{"id":3959,"date":"2020-07-03T03:45:10","date_gmt":"2020-07-03T03:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/?p=3959"},"modified":"2022-03-12T00:18:21","modified_gmt":"2022-03-12T00:18:21","slug":"celebrating-during-a-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating during a Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/market\/4th_of_july_mask\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20200629-etsy-julyfourth-collage-658.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This Saturday is the Fourth of July: America&#8217;s Independence Day.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a day for picnics and parades, barbecues and ice cream. We celebrate with fireworks and carnivals, picnics and concerts, fairs and baseball games.<\/p>\n<p>Usually.<\/p>\n<p>This year will be different.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#plans\">Plans and Parade Permits<\/a><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#blow\">Blow Hot, Blow Cold<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#fireworks\">Fireworks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#parade\">Parade Permit Perplexity<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#street\">Street Legal Vehicles and Skimmed News<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#vanilla\">Vanilla Ice and Common Sense<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#patriotic\">Patriotic? Me?!<\/a><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#definitions\">Definitions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#viewpoints\">Viewpoints and Obligations<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#big\">Big Country, Small World<\/a><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#living\">Living in Small Town Minnesota, and Loving It<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#my\">&#8220;&#8230;My Family Celebrating!&#8221;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#remembering\">Remembering<\/a><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#conclusion\">And In Conclusion<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"plans\"><\/a>Plans and Parade Permits<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/COVID-19_pandemic\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20200630-COVID-19_Map-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"COVID-19 pandemic map: cases per 100,000 population June 30, 2020\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>The COVID-19 pandemic is still in progress.<\/p>\n<p>I think we&#8217;ll eventually have a vaccine that can help folks avoid the SARS-CoV-2 virus, or not die when they&#8217;re infected. But a &#8216;someday&#8217; vaccine won&#8217;t help us today.<\/p>\n<p>I figure that helps explains why so many Fourth of July celebrations are being postponed or canceled.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/life\/four-ways-to-celebrate-the-fourth-of-july-even-if-local-fireworks-shows-are-canceled\/\">Four ways to celebrate the Fourth of July even if local fireworks shows are canceled<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\nGemma Alexander, Life, Seattle Times (June 30, 2020)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baynews9.com\/fl\/tampa\/entertainment\/2020\/06\/30\/seaworld-orlando-to-host-fourth-of-july-fireworks-show\">SeaWorld Orlando to Host Fourth of July Fireworks Show<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\nAshley Carter; Spectrum News, BayNews9 (Florida) (June 30, 2020)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kold.com\/2020\/06\/29\/fourth-july-celebrations-cancelled-or-postponed-across-pima-county\/\">Fourth of July celebrations canceled or postponed across Pima County, Sierra Vista<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\nKOLD News 13 (Arizona) (June 29, 2020)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The good news is that we&#8217;re living in the Information Age.<\/p>\n<p>Folks in Seattle, or pretty much anywhere that&#8217;s connected to the Internet, can watch virtual fireworks. Gemma Alexander&#8217;s article talks about that.<\/p>\n<p>The not-so-good news is that humans are social critters. Which isn&#8217;t a bad thing, by itself.<\/p>\n<p>But being social, we like getting together in big crowds. Most of us. Which isn&#8217;t good for individual or community health. Not when something like the SARS-CoV-2 virus is loose.<\/p>\n<p>SeaWorld Orlando&#8217;s Fourth of July plans aren&#8217;t as irresponsible as they may seem.<\/p>\n<p>I gather that this year they&#8217;re making their pyrotechnic display a three day affair: July third, fourth and fifth. With reservations required. The idea is to keep crowd density down to moderately safe levels.<\/p>\n<p>And Arizona&#8217;s authorities might have cancelled fireworks shows anyway. Much of the state is tinder-dry. One wayward spark could start a wildfire.<\/p>\n<p>Which brings me to Juneau, Alaska.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><a name=\"blow\"><\/a>Blow Hot, Blow Cold<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktoo.org\/2020\/06\/23\/downtown-juneau-fireworks-show-will-go-on\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20200702-HBryant-fireworks-1-830x550-658.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Juneau's harbor: boats and fireworks.\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">(From Heather Bryant, via KTOO, used w\/o permission.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t envy folks in Juneau. They won&#8217;t have a Fourth of July parade this year. That seems to be a done deal.<\/p>\n<p>The city&#8217;s annual fireworks show has been an on-again, off-again affair.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.juneau.org\/newsroom-item\/juneaus-fourth-of-july-fireworks-show-is-not-happening\">Juneau&#8217;s Fourth of July fireworks show is not happening<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\nNews, City and Borough of Juneau (June 30, 2020)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktoo.org\/2020\/06\/29\/fourth-of-july-parade-planner-forges-ahead-with-or-without-permit\/\">Fourth of July parade planner forges ahead with or without permit<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\nAdelyn Baxter, KTOO (Alaska) (June 29, 2020)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktoo.org\/2020\/06\/23\/downtown-juneau-fireworks-show-will-go-on\/\">Downtown Juneau fireworks show will go on<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\nAdelyn Baxter, KTOO (Alaska) (June 23, 2020)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktoo.org\/2020\/05\/21\/july-fourth-parades-are-canceled-but-will-juneau-see-fireworks-this-year\/\">July Fourth parades are canceled, but will Juneau see fireworks this year?<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\nAdelyn Baxter, KTOO (Alaska) (May 21, 2020)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><a name=\"fireworks\"><\/a>Fireworks<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktoo.org\/2020\/06\/29\/fourth-of-july-parade-planner-forges-ahead-with-or-without-permit\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20200701-800px-Looking_north_up_S_Franklin_St_Juneau_AK-658.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Juneau, Alaska, looking north on South Franklin Street.\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">(From Alan Wu, via Wikimedia Commons, used w\/o permission.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Apparently Juneau&#8217;s civic leaders announced that they would put on the fireworks show.<\/p>\n<p>Then they voted on an emergency ordinance that would have okayed the display and required folks at the show to wear face masks.<\/p>\n<p>When the dust settled, the ordinance hadn&#8217;t passed.<\/p>\n<p>Juneau&#8217;s leadership then announced that they <strong>wouldn&#8217;t<\/strong> have the Independence Day fireworks. That was on June 30, 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe they&#8217;ll change their minds again.<\/p>\n<p>Or maybe not.<\/p>\n<h5><a name=\"parade\"><\/a>Parade Permit Perplexity<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktoo.org\/2020\/06\/29\/fourth-of-july-parade-planner-forges-ahead-with-or-without-permit\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20200630-GCulley-parade-2-830x551-658.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Juneau, Alaska: 2013 Fourth or July Parade color guard marching past City Hall.\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">(From Greg Culley\/KTOO, used w\/o permission.)<\/span><br \/>\n(Color guard marching past City Hall in Juneau&#8217;s 2013 Fourth of July parade.)<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, someone in the Juneau area thought the city&#8217;s Fourth of July parade mattered.<\/p>\n<p>When city hall cancelled the event, Ray Rusaw could have posted screed online, thrown rocks at city hall or quietly sulked.<\/p>\n<p>Or he could have decided that Juneau&#8217;s leaders must be right: that the COVID-19 pandemic made a parade impossible.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, he started organizing a short parade in the Mendenhall Valley. From the sounds of it, he followed proper procedure: talking to local non-government groups and asking the police department about getting a parade permit.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s where it gets interesting.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;&#8230;But Rusaw said he must have misunderstood the Juneau Police Department when he originally reached out about his plans. At the time, he didn&#8217;t think he needed a permit.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;But as it turns out, he does. Police Lt. Krag Campbell told Rusaw last week the city will not issue him a parade permit&#8230;.&#8221;<br \/>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktoo.org\/2020\/06\/29\/fourth-of-july-parade-planner-forges-ahead-with-or-without-permit\/\">Adelyn Baxter, KTOO<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>A quick skim of the next few KTOO paragraphs told me that the Juneau PD&#8217;s lieutenant Krag threatened anyone caught parading with a citation.<\/p>\n<h5><a name=\"street\"><\/a>Street Legal Vehicles and Skimmed News<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wanting-truth\/#i\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20171019ff\/20170102-Edison-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Edison Lee comic: does anyone even know what truth looks like any more?\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>Posting a screed, denouncing the Juneau PD&#8217;s threats against parades, free speech and folks having fun was an option.<\/p>\n<p>So was re-reading the paragraphs, which is what I did.<\/p>\n<p>Lieutenant Campbell wasn&#8217;t nearly as draconian as my skimmed version of the news suggested.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;&#8230;&#8217;In absence of (a) parade permit, what somebody could do though is they could have a line of vehicles that are &#8230; decorated, so long as they&#8217;re vehicles that are allowed to be on the roadway and they can just drive their normal route and just by obeying all the traffic laws,&#8217; Campbell said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Campbell said anyone operating an unlicensed vehicle or walking in the road during the parade could be issued a citation&#8230;.&#8221;<br \/>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ktoo.org\/2020\/06\/29\/fourth-of-july-parade-planner-forges-ahead-with-or-without-permit\/\">Adelyn Baxter, KTOO<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>A tip of the hat to Mr. Rusaw, saying that he must have misunderstood the Juneau PD.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s being diplomatic or cautious, or something else. My opinion of which it is depends partly on assumptions I make.<\/p>\n<p>I could assume that whoever Mr. Rusaw communicated with at the Juneau PD told him that he didn&#8217;t need a permit.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe because he wasn&#8217;t paying attention to Mr. Rusaw&#8217;s question, or spoke from ignorance, or lied. Or that the JPD decided to reverse its parade policy, or was ordered to.<\/p>\n<p>Or I could assume that Mr. Rusaw has been warned about contradicting the official version of reality, and didn&#8217;t want to run afoul of Juneau&#8217;s rulers.<\/p>\n<p>Or that I don&#8217;t know enough to have an informed opinion.<\/p>\n<p>The first two options offer opportunities to develop my flair for the dramatic.<\/p>\n<p>The third isn&#8217;t nearly as exciting. But I think acknowledging insufficient knowledge makes more sense.<\/p>\n<p>Besides, I figure we&#8217;re exposed to quite enough baseless opinions and ersatz facts. Make that too much.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><a name=\"vanilla\"><\/a>Vanilla Ice and Common Sense<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/memorial-day-weekend-2020\/#face\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20190916ff\/20200307-animated-graphic-2019-nCoV-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>Juneau, Alaska isn&#8217;t the only place with Fourth of July jitters and cancelled events.<\/p>\n<p>I think MPR&#8217;s Matt Mikus article has good advice: including &#8220;If you feel sick, it&#8217;s better to opt out of the festivities and seek a COVID-19 test.&#8221;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2020\/07\/01\/a-safe-fourth-fire-marshal-tips-and-places-to-view-fireworks-in-minnesota\">A brief guide to a socially distanced Independence Day in Minnesota<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\nMatt Mikus, Outside in MN, MPR (July 2, 2020)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/music\/2020\/07\/vanilla-ice-to-perform-at-independence-day-throwback-event-in-texas-despite-covid-19-spike\">Vanilla Ice to Perform at Independence Day Throwback Event in Texas Despite COVID-19 Spike (UPDATE)<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\nTrace William Cowen #BLACKLIVESMATTER, Complex (July 2, 2020)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/dfw.cbslocal.com\/2020\/07\/02\/vanilla-ice-july-4th-concert-texas-rising-coronavirus-cases\/\">Vanilla Ice Cancels July 3rd Independence Day Concert In Texas After Outcry Over Rising Coronavirus Cases<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\n11\/21 CBS DFW (July 2, 2020)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And a tip of the hat to Trace William Cowen #BLACKLIVESMATTER, for updating his discussion of those who would &#8220;risk their lives and the lives of those around them by seeing Vanilla Ice perform on Friday in Austin, Texas.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Seems that Vanilla Ice, Robert Matthew Van Winkle, decided to cancel. Considering what&#8217;s been happening lately, I&#8217;d say his move makes sense.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"patriotic\"><\/a>Patriotic? Me?!<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/independence-day-2017\/#patriotism\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20170501ff\/20170703-Flag_of_the_United_States-658.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"United States of America flag.\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I was born during the Truman administration and experienced the Sixties as a teen.<\/p>\n<p>I wasn&#8217;t the craziest of &#8216;those crazy kids.&#8217; But I wasn&#8217;t the most blandly conformist. By either or any side&#8217;s standards.<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"definitions\"><\/a>Definitions<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/independence-day-2017\/#good\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20170501ff\/20170703-default-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Kill A Commie For Christ, plate sixteen from Peace is Patriotic; by William Weege. (1967)\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>By the time I was in high school, the words &#8220;patriot&#8221; and &#8220;patriotic&#8221; had been hijacked by one bunch of American ideologues. I&#8217;m not sure when that happened.<\/p>\n<p>The words had several meanings, depending on who used them.<\/p>\n<p>Including, I think, the following.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Patriot\n<ol>\n<li>A &#8216;real&#8217; American, who fervently yearns for a yesteryear that never was<\/li>\n<li>A hate-filled member of the racist oppressor class<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;one who loves and defends his or her country&#8221;<br \/>\n(Princeton&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/wordnetweb.princeton.edu\/perl\/webwn?s=patriot\">WordNet<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li>Patriotic\n<ol>\n<li>Inflamed by (self) righteous zeal against those who don&#8217;t agree with my side<\/li>\n<li>Driven by greed, ripping crusts of bread from the bleeding lips of wage slaves<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Inspired by love for your country&#8221;<br \/>\n(Princeton&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/wordnetweb.princeton.edu\/perl\/webwn?s=patriotic\">WordNet<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Definitions 1 and 2 for &#8220;patriot&#8221; and &#8220;patriotic&#8221; didn&#8217;t make sense to me in my teens. They still don&#8217;t, although I try to remember that zealots may feel that they are right. Or left, and that&#8217;s another topic. Topics.<\/p>\n<p>Princeton&#8217;s WordNet definitions strike me as more reasonable. I&#8217;d probably be more comfortable with &#8220;patriot&#8221; and &#8220;patriotism&#8221; if I hadn&#8217;t had the Sixties experience. I talked about that last year. (<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/patriot-dreams\/#words\">July 4, 2019<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"viewpoints\"><\/a>Viewpoints and Obligations<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/patriot-dreams\/#my\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20190630ff\/20190630-800px-USA-satellite-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Satellite composite image of the contiguous United States.\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>On the whole, I like being an American.<\/p>\n<p>But I don&#8217;t believe and broadcast current rumors of communist conspiracies.<\/p>\n<p>Or demonize those who don&#8217;t share my fears and forebodings.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe that brands me as a &#8220;patriot&#8221; in the pejorative sense. Or makes me look like a commie sympathizer, fifth columnist or whatever the current epithets are.<\/p>\n<p>Or maybe not. I like to think that most folks, American and otherwise, aren&#8217;t batty.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Communist conspiracies?!&#8221; I know: that sounds like something from the 1950s. But I still see strident warnings of the communist menace posted online. Along with America&#8217;s perennial End Times Bible Prophecies. Sometimes commie plots <strong>and<\/strong> End Times Bible Prophecies.<\/p>\n<p>And that&#8217;s yet another topic.<\/p>\n<p>So, am I patriotic?<\/p>\n<p>Using the &#8220;inspired by love of your country&#8221; definition, and assuming that love of country stops well short of idolatry: yes, I&#8217;m patriotic. So I try to be a good citizen.<\/p>\n<p>I could be a good citizen without being Catholic. But as a Catholic, being a good citizen isn&#8217;t an option. It&#8217;s an obligation.<\/p>\n<p>Among other things, I&#8217;m expected to balance individual and community needs, and respect others. I should take an active part in public life, contributing to the good of society &#8220;in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom.&#8221; (Catechism of the Catholic Church (1997), <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c2a2.htm#1905\">1905<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c2a2.htm#1912\">1912<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c2a2.htm#1915\">1915<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s2c2a4.htm#2239\">2239<\/a>. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s2c2a4.htm#2242\">2242<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m obliged to recognize humanity&#8217;s solidarity and respect authority. Within reason. (Catechism, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c1a6.htm#1778\">1778<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c2a2.htm#1915\">1915<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c2a2.htm#1897\">1897<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c2a2.htm#1917\">1917<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c2a3.htm#1939\">1939<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c2a3.htm#1942\">1942<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s2c2a4.htm#2199\">2199<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s2c2a4.htm#2238\">2238<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s2c2a4.htm#2243\">2243<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>It boils down to acting as if loving God and my neighbors matters, seeing everyone as my neighbor and treating others the way I want them to treat me. (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/5#48005043\">Matthew 5:43<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/5#48005044\">44<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/7#48007012\">7:12<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/22#48022036\">22:36<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/22#48022040\">40<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/12#49012028\">Mark 12:28<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/12#49012031\">31<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/luke\/10#50010025\">10:25<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/luke\/10#50010027\">27<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/luke\/10#50010029\">29<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/luke\/10#50010037\">37<\/a>; Catechism, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ccc_css\/archive\/catechism\/p3s1c1a6.htm#1789\">1789<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>I think that&#8217;s a good idea. Not easy, but a good idea.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"big\"><\/a>Big Country, Small World<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/disneyworld.disney.go.com\/attractions\/magic-kingdom\/its-a-small-world\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20200702-ItsASmallWorldDisney-658.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DisneyWorld's It's a Small World attraction.\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">(From DisneyWorld, used w\/o permission.)<\/span><br \/>\n(DisneyWorld&#8217;s &#8220;It&#8217;s a Small World,&#8221; in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.)<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a Small World (After All)&#8221; may be the single most-performed and most-translated piece of music on Earth.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a world of laughter<br \/>\nA world of tears<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s a world of hopes<br \/>\nAnd a world of fears<br \/>\nThere&#8217;s so much that we share<br \/>\nThat it&#8217;s time we&#8217;re aware<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s a small world after all&#8230;&#8221;<br \/>\n(&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.metrolyrics.com\/its-a-small-world-lyrics-disney.html\">It&#8217;s a Small World After All<\/a>,&#8221; via Metrolyrics)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I rather like the song, which is just as well. The chorus has been playing in my memory, ever since I started writing this bit. Playing over and over and over &#8230;.<\/p>\n<p>Disney made the original Small World ride for the 1964 world&#8217;s fair. Since then, it&#8217;s been moved, remodeled and replicated in Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#1\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>The &#8220;Small World&#8221; theme of world peace and solidarity strikes me as a good idea. Which may help explain why I don&#8217;t mind living in a country where so many folks aren&#8217;t Minnesotans.<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"living\"><\/a>Living in Small Town Minnesota, and Loving It<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/independence-day-2017\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20170501ff\/20170702-903Flag-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"American flag in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. July 2017\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>I&#8217;ve been living in a central Minnesota town for roughly a third of century. Sauk Centre isn&#8217;t perfect. But I&#8217;d rather live here than anywhere else.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, we experience some of the world&#8217;s problems.<\/p>\n<p>Some folks around here have caught the COVID-19 disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we live and do business. My routine dental checkup this week, for example, involved face masks and old-school procedures that generate less airborne spray.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m not sure why we haven&#8217;t hosted riots.<\/p>\n<p>Can&#8217;t say that I&#8217;ll be disappointed if we skip that sort of experience.<\/p>\n<p>I was going somewhere with this. Let&#8217;s see. Independence Day and COVID-19. Canceled fireworks and Vanilla Ice. Defining patriotism. Disney&#8217;s &#8220;A Small World.&#8221; Right.<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"my\"><\/a>&#8220;&#8230;My Family Celebrating!&#8221;<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Independence_Day_(United_States)#Customs\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20200701-800px-American_1902_Fourth_of_July_fireworks-trim-658.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"'False Alarm on the Fourth' cartoon for Puck. (1902)\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">(From Udo Keppler, via Wikimedia Commons, used w\/o permission.)<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;A False Alarm on the Fourth,&#8221;<\/strong> Udo Keppler, Puck (1902)<br \/>\n&#8220;Uncle Sam \u2014 It&#8217;s all right! There&#8217;s no fighting! The noise you hear is just my family celebrating!&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The idea that an American isn&#8217;t necessarily English has been around for some time. With varying degrees of acceptance.<\/p>\n<p>I think it&#8217;s a fine idea, but I would. Before crossing the Atlantic, my ancestors lived in Norway, Ireland and Scotland.<\/p>\n<p>That may be why I like Udo Keppler&#8217;s 1902 cartoon.<\/p>\n<p>Even though it doesn&#8217;t conform to contemporary shibboleths regarding how America, Americans and taboo technology must be depicted.<\/p>\n<p>It doesn&#8217;t reflect the segregated America of my youth, either.<\/p>\n<p>Neither of those offenses against propriety bother me.<\/p>\n<p>The United States isn&#8217;t the world&#8217;s largest country by population or area. China and India have more citizens. China, Canada, Antarctica and Russia have more square miles. Or square kilometers, inches, furlongs, whatever.<\/p>\n<p>Antarctica isn&#8217;t a country, but seven nations claim part of the continent. Argentina and Chile, Spain claimed Antarctic territory. And I&#8217;m drifting off-topic.<\/p>\n<p>The point I was trying to make is that the United States is a big country. Not the biggest in the world, but extensive.<\/p>\n<p>Ethnically, my country is about 73.1% white. Partly because many early immigrants came from Europe.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#2\">2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Irish_Americans#Discrimination\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20130220ff\/NINA-nyt-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>And partly, I think, because many of us have forgotten how important Europe&#8217;s ethnic divisions were. To some of us. I&#8217;ve talked about that before. (<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/floyd-signs-and-statues\/#irish\">June 28, 2020<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>I think there&#8217;s considerable hope in so many of us seeing the Irish, Germans, Italians, Swiss, French, Danes and others as simply &#8220;white.&#8221; It&#8217;s arguably a step toward recognizing all of us as, well, as being &#8220;us.&#8221; Not &#8220;us and them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That 73.1% slice of the American pie with congenital melanin deficiency may account for the notion that &#8220;American&#8221; is an ethnicity. Like Japanese or Polynesian.<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t see it that way.<\/p>\n<p>Something I like about being an American is that I could be an American without having English ancestors. Or European ones.<\/p>\n<p>I like living in a country where everyone doesn&#8217;t look pretty much like me. I&#8217;d be concerned if folks stopped trying to immigrate to America. And that&#8217;s yet again another topic.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"remembering\"><\/a>Remembering<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1783_in_the_United_States\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20200702-782px-Washington_entry_into_New_York_1783_Currier_and_Ives_1857-658.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">(From Currier and Ives, via Wikimedia Commons, used w\/o permission.)<\/span><br \/>\n(Currier and Ives, &#8220;Washington&#8217;s entry into New York&#8230;.&#8221; (ca. 1857))<\/p>\n<p>America! Land of the burger and fries! Home of the Super Bowl and Hollywood Squares!<\/p>\n<p>From the rockbound coast of Main to Florida&#8217;s shifting sands, from Santa Monica&#8217;s Third Street Promenade to the Seattle Center Monorail: once more, Americans celebrate our nation&#8217;s Independence Day.<\/p>\n<p>Which, for some of us, means buying Stars and Stripes Uncle Sam American Flag Coolers, Patriotic Malibu Sunglasses and LED Light-Up Patriotic USA Hats.<\/p>\n<p>I checked, and those seasonal items are available again this year. Along with a variety of holiday-themed face masks.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/#3\">3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/patriot-dreams\/#patriotism\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20190630ff\/20190630-439714_2007-trim-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Cheez-It patriotic sculpture: Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln; carved from 700 pounds of cheddar cheese.\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>I looked for this year&#8217;s Cheez-It patriotic Independence Day sculpture.<\/p>\n<p>Alas! It was not to be found. Not by me, at any rate.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe the company decided that their Cheez-It Bowl gave them better publicity.<\/p>\n<p>Or maybe they figured that commissioning a Independence Day statue would have an unfavorable benefit-risk ratio. Given today&#8217;s anti-statue sentiments.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, I am undismayed!<\/p>\n<p>There may come a day when patriotic cheese sculptures are forgotten.<\/p>\n<p>But that day is not today.<\/p>\n<p>There may come a day when LED patriotic hats no longer shine as a beacon of liberty.<\/p>\n<p>But that day is not today.<\/p>\n<p>There may come a day when Uncle Sam American Flag Coolers no longer keep their cool.<\/p>\n<p>But that day is not today.<\/p>\n<p>Today \u2014 or, rather, tomorrow \u2014 we shall gather once again to celebrate America&#8217;s founding. And, if we&#8217;re smart, wear a face mask while doing so.<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"conclusion\"><\/a>And In Conclusion<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.archives.gov\/id\/20809652\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brendans-island.com\/blogsource\/20200519ff\/20200702-165-WW-73C-035-trim-329.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"American troops celebrating Independence Day Celebration in Paris, France, (1918)\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>I was going to talk about another year when America&#8217;s Independence Day came during a pandemic: the 1918 &#8220;Spanish flu.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That will wait for another day, since I want to get this post out on July 3.<\/p>\n<p>Today, I&#8217;ll settle for saying that the H1N1 influenza A virus isn&#8217;t just like the SARS-CoV-2 virus, that we&#8217;ve learned a great deal since 1918: and haven&#8217;t stopped learning, which is a good thing.<\/p>\n<p>Posts, vaguely-related and otherwise:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/floyd-signs-and-statues\/\">Floyd, Signs and Statues<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\n(June 28, 2020)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/the-masked-minnesotan\/\">The Masked Minnesotan<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\n(June 12, 2020)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/patriot-dreams\/\">Patriot Dreams<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\n(July 4, 2019)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/imagine-all-the-people\/\">&#8216;Imagine All the People&#8217;<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\n(January 8, 2018)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/independence-day-2017\/\">Independence Day 2017<\/a>&#8221;<br \/>\n(July 4, 2017)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><sup><a name=\"1\"><\/a>1<\/sup> It&#8217;s a small Disney world:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wikpedia\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1964_New_York_World%27s_Fair\">1964 World&#8217;s Fair<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/It%27s_a_Small_World\">It&#8217;s a Small World<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/disneyworld.disney.go.com\/attractions\/magic-kingdom\/its-a-small-world\/\">&#8220;it&#8217;s a small world&#8221;<\/a><br \/>\nEmbark on a whimsical boat ride past a jubilant chorus of children from around the globe.<br \/>\nDisneyWorld<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><sup><a name=\"2\"><\/a>2<\/sup> Statistics, mostly:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wikpedia\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area\">List of countries and dependencies by area<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population\">List of countries and dependencies by population<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puck_(magazine)\">Puck (magazine)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Territorial_claims_in_Antarctica\">Territorial claims in Antarctica<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tuvalu\">Tuvalu<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States\">United States<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><sup><a name=\"3\"><\/a>3<\/sup> Holiday kitsch:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/market\/4th_of_july_mask\">4th of july mask<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glowuniverse.com\/led-light-up-patriotic-usa-hat\">LED Light-Up Patriotic USA Hat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.4allpromos.com\/product\/patriotic-malibu-sunglasses\">Patriotic Malibu Sunglasses<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/SOL-SUMMER-SHADE-Patriotic-American\/dp\/B07DQPQ7C1\/\">Stars and Stripes Uncle Sam American Flag Cooler<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This Saturday is the Fourth of July: America&#8217;s Independence Day. It&#8217;s a day for picnics and parades, barbecues and ice cream. We celebrate with fireworks and carnivals, picnics and concerts, fairs and baseball games. Usually. This year will be different. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/celebrating-during-a-pandemic\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[154],"tags":[16,199,200,8,90,128,116],"class_list":["post-3959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-discursive-detours","tag-america","tag-coronavirus","tag-covid-19","tag-health","tag-holidays","tag-independence-day","tag-tolerance"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7Dwtw-11R","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3959"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5774,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3959\/revisions\/5774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}