I'm keeping it simple today.  The week has been crazy.  From meditating on the death of MJ to witnessing a 9 year old black boy getting handcuffed for stealing a wallet to wondering why the weather's so unsettled in NYC, I'm ready to light a firecracker and just chill.  Wait, that's a huge contradiction... anyway.

The Fourth of July is usually a mixed bag for me.  I love the eating and gathering and festiveness.  However, I detest the meandering of a bunch of consuming Americans seeking ribs and bottle rockets in an effort to celebrate independence.  There's something troubling about celebrating the birth of a country with people who can't agree on anything.  Religion, marriage, the effects of bad eating, meaningless apologies for slavery.  But wait!  Now that Obama is president maybe I can relax and celebrate our independence, or at least have a more faithful attitude about it.  In fact, with Obama as president I don't have to celebrate the birth of American independence at all; I can celebrate the re-birth.  Well, the PROMISE of rebirth.  I don't know.  I'll have to think about this one.  Have a great weekend.