Has Independence Day been eroded by focus on 4th of July?
What little local and national mainstream media I’ve consumed this week has all mentioned the upcoming “4th of July” holiday in one way or another (weather, sports, recreational events, etc).
And it got me thinking about something that concerns me every year around this time…Why is Independence Day, arguably one of our country’s most sacred and important holidays, the only holiday we refer to by the day of the year?
No one calls Halloween the Thirty-First of October or Christmas the Twenty-Fifth of December. That would sound odd now, wouldn’t it? Yet Independence Day has become the Fourth of July in popular culture almost unapologetically.
As our culture and media increasingly focus more on vacation, barbecues, fireworks, Taste of Minnesota, parades, et al, I often feel it’s disrespectful and irreverent to fog over the true meaning of Independence Day in the name of political correctness.
True, the adoption of the Declaration of Independence is associated with July 4, 1776 — the day our forefathers declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in one document that summed up provisions of Natural Law and principles of justice.
And while much has been written about the decision to seek independence rather than seeking traditional colonist rights as British subjects, I think we tend to forget about the sacrifices made to have the freedom to partake in cheese curds at Taste each year on July 4th.
What do you think?
I’ve always called it that my whole life. I think it’s just an unusual quirk of the day rather than any sort of political correctness. It’s my birthday too!
I think the fact that it’s a completely secular holiday is part of it. I think the fact that politics goes on year round so we already talk about our government a lot is part of it. Maybe the fact that school’s out has something to do with it; there aren’t any timely lessons and associated activities surrounding the day itself unless parents make that happen.
I don’t think it’s been bastardized any more than Xmas has been. But yeah, we take it for granted, too.
Ironically and sadly, if there’s one thing in this country with no respect for Natural Law and principles of justice, it’s our own Government.
I love Independence Day and always take time to reflect on it’s meaning.
You mentioned cheese curds! The best come from the proclaimed “Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin” in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. The Governor of Wisconsin gave them that title! They are so squeaky good! Their cheese is ALL NATURAL and is made from rBST free milk. They are so yummy!
They do have a web site http://www.ellsworthcheesecurds.com and sell fresh and lightly, hand-breaded cheese curds. They sold 104,000 lbs to the Minnesota State Fair last year and they are in A&W Restaurants. If you go to a Milwaukee Brewers home game you can buy the breaded cheese curds there. These cheese morsels remain the color of milk: White!
(Have you ever drank a glass of orange milk?)
You can even purchase breaded cheese curds – and deep fry at home. Or if you purchase one of their fresh cheese curds packages (Deli section of Cub Foods for example) there is a very simple Four Ingredient Recipe on the back of the package – it is easy to make your own batter. Recipes are on their web site. Found in many grocery stores – But they may be in the Deli or Meat sections…Just ask for Ellsworth Cheese Curds! YUMMY!
Somebody went so far as to register the name cheesecurds?
Dear Ellsworth Cheese Curds PR Goon, your strategy of scanning blogs for mentioning curds and then leaving a spam comment is not effective and would never make anyone want to buy your product. In fact, it will turn people off. Instead, why not create an authentic blogger outreach strategy? Perhaps offer samples to foodie bloggers or create a user-generated contest asking consumers to share their favorite "curdled moment." Those two ideas are freebies. If you want more, you’ll have to pay.
Here’s my version: