bOING bOING: Two essays on liberty, freedom, and patriotism

On this American holiday, two pieces that merit considered reading -- both via Dan Gillmor's blog. The first from Pete McCloskey in the SFChron: Patriotism (and shame) on the Fourth of July. "The word patriot is too precious to allow it to be used by the thundering rhetoric of politicians that patriotism requires not only supporting the troops but also supporting the foreign policy that puts them at risk."

The second, a Sunday column from Dan Gillmor in the SJMerc: "On Independence Day, 2004, how fares American liberty? Brilliantly, if you compare the United States with the tyrannies that still control the lives of countless people. Not badly, if liberty means the right to seek economic gain in a capitalist system -- especially if you're starting with the right connections and a privileged background. Not as well, when you look at growing pressures on longstanding freedoms."

And when you're done with those, may I suggest downloading the United States Constitution for your iPod, inserting earplugs, cranking up the volume, and taking a walk out there in the fresh summer air. [Boing Boing]