An Old-Fashioned Moscow Fourth

Yesterday, I bought some fireworks from our own Ray Lindquist's stand in the Dissmore's parking lot (shameless plug.) My family will be spending the Fourth as we always do: cooking out in the back yard, laying on a blanket in the front yard to watch the fireworks at Sunnyside Park, and then setting off our own display in the driveway.

I really should try to make it over to Moscow though. This post from Moscow City Councilwoman Linda Pall makes it sound like it will be a real hoot:

Dear Visionaries,

Please join us in celebrating what's great about America!

Fourth of July Celebration!!!

City of Moscow

2007

12 NOON, Wednesday, JULY 4, FRIENDSHIP SQUARE

Emcee and Coordinator: Linda Pall, Moscow City Council

(Flags from American Legion, Ice Cream from the City of Moscow and Rosauer's Supermarkets)

a.. Presentation of the Colors: University of Idaho Navy/Marine ROTC
b.. Pledge of Allegiance Moscow City Council
c.. "You're a Grand Old Flag" by George M. Cohan, played by the Moscow Volunteer Peace Band
d.. Star Spangled Banner John Crout
e.. Declaration of Independence, read by members of the Moscow City Council
f.. Girls State Birthday Message Karen Christian, Moscow High School
g.. Boys State Birthday Message Kyler Hoskins, Troy High School
h.. 231st Birthday Message Mike Huebner, Dudley Loomis Post No 6 American Legion
i.. Patriotic Birthday Music Jeanne McHale and Linda Pall

"I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy"

"Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?"

(One more song, whose name I don't remember right now...)

"God Bless America"

a.. Conclusion: "This Land Is Your Land" played by Moscow Volunteer Peace Band

Free ice cream!

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND EVERYONE IS INVITED! We urge everyone to have a glorious Fourth of July and celebrate our nation's 231st birthday in style, with friends and ice cream!

"What's great about America?" Okay, Pledge of Allegiance, check, Star Spangled Banner, check, Declaration of Independence, check, ROTC, check. All standard patriotic fare.

But wait, what's this? The "Moscow Volunteer Peace Band," last heard playing at the Moscow HempFest?

And let's not forget that old Louis Armstrong song (and "patriotic" Fourth of July tradition?), "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" Why not just change the words to "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans Because George Bush Hates Black People and Caused Global Warming?"

And there IS significance in having radical Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" follow "God Bless America." Guthrie specifically wrote "This Land" as a socialist response to "God Bless America." For example, there are a couple of verses in the first version of "This Land" (originally titled "God Blessed America") that never seem to get sung anymore:

Was a high wall there that tried to stop me
A sign was painted said: Private Property,
But on the back side it didn't say nothing --
[God blessed America for me.]

One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple
By the Relief Office I saw my people --
As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if
[God blessed America for me.]

A Moscow Fourth indeed.