July 4, 2002

The Fourth of July. We've been spending the last few days in Louisville learning about PCUSA's mission philosophy and theology. We have been meeting our bosses and colleagues in the General Assembly offices. We have also been watching way too much TV (50 channels! In English!).

Fireworks!

We took the afternoon off to have a barbeque and to head to the fireworks display along the river. It is hard for us to be here on Independence Day, having seen the rampant nationalism of Israel and Palestine. It's hard not to be cynical when Dairy Queen has Red White and Blue Flurries for sale. The country band that played the music preceding the fireworks preached the kind of populist nationalism that has been been broadcast on the news all the way across the globe. The soundtrack of Lee Greenwood and the like underscored it. But the fireworks were spectacular - loud and bright. We're still startled by loud noises - a bit of post-traumatic stress - but these pyrotechnics were gorgeous.