I notice that all the vets are now wearing hats that say “I Am a … Veteran.”

Insert WWII, Iraq, whatever.

And everybody is raising money for veterans.

A person who was drafted might have a right to some fund raising. But those who chose soldiering as their profession are supposed to be taken care of by the government.

But veterans’ welfare has nothing to do with this flood of direct mail and TV ads telling us how wonderful they are.

Also if one wants to be “patriotic,” he may have the raw courage to put an American flag on his car.

In Britain flying the British Colors is often ruled a Hate Crime.

The real reason is that today the only allowable show of “patriotism” is to praise those in actual uniforms or to fly the USA flag.

But no one will repeat the phrase “Mom and Apple Pie.“ It is sexist, racist, and denigrates the diversity of our diet.

In fact in our day patriotism makes not the slightest bit of sense.

There is, officially, no group of people who are Americans and no culture to be loyal to. The words “patriotism” and “melting pot” are like oil and water.

But you need to do SOMETHING on the Fourth of July. So you launch fireworks and keep your mouth shut.