...the second half, sadly, for many Americans, isn't "bless the rest of the world, also;" and for sure it's not, "...equally." The second half of "America First" isn't "Everyone else (even) a close second." We see the world news and are thankful we're not there.

Independence Day, and I'm waiting a few minutes because the bridge to the rest of America is currently closed. Found out on the computer. Thanks, technology. I thought I'd check in with the leader.com, having been too busy to contribute for the past couple of weeks. I saw a letter to the editor, another local resident praising the beauty of our locale; with two comments.

Figuring they'd be agreeing, I was more taken by the context of the original letter; that it's scary elsewhere, even other parts of America, that we should thank those American soldiers who, in scary, should-be-avoided parts of the world, kill for our safety.

Yes, some Americans are afraid, The great "They," the "Them," out there, beyond the bridge, beyond the borders; those porous, inadequately-secured boundaries. So scary.

Yet, it's difficult to find places in the world where American tourists, vacationers, folks with second homes, aren't hanging-out, taking in the local (foreign to us) culture, trying (and generally failing) to fit in. I have done some traveling, not nearly as much as some folks, always trying to maintain a low profile (and failing), always trying to be respectful of the locals (we being, a reminder, foreigners, visitors); almost always embarrassed by other Americans who just act too cool, uppity, jerkishly entitled; frequently embarrassed by my inability to not be instantly recognized as on of (to them) them (jerk Americans). "Yes, I'm one of them; but not, you know, them."

Okay, the bridge is, no doubt, open by now, folks going (in both directions) home, or somewhere else; but I thought I'd include a bit from a song I wrote entitled, "Please Tell Jesus."

"When you pray for wisdom, could you pray for justice, too; When you pray for wisdom, could you pray for justice, too; And ask God to spread his mercy on the many, not the few..."

Meanwhile, a friend of mine who spent a couple of months surfing in Mexico wrote a story I put on realsurfers.net  Mexico. Scary. Good surf. I've included a drawing I did for that, thinking of Lower Hadlock, and a sign that may still be there identifying "lowest Hadlock." Yeah, I know, "Baja" means something kind of like 'lower.' Happy Independence Day.