A Star-Spangled Weekend

[jseal]

Many festivities here this weekend to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Bombardment of Fort McHenry & the Star-Spangled Banner (http://starspangled200.org/Events/Pages/StarSpangledSpectacular.aspx).

The junior members of the household took grave exception the discord of the Blue Angels (http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/) passing overhead.

[Teddy Bear]

Sounds like a busy and fun weekend. With history and an educational time thrown in to round it all out.

I have never been to that area but hubs and youngest went to a baseball game there a few years back. Baltimore Orioles vs Boston Red Socks. Sadly the Socks lost but they still had a great trip.

[gekkogecko]

Grrr, the festivities made the light rail almost impossible to travel yesterday. Ug. Standing room only, in the footwells, where you're not supposed to be standing.

[Lilith]

I had friends who traveled there for the events.

[dicksbro]

Last time we were at Fort McHenry was 1979 when my wife and I were camping with friends in Virginia just south of D.C. We took one day and went back into Baltimore where I'd lived for three years back in the 50s. Took them by the Fort. Amazingly, after some 26 years, I still knew how to find my way around town (and I was just a kid by in the 50s.

Used to be the flag was something the country was very proud of. Today we hear of homeowner associations and even towns restricting if and where it can be displayed. What are we coming to?

[Oldfart]

Can't upset the neighbours, DB. They may take exception to being reminded that they are (usually) welcome guests in the US. Sheesh! The whole "we'd better not do something in case we just might maybe upset someone" is becoming universal.

Yes, even in the wonderful land of Oz.

[Teddy Bear]

When we bought our first house my Dad, a WWll vet, gave us a flag to hang outside near the front door. He hung the holder and we all went outside to watch him put the flag pole in the bracket. The breeze seemed to pick up just then and the flag unfurled and waved in the breeze. Sounds sappy telling it now but it felt very patriotic and good at the time. My Dad was so proud.

The flag was hung out every Sunday and every holiday. Never after dark and never in bad weather. It was the only flag in the neighborhood.

Then one evening after it'd been out all day, I went to bring it inside.

It was gone.... my flag had been stolen right from the front of my house!!!

Too this day I can't believe it. How could someone do that?

[dicksbro]

Can't upset the neighbours, DB. They may take exception to being reminded that they are (usually) welcome guests in the US. Sheesh! The whole "we'd better not do something in case we just might maybe upset someone" is becoming universal.

Yes, even in the wonderful land of Oz.

Except, of course ... it is okay to offend people who love this country ... and ... Christians. Sheesh. :(

I'm still looking for the spot in the Constitution where it says we have the right to be free from seeing or hearing anything we don't like. :(

[Oldfart]

Our masters are trying to make it unlawful to say something which someone else may take offence at. Shit! That means I can upset a dozen people for a dozen different reasons in the one sentence. I do mean sentence LOL.

[Lord Snow]

OF, I'm offended by that remark.

http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s422/nightswatch/2525583-stephen-fry-on-being-offended_zps8f40156b.jpg (http://s1051.photobucket.com/user/nightswatch/media/2525583-stephen-fry-on-being-offended_zps8f40156b.jpg.html)

[Oldfart]

I have loved that since I first saw it.

[dicksbro]

Me, too, OF. :)