What Do You Like Most About America? Why?

One week from today, that is, on Friday, July 3, 2009, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM, the MN Prager Discussion Group will celebrate its 2nd Annual 4th of July Seder. The event will begin with a potluck get-to-gether from 5:30 to 7:00 followed by a patriotic celebration from 7:00 on. Please turn to this blogsite’s EVENTS tab for further information.

For several years, usually around America’s Independence Day, Dennis has complained about the manner in which most Americans seem to approach their national holidays….mindlessly beyond having a day or weekend off from work and school. July 4th was somewhat different in that one could explode firecrackers and get drunk. Others might go fishing besides.

No one seemed to care about the Holiday.

More recently, no one seems to know what the Holiday was about in the first place. Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day come and go without much understanding beyond notice that the banks and post offices are closed. These once were days for family gatherings, but the family in America has been so weakened, becoming so nondescript and redefined, it barely exists as an honored institution.
The only holiday honoring an American by name occurs in January to honor a black man. It is not good politically or academically these days to think highly of America’s white man contributions. They are thought by some in academic circles not to exist. White woman contributions are being invented regularly, but few have caught on. This is the age we live in. We have forgotten what it means to be an American.

Dennis bemoans this age. So he challenged his fans to seek clarity and honesty, regardless of the rules of Political Correctness. Dennis has often reminded listeners of the strengths of some long time Jewish traditions, one being a time where at a gathering, there is at least some time set aside for the past, for the living to reflect upon the yesterdays, where have they come from; where have they been, to help better understand the todays.

The majority of Americans, even those of adult age, don’t seem to have much understanding of today, much less of any other day.

Dennis challenged his audiences to organize seders, at least seder-moments in conjunction with our celebrations for Independence Day. Our Minnesota group has obeyed its leader. And so on Friday, the 3rd of July, we are celebrating this 2nd annual Seder celebrating America’s struggle to become free.

We will be asking that each member, after the potluck supper and patriotic attentions, we share with all others what it is in Americana we love most, and why. Round robin, friends. Now is your chance to be free among those who still appreciate what freedom is.