Where My Nose Begins

This year's Fourth of July Parade through West Park was the same as every year. Led by Cleveland's Finest, complete with the bagpipe contingent, the parade slogged its way down Lorain Avenue.

There is a comfort in the sameness of the parade. The politicians hand out flyers. Participants throw candy at the kids sitting expectantly on the curb. And we all wave back at people in fancy automobiles and trolley cars and fire trucks.

Alas, there were no marching bands this year. I really like the marching bands. But there were veterans and churchgoers and lodge guys with fezzes and Knights of Columbus with feathery maned hats and gleaming swords. And a few horses. And the requisite gift that horses leave along the parade route. (Beware all who follow.)

And flags. Lots of flags. There is always talk about patriotism on these holidays. And freedom. Freedom is grand. But when I was growing up, we were taught that the right to extend your elbow ends where the next guy's nose begins -- that we do have rights, but with those rights come responsibility for self and consideration for others.

I thought about this later in the day, when the folks in the apartment complex on the next street decided to play their music VERY LOUDLY so we could hear every BOOM BOOM BOOM throughout the house, even though we had our windows closed.

I don't believe those people meant to ruin my holiday with their music. But I also don't think they would have cared if they had known.

It's disheartening. But I guess that's the human race for you. People want to protect what they view as their own rights, even if that means trampling on the rights of others.

We've turned our government over to big businesses who are chipping away at our freedoms. We've turned our souls over to Christian leaders who have clearly missed the whole point of what Jesus  taught, vis-a-vis, the most important commandment is this: "Love one another as I have loved you."

This one statement is at the heart of all religious faiths. And yet, it's so often left at the curb, along with all the candy wrappers and other discards from a parade meant to symbolize our freedom and our belief that we are the best country in the world.