Thursday, July 5, 2007

Pride not politics

So after all of the sound and fury, capturing the attention of the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Springfield Republican, Ch 40 Television and, amazingly, NPR and the Associated Press, the protest portion of the Amherst July 4’th Parade was a complete non-issue.

Perhaps because of the fairly inclement weather. You know, "The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country" the protestors in The Peoples Republic of Amherst were almost non-existent this July 4’th.

The spectators, however, were numerous, enthusiastic and especially appreciative. Parents, children and senior citizens applauded and cheered the expansive line of march…and for about 45 minutes Amherst could easily have been a heartland farm community or a town located near a major military base.

Only ‘The Raging Grannies,’ who know a bevy of anti-war songs but probably don’t know the words to the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ and a couple with pro-Iran signs, and another couple with an “Impeach Bush” banner bothered to stake out the sidelines.

And they were outnumbered hundreds to one by folks coming out to celebrate the birth of our great nation. Happy birthday America, land of the free and home of the brave.

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