Happy Independence Day.

I say "Happy Independence Day" this year with a heavy heart and a thick coating of irony, because I find it harder and harder to feel pride in being an American.  And I'm not alone.

A new Gallop poll on patriotism asked how people feel about their country.   While 70% said they feel proud to be an American, only 45% said they feel "extremely proud."

This is the lowest number since Gallop began asking this question 19 years ago.  It's tempting to blame it all on Donald Trump.   In fact, the poll shows that our slippage in pride began several years ago, but there has been a decidedly downward shift since 2016, the year of the presidential campaign.

So from Trump's standpoint, there's nothing he needs more than to stage a big "Celebration of America" on the Washington Mall, with him playing the most prominent role as the president.   Besides, he does love a parade, especially one with lots of military weapons and flyovers, ever since President Macron hosted him for the big event they hold on Bastille Day in France.

So, as much as it galls to let him spoil a tradition, I'm going to follow the advice of New York Times writer Alex Kingsbury:

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"[T]here’s a good argument for checking the outrage and letting the show, complete with flyovers and armored vehicles, buckle under the weight of its own absurdities and contradictions. . . .

". . .  Mr. Trump has thrown himself into the planning of the event with the sort of gusto that he can’t seem to muster for briefing papers longer than a single page — and certainly with more gusto than he mustered for his own military service. . . .

"This is all on brand for him: co-opting the honorable traditions of the armed forces for political pageantry. But the president’s political opponents would be wise to keep their powder dry. . . .

"The answer to political spectacle is to not give it too much weight.

"The power of America’s national monuments is that they are shared projects that outlast temporal politics. They are the sum of many acts and the products of political disagreements. They are a common heritage that no political movement, whether honorable or noxious, holds a monopoly on forever."

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I do make a solemn promise;  and it's in line with Kingsbury's point to just "not give it too much weight."   I will not spoil my holiday by watching this spectacle on tv.   I will try not to spend any blood pressure points on it.  There are other ways to enjoy the day.

Ralph