Independence

Americans celebrate the colonial declaration of independence from England on July 4th. In a rapidly de-nationalizing world, this holiday seems somewhat arcane. Here in Boston, the holiday has become a commercialized tourist event, which attracts wealthy travelers from around the world.

Tacky junk-food stands line the Esplanade, once treated with reverent anti-commercial respect by Boston Brahmins who walked its paths under parasoles. Then considered tailored nature in the city, a promenade for reflection and cooling river breezes, the Esplanade now serves as a stage for fireworks and sing-alongs, broadcast on TV.

Yesterday's walk along the Esplanade, bustling with preparations for tonight's event, told an interesting story about the real America, which is no longer the home of the free and the brave. The Esplanade becomes an armed camp for the event. SWAT-team vans, barricades and surly, uniformed police everwywhere. A Baghdad Green Zone right here in Boston.

Perhaps most disturbing is the complacency and comfort with which civilians encounter this martial atmosphere. Young women flirt and giggle at state troopers who are informing them that they may not proceed onto the oval in front of the Hatch Shell, a vast empty lawn going unused for no apparent reason on a hot, sunny summer day. Others seem indifferent to men wearing polo shirts bearing insignia which indicate that they belong to a military sniper corps.

So, what is this independence we celebrate on July 4th? Independence from what, from whom? Certainly, the U.S. is no longer independent from China, for example, since that nation holds our national I.O.U. for supplying our consumer goods. The U.S. is no longer independent fom the E.U., to which it must look for help to deal with terrorism. The U.S. is no longer independent from Mexico or Central America or Brazil, upon whom it depends for its cheap labor and natural resources. The U.S. is no longer independent from multinational corporations, which dictate policy through a corrupted political system.

How hollow the patriotism of flag wavers on the Esplanade! And, this is probably for the good. While globalism is now driven by corporate profits and cheap, mobile labor pools, it may eventually evolve into globalism for human survival as the deteriorating atmosphere and overpopulation necessitate global action. Perhaps future human beings will celebrate a declaration of global co-dependence, which will be seen as the turning point in saving the planet and providing peace for all.

Independence

Independence is a very mixed concept. The more we learn of life on this planet; the more we realize that nobody and nothing is truly independent. Independence, as celebrated in the USA on July Fourth, was a concept born of the Age of Enlightenment. It was fed by the self interests of American bourgeoise, whose materialism was inhibited by British taxation. Today's equivalent in this Internet Age is the libertarian ideal of the yuppy entrepreneur who makes a fortune in his/her 'youth' and retires to snowboarding by the age of 35 and a life of dividends, travel and tax shelters. Despite this ideal, the middle class has raised an inordinate number of fiercely dependent young adults who are living with their parents long after graduating college. Meanwhile, the children of the poor have been thrown into an earlier independence, since welfare programs for single mothers have been severely cut. Americans are more dependent than ever on religious figures. Churches of personality are being built all over by entrepreneurial pastors, who feel free to dabble in moral directives and politics. Perhaps there is a middle path between independence and dependence. Perhaps it is an intentional co-dependence, based in cooperation and compassion.