The neverending 4th

Fleeting Americana
I just arrived back from the embassy's party. Whoa. This is the 4th of July party that puts all other 4th of July parties to shame. We reached the campus of Cairo American College, only to have our cameras, mobiles and American passports revoked, which seems a standard procedure here in Cairo, considering cameras are useful when planning terror attacks or identifying individuals, mobiles for orchestrating your attack or in bomb preparation, and, as we all know, the slick blue leather bound passport with gleaming gold eagle is everything. Walking through the gates...awe struck. There are slides, moonwalks, huge grills cooking hot dogs and hamburgers, American flags (gasp! first I'd seen in a month), streamers and confetti, and Americans. Within this festively decorated campus as the afternoon waned, a couple hundred Americans gathered in the heart of the Middle East to celebrate the 4th of July. And you know what, it was pretty cool. I felt slightly guilty departing the party into the streets of Cairo with red, white and blue bead necklaces still draped (quickly tucked away). But the vibe of the event was exhilirating, with embassy personnel beside businessmen beside giggling children beside students. A hetergenuous blend not likely to be found at most parties in the States. Okay, quick post...awesome time, great food, good DJ, I recommend coming to Cairo for your 4th next year.



Hail to the Snake
"When you see a rattlesnake poised to strike, you do not wait until he has struck before you crush him. "
Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Don't provoke a snake unless you have the intention and power to cut off its head."
Saddam Hussein

Found these interesting. Cynically appropriate for today's date. And, they reminded me of that "Unite or Die" cartoon from the Revolutionary War with the colonies as segments of a snake. And I think the College Board would appreciate them too. I don't quite know whether to agree with Saddam or Franklin on this one. I cherish my security but would prefer isolated neutrality. Then again, I think we all would. But perhaps Saddam would have faired better adhering to these words from his book Great Lessons: Commandments To Strugglers, The Patient and Holy Warriors. Maybe we would have too. Or not, the situations are very different, but both represent very different views on the means by which to protect or expand. Independence is having the capacity to avoid conflict, remaining safe and intact. Dependence is flagrantly defending out of weakness and insecurity, because that's just what the higher power wants, vulnerability. Vulnerability, which is precisely what is necessary for advancement. Risk-taking. "Nation-building."

Hmmm...I don't know where this post is going. Vulnerability, lending power to your people, defying those around you, willingly tackling adversity? Out of only the most extreme dependence can come independence. My friend Will and I were having this conversation this morning. He's from New Zealand, techinically still a commonwealth of the UK. An Independence Day is a foreign concept he reveres, only because NZ will never get independence. The UK has mastered the art of dependence and independence. NZ is just independent enough, and won't be risking vulnerability of its own volition any time soon. Will concluded that's what makes America great, from a New Zealander's perspective at least, "America does the stupidest things no European nation would ever do. They set the dangerous and illogical precedent for the world. That sets their independence." I guess.

We began singing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" on the shuttle bus this morning too. That was awkward. The driver was staring back at us baffled. Anti-Bush sentiment runs high in this program, so our nod to the holiday was something of a joke.

But as the below paper shows, it's nice to know Bush is not on the front page of EVERY SINGLE NEWSPAPER as Mubarek is here. Every single day too. Options. But I should hope the Egyptian people are willing to make themselves vulnerable for the next step. Some of us are even attempting to find and get into the embassy's 4th of July party at Cairo American College (K-12 school for basically all American kids here) where the ambassador will be, along with basically the entire American community of Cairo. So, we aren't completely jaded. The fact it is the 4th today was with me wherever I went. But it was just another day in Egypt. And I think I contradicted myself about fifteen times in the above.

And along came Liam
A very Happy BIRTH-day yesterday to Liam, born to I am hoping healthy and proud parents Jen and Bill. This is my 11th cousin (all are younger) and the first I won't be seeing for quite some time after birth. And I have absolutely no idea where, or how big he was, or when he was born, or even what his full name is at this point, so, someone has to hit me up with an email and perhaps a picture.





Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl
A very happy 24th wedding anniversary to my mum and dad. Yes, married on Independence Day 1981. Currently separated by the Atlantic Ocean on Independence Day 2005, surely emblematic of their investment in each and their children and not in dates or figures. I even whipped up a collage in my sinus woes of all the goofy greyscales you took before us kids rolled around. Happy Anniversary and the title, well, if you know, you know.