Editorial for June 28, 2007 edition:


Be a grand old citizen

For too many of us, next Wednesday is just another day off from work, a day to sleep a little longer, maybe watch a little Oprah, and do a lot of nothing.
This year, though, try to think a little differently.
If you believe George W. Bush, the brave men and women of the military are doing their dangerous duty in Iraq so the bad guys — the terrorists — don’t get us here in America. That may be true — with Mr. Bush, it’s not always easy to discern the truth — but even if it’s not true, even if the president lied his way into the war, we the people of America’s cradle of liberty have an obligation to honor our military heroes, past and present, dead and alive, by doing something patriotic on the Fourth of July.
Whether it’s as simple and personal as reciting a prayer for the troops, sending a greeting card to a neighborhood soldier who’s serving abroad, or listening to patriotic music on your CD player while you’re grilling the burgers and doggies, don’t treat next Wednesday as an ordinary day. It’s perhaps the most significant of all American holidays, for without an Independence Day, all of the other holidays would not exist as we know them.
And if you’re truly proud to be an American and you want to catch the spirit of the holiday in a more extravagant fashion, go to the big parade on Rising Sun Avenue in Lawndale (see all the details on Page 20 in today’s Times) and then stick around for the fireworks. On a larger scale, head downtown to see the stars and stripes and fireworks. But whatever you do, make it a day of patriotism.

• • •

Speaking of freedom, we should all be tickled pink that the great American Paris Hilton, the beautiful blonde bimbo famous for being famous and rich, used her Get Out of Jail Free card on Tuesday morning. Only a "free" country allows its criminals to pervert justice. ••

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