REAL ART INDEPENDENCE DAY GRAB BAG

First, some retro Real Art from July 4, 2003:

REAL AMERICA

1976 was the year that I first developed a concept of what it means to be an American. I learned that we are the people of freedom. I learned that we are the people of justice. I learned that we are the people of democracy. I guess I’ve never really gotten over the glorification of the simple precepts for which our country supposedly stands. I still believe what I learned twenty-seven years ago: America is great because of its values.

Since then, it seems like so many of my countrymen have been trying to convince me that, even though we are, indeed, the people of freedom, justice, and democracy (God bless America, and all that, you know), these principles do not really mean what I originally believed them to mean:

“Oh yeah, we’re free, but those weirdos just can’t run around doing blah, blah, blah.”

“Well, I’m for justice, but we really can’t let all these criminals keep using their rights to yadda, yadda, yadda.”

“Sure, this is a democracy, but most people just don’t understand what’s best for the country, and blather, blather, blather.”

“I just don’t want to be killed by terrorists; I don’t want to die.”

Click here for the rest.

Next, a contemplative beat poem from the legendary Allen Ginsberg:

America

America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.
America two dollars and twenty-seven cents January 17, 1956.
I can't stand my own mind.
America when will we end the human war?
Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb
I don't feel good don't bother me.
I won't write my poem till I'm in my right mind.
America when will you be angelic?
When will you take off your clothes?
When will you look at yourself through the grave?
When will you be worthy of your million Trotskyites?
America why are your libraries full of tears?
America when will you send your eggs to India?
I'm sick of your insane demands.

Click here for the rest. Be sure to read with jazz and coffee.

Finally, courtesy of my old pal Matt, NPR's Morning Edition news crew recites the Declaration of Independence:

A Living Document

Sixteen years ago, Morning Edition launched what has become an Independence Day tradition: hosts, reporters, newscasters and commentators reading the Declaration of Independence.

The idea came from former Morning Edition director Sean Collins, who remembered seeing the Declaration and its "very powerful writing" printed on the front page of his grandmother's small-town newspaper. NPR staffers clamor to be included in the annual reading: "It's considered an honor," says Morning Edition Producer Barry Gordemer, who assembled audio clips of the 28 individuals reading. It's not an easy assignment: some words that sounded natural two centuries ago don't roll off the tongue today. The NPR staff is often reminded to resist the urge to edit Thomas Jefferson's original material.

The segment gets no special introduction on the air: "We wanted Jefferson's words to speak for themselves," Collins said. And the music behind the words — another NPR tradition — is "On the Threshold of Liberty" by Mark Isham.

Have I ever mentioned that Thomas Jefferson is my favorite founding father? No? Well, he is.

Click here for streaming audio of the recitation, complete with slide show of the NPR participants. Click here for the full text.

Happy Fourth of July!

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