Celebrating Green Independence!

This 4th of July holiday has got me thinking a lot about the idea of "independence". Independence was a great thing back in 1776 when the Revolutionaries fought for our freedom from British rule. I am very thankful to them for what they were able to achieve to believe in the dream of America. But I feel America really needs to take a good look at itself and ask, "What am I fighting for now?"

To be fighting a war for oil under the disguise of terrorism just doesn't invite me to celebrate freedom. My heart goes out to all military personnel, and their families, who have given their lives and continue to put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan. What are they fighting for? For the rich to get richer? Just blows my mind.

What really got me thinking about this more than normal, was when I received a letter from George Bush offering to stimulate my economy with $600. At first, I was giddy and thought of a thousands ways to put it to good use. Then my roommate informed me through word of mouth, that these $600 gifts everyone is getting is financed by China and that the wars that Congress continues to fund is basically backed by credit cards! That bit of news literally sent me into a depression for 3 days at the proposed reality of it. Can you imagine the finance charges and interest rates?!

So today I asked myself how I truly feel about this day, July 4, 2008. I am choosing to celebrate Green independence from oil. Not just foreign oil but any planned drilling in the Artic Refuge or in North Dakota or off the Florida coast. I'm not driving today. I'm not buying anything today. I'm not overly using electricity.  I'm celebrating at home by harvesting my compost, making my own food and hanging out with friends on top of my roof.  Oh and I'm not too crazy about fireworks as I read how destructive they are to the environment. Last year, the EPA "studied a lake in Oklahoma and found that within 14 hours of the fireworks display, perchlorate levels were 1000 times higher than background. (Perchlorate inhibits the workings of the thyroid gland)."

Okay, enough of my poo-pooing the holiday. But I'm glad I took the time to ask myself what it all means today in 2008 and not just think it's a day off from work to party. I hope everyone is celebrating freedom and in the afterglow, ponders what it all means. Namaste.