Happy Independence Day, everyone. Today is the last Fourth that will be blighted by George Bush in the White House; and while the country may be crumbling all around us, the passage of another day that brings us closer to the end of this disastrous reign is itself worth celebrating.

But meanwhile, where are we in this imperfect union of ours? There's a war going on, obviously, one we were lied into by traitors who will probably go unpunished. Our constitutional rights, already a tenuous proposition if you happen to be black, or poor, or gay, or something other than Christian, are being further eroded by a criminal executive and its cowering occasional adversaries in the legislative branch.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

On the other hand, coming out of this nightmare, Democrats have done something many people never expected to see in their, our lifetimes: nominated a black man for the Presidency, a freshman Senator whose soaring rhetoric has propelled a new generation into politics. His chief rival? A woman. His likely opponent in November? A man who was tortured and who has a brown adopted child. There's even something new in America, a vibrant Progressive Movement that has written change on its banners, challenging the Tories of either party.

From Norm Siegel's website:

NORMAN TO HOST ANNUAL JULY 4th CELEBRATION IN CENTRAL PARK

NYS Senators Bill Perkins and Eric Adams, Reverend Billy, the Granny Peace Brigade and Grandmothers Against the War to join in public reading of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights at 12 Noon, Strawberry Fields, Central Park.

Come join Norman and friends for this annual July 4th celebration of the anniversary of US Independence and the birth of our civil rights and civil liberties. In addition to the actual text of these historic documents, Norman invites everyone to add their comments and observations to the mix. In years past, this has provided a spirited and memorable way to kick-off the July 4th festivities. Come join us and start your Fourth of July with Norman, Eric Adams, Bill Perkins, the incomparable Reverend Billy, New York’s famous peace-loving grannies and your New York neighbors.

This July 4th, I'm listening to Paul Robeson sing "Ballad For Americans" a left wing cantata (music by Earl Robinson, lyrics by John La Touche) You can listen here (scroll down four past other Robeson masterpieces). The Declaration is still worth reading. Try substituting George W. for George III.

As a person who brings the American Flag to anti-Iraq-war demonstrations, I love leftist patriotism. This year's red, white & blue bunting award goes, in my view, to The Nation for three posts: John Nichols channels Tom Paine, Katrina vanden Heuvel recalls a 1991 Nation edition in which leading leftists wrote about love of country and Peter Rothberg outlines five July 4, action planks to create our American dream (together with Bruce Springsteen singing "This Land is Your Land".

Just in case that's not enough, think about July 4th & the Jewish Question