From sea to shining sea, people everywhere are celebrating FREEDOM from oppression with food and music in parks, yards, and homes--playing it loud and proud, live and recorded. As I think of all the wars around here and abroad, I'm thankful all the right countries ended up on the same side of liberty, preserving our common heritage and ancestry here in North America, including indigenous peoples and the enslaved who were pushed around by all of us of European descent--and what an amazing mix of music we have all come up with! So today, be glad we have been free, no matter where our family trees have begun, we were free to have brought forth rock and roll, jazz, blue jeans, stereo, beer and Chevrolets, hot dogs and ice cream, apple pie and baseball-which reminds me--James, you came out with your Canadian list, which claimed baseball, the origin of which will always be a subject of historical debate. What we can say is its earliest forms originated with our common forebears. So, you can have basketball and hockey, but I'm not going to let you have America's Pastime--not on this day! To all who love freedom, play something real on those great systems, be they Canadian, French, German, British, or American!
