For a moment on the 4th of July, I saw a flash of beauty: During the fireworks show in Itasca, everyone in attendance stared in awe at the brilliant display in the sky. The song “Proud to be an American” roared over the speakers as every pleased spectator sat silently, joined in a respectful and patriotic celebration.
The situation in the parking garage after the fireworks, however, was different. After only a 20-minute traffic jam, some drivers displayed their unity with an orchestra of angry car horns. Instead of patriotic songs, the only thing coming from these revelers’ mouths was expletive-laced references to the backsides or apparent mental illnesses of the drivers around them. Their flags were replaced by the waving of a particular finger. While the majority of people there acted with dignity, those who took part in the “garage celebration” shouldn’t have let their grace fizzle out with the fireworks.
