Happy Independence Day

[Bykfixer]

The 4th of July is upon us once again. While most folks frolic about on the 4th doing the typical American thing……you know, drink beer, eat too much, get sun burned and watch fireworks, one of my coworkers has set out for New York. 

He is a young engineer from Afghanistan who helped the US forces rebuild stuff over there after things got destroyed after 911. At first he said it was not so bad. But at one point his life was threatened by hostile forces for siding with what he says they call "the great Satan". He said members of his family were brutally killed in order to teach him a lesson. The US government gave him the opportunity to bring his wife and kids to America. 

So this 4th of July he, his wife and children are going to travel to New York to witness the statue of Liberty. He told me that after being in America some 4 years his wife no longer fears running over explosive devices or being hit by sniper fire and wants to travel to "the big apple" he said in broken English. 

I will raise a toast of apple juice this year to him and folks like him who truely know life under tyranny. 

I hope everybody reading this enjoys the 4th this year now that the pesky virus seems to be largely under control. I'll stay home and help keep a labrador calm who gets nervous when the fireworks explode. He's 11 this year so he doesn't have that many more days left and I sure don't want him spending any of them in panic mode. I'll hook him up with a hot dog off the grill while we sit out back and watch a small bonfire. 

Happy 4th everybody. 

[RX400h]

Based upon what I've seen on news stations, New York is a very dangerous place right now. You might want to suggest that your friend be armed when walking around the city. But hey, it's got to be better than Chicago!

Have a great July 4th. The weather is perfect here.  

[dcfish]

Happy Independence Day All, Make It a Great One, Be safe and Enjoy This Beautiful Country.

[Bykfixer]

Man that would totally suck if my coworker were accosted in New York after surving 4 years of the onslaught by an oppresive regime in his home country. 

[dcfish]

Agreed ^^^ No place in our country for this negativity...Damn Shame !!!