Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, better known as Independence Day. A day when backyard BBQ's are had, beer is drank, fireworks injure and awe, and people realize football season is quickly approaching. But what is Independence? What are we celebrating? Well let me tell you. We are celebrating the Independence the United States acquired from England following the Revolutionary War.

Ok.

Now we celebrate that with fireworks (manufactured in China), that we drive to go see in the family wagon that consumes gas (drilled in Saudi Arabia) as we remember those who gave their lives and fought hard for this independence to shop outside our country to cause dependence we are celebrating not having.

But I sure do love the colors and shapes of fireworks and the boom they make.

When does tradition lose its meaning and become something else that makes the original meaning nothing more than a fallacy? Well, we've done it with every major holiday, minus possibly Easter, the celebration of the resurrection conveniently coinciding with the season we know as Spring, when plants begin to come back to life. But knowing that will cause people to lose focus, I will leave that digression and return to the point.

Holidays are a time for family to get together and share in their company the bliss of being alive. Coming up with a reason to do that is sometimes hard depending on the fractured ties in any given family. Oh yes, independence.

What independence has afforded us is the opportunity to read opinionated pieces as this who tear apart the illogic of traditions. So I must say, I can't complain, even though I do -- opinions: another freedom I have been afforded by democracy. Yay for freedom of thought without repercussion other than a spirited debate with those who are also exercising their freedom by disagreeing and vocalizing that. Without such a right, this reporter would be receiving many fewer calls than the two a day I receive already. But lets be honest, how hard is it to think about what you're celebrating rather than just celebrating for the sake of doing so? And when that thought occurs and the inconsistencies come up (being dependent on foreign entities when we are celebrating Independence Day), having the courage and fortitude to stand up, use our voice (which is now better termed our "money") to change the course of things to where we can once again truly celebrate our Independence.