The anti-Fourth of July feeling wasn’t always popular
Published on Sunday, July 4th 1999 on The San Juan StarWe have a derogatory expression regarding someone who is overly vain or who thinks extremely highly of himself. We accuse that person of thinking that he or she "is a Fourth of July." A diligent store owner or shopkeeper who would pride himself in being open for work with a greater effort than most would say that his only holidays are Christmas, Thanksgiving, Good Friday, and the Fourth of July. These four holidays are the obligated ones, three having divine connotations. As children, when we dressed up we were chided that we looked like we were going to the Fourth of July. This all leads to the fact that fifty years ago, at least, the Fourth of July was really special.
Folk from all over the island would come into San Juan the Fourth of July. In fact, that was another derogatory joke: "You only go to San Juan on the Fourth of July." The reason for visiting San Juan was the Fourth of July parade. Yes, soldiers would march behind the Capitol Building, on the steps of which a "templete" was built, where the governor and other dignataries would sit in review. Canon and tanks would cruise by in salute. Radio stations had live step-by-step narrations of the festivity that were broadcast so that those who could not attend could at least hear what was going on. No TV then, sorry!
The parade was not just for the feds. The police would parade by. And the firemen. And the school children, and the ROTC, when the ROTC was acceptable in our society. For those who may not know or don't care to remember, the University of Puerto Rico is a Federal Land Grant Institution. Under the law, the United States would grant funds and lands to institutions of higher learning for the development of agricultural experimental stations. These universities would also establish ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) to train officers for the Army Reserve.
Back then people were naïve and simpletonian. They thought that food (agriculture) and the military (ROTC) were both important to the National Defense. Since then, myopic intellectualism has dictated that ROTC has no place in institutions of higher learning, where only the brain is exercised (?), and has banned ROTC from campus. Someday someone in Washington will discover that UPR is violating the Land Grant provision and may want the money –and the lands– back.
Back to the parade. Civic clubs would also parade. And Governor Luis Muñoz Marín had to just sit there for hours waving people by. And the "carrozas" from almost every municipality. And Diplo. (You don't know who Diplo is?) And ball players. And boxers. And performers.
Ah yes, the baton twirlers would also parade. I don't know why, at that age one thought that all baton twirlers were beautiful. And those shorts! And those thighs! At that time, that was the most female flesh many of us kids had ever seen.
Then, as if by magic, Puerto Rico became schizophrenic. There are some who still bashfully honor the Fourth of July and what it stands for, but on a timid, shy and almost apologetic tone. This is the "official" celebration. Under some administrations, the Fourth had to take second place to the Twenty Fifth.
Today there are those who openly and brazenly celebrate the Fourth, or rather the anti-Fourth, only to repudiate what the Fourth is all about. This is the "people's" celebration. Even before Vieques became an issue, the anti-Fourth movement had already taken some hold. Now the Vieques anti-Fourth has the "hands off" –very eloquent– endorsement of high government officials. The anti-Fourth even has the tacit blessing of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, which should not be accused of positioning itself to seek election.
Today Puerto Rico celebrates the Vieques anti-Fourth of July. The anti-Roosevelt Roads, anti-Navy, anti-U.S.A. Fourth of July. Some may see this as a form of seeking "liberation". Being cast adrift can also be seen as a form of liberation. You cannot expect to be allowed to continue to suckle from the breast you repudiate. Biologically, you cannot have antagonistic parasitism. If a parasite eliminates its host, the parasite is also eliminated. Yes, parasitism is a form of symbiosis. The anti-Fourthers want cake while burning down the bakery. Negotiation can never be viewed as a form blackmail. I set my conditions, you set yours. Caution. The Second Law of Thermodynamics comes to my mind.
May God bless us!