Happy Independence Day, amigos Americanos!

It's Independence Day for our friends in the United States. Not likely you needed me to tell you that if you're reading this. The Fourth of July is probably the single most reknowned national holiday in the world. That and Bastille Day. Although you're only allowed to celebrate one according to Bill O'Reilly.

For those who've been unconscious for the last few hours, here's what's up this Fourth of July:

-Illegal Immigrants and Legal Immigrants: As they arrive in torrents no one knows what to do about either of them. Reform the laws, 'amnesty' is an evil word, they steal jobs, we love to hire them, etc.
-Bush-Putin talk. Snazzy pictures are taken at Kennebunkport at what the EEEKonomist is calling the 'Lobster Summit', Bush and Putin were looking for some kind of agreement for nuclear armament related issues. I insist on the Robo-Manatee. Putin insists he'll shove it down your throat if you so much as look at the Czec Republic the wrong way..uh, and there will cooperation to take advantage of the pluses of nuclear energy.
-Soon, Americans will be buying and driving Chinese cars.
-Micheal Moore has a new movie.
-There were fireworks, cakes, flags and speeches. That's for those who've been about for longer.

More seriously, the United States remains the City on the Hill the world around. That's part of what makes it so gosh-darn fun to look on the shady side of the Hill. As much as we've obsessed in Canada since forever about our own identity, the prospects of absorption or separation, Americans have their own obsessions.

If you've read an editorial page in the last 15 years, you've been seeing a search for a new place in the world after the defeat of the Soviet Union. An obsession with being either too much like Weimar Germany (that's the Germany Hitler rose to power in legally) or the falling Roman Empire. Or being like the Galactic Republic. That one shows up less. Beyond naval-gazing there's the constant over the shoulder glances at China.

Oh, and the ol'Red, White and Booze.

Anyway, keep it up U-S-of-A, just don't point it at me.

xoxo
Canadian (singular)