial revolution people. we’re not living in a british controlled world anymore. We’re not a handful of colonies anymore. We’re not a nation of farmers and corner stores anymore. We’re not a nation of slavery anymore. We’re not a world of superstition anymore.

We should be creating our own heroes and not worshiping at the bones of our forefathers.

]]> By: Charlie Bell http://kykernel.com/2009/07/08/city-sees-self-in-mirror-of-fourth-of-july-parade/comment-page-1/#comment-5361 Charlie Bell Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:39:31 +0000 http://kykernel.com/?p=17019#comment-5361 Hi Buck, I was perusing the internet and came across this. I'm Charlie Bell with Footnote.com. We are an original historical document site with the a wonderful assortment of Revolutionary War documents. We also have the largest Civil and WWII collections on the internet. I thought I would pass that on and let you know that quite a few of the collections that we have are free. It sounds like history is important there. I hope you take a look at this! Thanks! Hi Buck,

I was perusing the internet and came across this. I’m Charlie Bell with Footnote.com. We are an original historical document site with the a wonderful assortment of Revolutionary War documents. We also have the largest Civil and WWII collections on the internet. I thought I would pass that on and let you know that quite a few of the collections that we have are free. It sounds like history is important there. I hope you take a look at this!

Thanks!

]]> By: David Fitts http://kykernel.com/2009/07/08/city-sees-self-in-mirror-of-fourth-of-july-parade/comment-page-1/#comment-5360 David Fitts Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:23:34 +0000 http://kykernel.com/?p=17019#comment-5360 I agree with your assessment. I enjoyed a few of the floats and the March Madness Band, but most of these parades end up being one long commercial. I couldn't last out the Holiday Parade for the same reason last year. That parade should have been about the spirit of the season. Instead, we got more crass commercialism. I get enough of that in the Herald Leader, on tv and radio. I don't need it in a parade! And, yes, there is real opportunity in the 4th of July Parade to recreate the spirit of '76, re-enact some history and remind people what the day is really about. I know we can do better. I agree with your assessment.
I enjoyed a few of the floats and the March Madness Band, but most of these parades end up being one long commercial. I couldn’t last out the Holiday Parade for the same reason last year. That parade should have been about the spirit of the season. Instead, we got more crass commercialism. I get enough of that in the Herald Leader, on tv and radio. I don’t need it in a parade!
And, yes, there is real opportunity in the 4th of July Parade to recreate the spirit of ’76, re-enact some history and remind people what the day is really about.
I know we can do better.

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