holiday.

whee, independence day.

i don't think many people really give any thought to what that really means. most of the countries/nationalities in the world don't have a specific date they can point to and say, "there. that's when our identity fundamentally changed." because that's really what we're taking time to observe here. a fundamental change in how we identify ourselves.

it's very trendy right now to downplay any significance of the united states of america at all, but if nothing else, i think this country has done that much. it proved that you can create your own identity. you don't have to be stuck with the one everyone else gave you.

even though it was wrapped in the very center of enlightenment values, the creation of this country as an independent country was sort of the first blow towards the end of the enlightenment and its rigid structure of authority of knowledge.

or i could just be thinking way too much for my day off work. enjoy the fireworks.