Murica Day 2023

And, next up (!!!), how is this guy an American badass?
He's just another one of those weirdo snake freaks, ain't he?

 

But we declared independence in 1776, much like Michael Scott declaring bankruptcy.

 

In this case, it's such over the top 80s cheese (like the shots of him playing guitar in front of the various landmarks, including standing in the middle of the Rose Bowl) that it makes me laugh. Even when I was 10 and it first came out I remember thinking it was kind of stupid. Just because we post something wrestling-related (there's a couple hundred pages worth of thread below this one that is populated by more than a few people) doesn't mean we take all of it seriously.

Although I will say that the lyrics do hit a little deeper when you listen to and digest them. There is a good message about American ideals in there — standing up for what's right, getting back up after we're knocked down — that is strangely inspiring. I remember Bill Simmons writing about hearing this song a week or two after 9/11 and how that part really hit home, and it always stuck with me.

 

He's an American badass because he lived an interesting life and did something dangerous that ultimately helped the world by producing snake anti-venom.
Geez, you're cranky.

 

Not for long!

 

I'M JUST ASKING QUESTIONS!!!

 

Wow, great news. Thank God you're not a Republican anymore. And welcome back to humanity!

 

Glad I am not the only one who does #3!

 

I guess we just came out and "identified" as a free country.

 

And 247 years later, we still think we're the only one.***
***other than places we "install" governments and call them democracies

I guess we had "freedom dysphoria," then.

 

Yeah, but does he have immunity to iocane powder?

 

We had a good week. Went up to NOVA to look at neighborhoods, traffic, etc., for the upcoming move.

Started our Virginia experience by stopping at Appomattox Courthouse and a quick stroll through Charlottesville before continuing the trip.

Drove the entire NOVA area looking at houses way too expensive for us to afford. Drove each morning from a different neighborhood to the place where I’ll be working in order to gauge traffic at peak times.

Drove into town to see 1776 at the Kennedy Center. Strolled through Old Town Alexandria. Had a great steak, some good sushi, and a $30 lobster roll .

We decided to leave NOVA a day early and headed back toward Jamestown because the kids recently studied it in school. Headed over to Yorktown where we spent several hours walking defense lines, discussing fields of fire, questioning communication strategies, and wondering about the range of 18th Century artillery.

Stay with me, I’m getting to the point.

We stopped through our hometown to see all the parental units and spend a few days. We went to church with Mrs. t_b_f’s parents, where the altar and other parts of the church were decorated with bunting, the flags of each branch of service were standing in the foyer. We sang patriotic songs and recognized veterans and those currently serving.

It all initially seemed forced and somewhat shallow to me, but I tried to look past it as the people we’ve known all our lives are mostly genuine.

But I mostly wondered what happens Wednesday? What happens when the ribs are eaten and the leftover hotdogs are in the Tupperware bowl in the fridge? What happens when the fireworks and smoker are all cleaned up, the bunting is taken down from the stage at church and out back into the storage room until Veterans Day?

How are we continuing to celebrate what we have — warts, and all? How are we continuing to instill the values we want in our communities?

Is it through doling out some Starman justice on SJ? Is it through calling out the liberals or MAGAs on Facebook?

Or are we taking some type of action? Are you making your little corner of the Freedom Experiment better? Are you volunteering some way — maybe as a youth league basketball ref or at Habitat for Humanity or at the Humane Society?

I get incredibly uncomfortable when someone says, “Thank you for your service.” It makes me want to shrink from any conversation we’re having and leave the room.

Want to thank me for my service? Make your community a bit better today. And enjoy your ribs and hotdogs and fireworks and cheap beer and boats with Trump flags. Just remember, when the day’s through, make your spot a better place.