I’ve always enjoyed the Fourth of July, perhaps the most joyous holiday in the American spectrum. The day invokes memories of hot dogs and ice cream cones, kids riding bicycles festooned with American flags and, of course, fireworks.

Greenfield has always had the best, aided by its excellent locale, Beacon Fields below the cliff hosting Poet’s Seat Tower. Part of the fun for me was witnessing the vast crowds of families and kids who converged on the field, oohed and aahed at the explosive display and applauded vigorously when the swinging red lantern announced the end. The Shelburne Falls parade also was a local delight.

Speaking of which, my current hometown, Arroyo Seco, had the zaniest July 4th parade before it fell victim to COVID. “Seco” as we call it, is a small town (population 2,300) but attractive with several shops, restaurants and a blink-and-you-miss-it downtown anchored by Abe’s Cantina Y Cocina, a saloon and eatery whose namesake just turned 100 years old.

Seco even has a genuine celebrity, actress Julia Roberts (yes, that Julia Roberts) who owns a home a few roads away from me. Her land is bordered by modest adobe dwellings which give no indication as to who their famous neighbor is. By all accounts, Julia keeps a low profile, has donated generously to Seco which in return protects her privacy. Any paparazzi hounding her here would be run out on a rail.

The Seco July 4th parade had only one rule. Anyone could march in it along a parade route of about 1,000 feet but watched by about 5,000 viewers who cram into the miniscule downtown. The first one I observed in 2014 was a true marvel. The showcase was a 15-foot high gay marriage wedding cake (New Mexico had just legalized it) atop a white 1954 pickup truck followed by huge puppets of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Amy Goodman, Winona LaDuke and other activists; cowboys on horseback, antique vehicles, a BBQ float tossing sausage rolls at passersby, mariachi bands, horse-drawn carts, fire engines squirting squealing children and the true rock stars of our county, Taos Search and Rescue. The terrain around Taos is quite rugged and people do get lost and die there. Taos Search and Rescue always received a hearty cheer, especially their trained dogs.

A few years later, I volunteered to be a judge and was paid two scoops of chocolate ice cream. The winning float contained two women who exchanged their wedding vows in full view of the appreciative crowd.

As in all Fourth of July parades, the American flag was predominant. As an artist, I admire our flag’s design and colors. While grumps might complain that the flag symbolizes militarism and oppression, to me, it represents whatever you want it to be. Generations of African, Native, Asian, Hispanic and gay Americans have proudly fought and died under that flag, as well as immigrants and refugees.

During World War II, prominent athletes and movie stars as well as the children of presidents and politicians did the same, a sacrifice inconceivable in our present age.

Over the years, the Founding Fathers have been denounced in certain circles of being nothing but an elite cadre of white, slave-owning hypocrites. While it’s true that declaring “All men are created equal” while owning men and women as chattel is a damning indictment, the accusation is unfair in other regards. At a time when the world’s nations were ruled by kings, emperors, czars, sultans, rajahs and assorted tyrants, these men crafted a radical form of government based on the consent of the People, as limited as it was at the time.

Despite their obvious flaws, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Hamilton and Madison were gifted leaders, especially in comparison to what we have to deal with nowadays in terms of Republican candidates.

In the Declaration, King George III is portrayed as a cruel, oppressive despot. In reality, he was nothing of the sort. History has been kinder to him, noting that he was a fair, inquisitive and intelligent Constitutional Monarch who, in regard to the American colonies, was only obeying the edicts of Parliament. He struggled with mental illness his entire life.

On July 4, 1776, the fledgling United States rejected the notion of being ruled by a king. Last month, Donald Trump proclaimed “Long live the King” in reference to himself. George III suffered from insanity. Trump, apparently, enjoys every minute of it. One shudders to think that our great nation is coming full circle but, unfortunately, in the wrong direction.

Daniel A. Brown lived in Franklin County for 44 years and is a frequent contributor to the Recorder. He lives in northern New Mexico with his wife, Lisa, and dog, Cody.

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