VOL. XVII, NO. 12
APRIL 30, 1976
Everything Is BUYcentennial
By BRUCE WEAVER
The year 1776 was the year that our founding fathers put down on paper the ideas and rights that they had been arguing over for the past few years. Among these rights was the right to free enterprise.
But haven't we carried this right just a little too far. The year now is 1976, just 200 years later - our Bicentennial. No, I forgot, the American people have changed it. It is no longer the Bicentennial. It is now the BUYcentennial.
The American people have done everything in their power to exploit our country's two hundredth birthday. Everywhere you turn, things are red, white, and blue. Fire hydrants are painted with the stars and stripes and you know how dogs use fire hydrants.
Now is that not the worst insult you could give our country's flag? From birth through marriage to death, everything is BUYcentennial. For your new baby, you can have Bicentennial diapers and blankets.
You can get married in a Bicentennial wedding gown or a red, white, and blue tuxedo. When you die, you can have a Bicentennial funeral complete with red, white, and blue flowers. Red, white, and blue coffins lined with little flags are also available.
No matter what it is or where you go, you cannot escape the Bicentennial. They are selling toilet seats with stars and stripes for your bathroom. Even personal grooming has gotten into the act. A person can have his hair colored with red, white, and blue.
There is a dentist in Florida who will paint your teeth red, white, and blue with precious stones as stars. Some appliance stores are now advertising items for $17.76. These exact things were on sale on Columbus Day for $14.92. If these are not examples of exploiting our flag and our nation's two hundredth birthday, then I don't know what is.
The year 1776 was the year that our founding fathers put down on paper the ideas and rights that they had been arguing over for the past few years. Among these rights was the right to free enterprise.
But haven't we carried this right just a little too far. The year now is 1976, just 200 years later - our Bicentennial. No, I forgot, the American people have changed it. It is no longer the Bicentennial. It is now the BUYcentennial.
The American people have done everything in their power to exploit our country's two hundredth birthday. Everywhere you turn, things are red, white, and blue. Fire hydrants are painted with the stars and stripes and you know how dogs use fire hydrants.
Now is that not the worst insult you could give our country's flag? From birth through marriage to death, everything is BUYcentennial. For your new baby, you can have Bicentennial diapers and blankets.
You can get married in a Bicentennial wedding gown or a red, white, and blue tuxedo. When you die, you can have a Bicentennial funeral complete with red, white, and blue flowers. Red, white, and blue coffins lined with little flags are also available.
No matter what it is or where you go, you cannot escape the Bicentennial. They are selling toilet seats with stars and stripes for your bathroom. Even personal grooming has gotten into the act. A person can have his hair colored with red, white, and blue.
There is a dentist in Florida who will paint your teeth red, white, and blue with precious stones as stars. Some appliance stores are now advertising items for $17.76. These exact things were on sale on Columbus Day for $14.92. If these are not examples of exploiting our flag and our nation's two hundredth birthday, then I don't know what is.
On the other hand, let's look at some of the good things that we have done. For example, most television stations now have a "Bicentennial Minute" or something similar. These tell us a little about what was going on 200 years ago today so we can see how our Independence came about.
Not only are they very interesting but they are also educational. The children of today can learn a little bit more about their heritage. After the Bicentennial year is over, I hope they continue these historical comments.
Another good thing that has come out of our celebration is the coin mint set. However, it has one small drawback - it costs a mint. The coins are made of silver and will increase in value, making them a good investment.
Commemorative plates of pewter, silver, Wedgewood china, and porcelain, depicting scenes of early American history will also be valuable and worthy mementos of the Bicentennial. I have shown you how I feel about two sides of the BUYcentennial. What you think is up to you.
I say, "let's make our nation's Bicentennial something to be proud of, something we can look back on with pride and dignity instead of disgust. Instead of trying to commercialize the occasion and make a fast buck, we should try to make the United States once again come alive with the spirit and courage our founding fathers had when they declared independence.
We should keep this spirit alive and well and living in the U.S.A. all year round, not just during the Bicentennial or on the Fourth of July.
Let me ask a question. Would you be proud to pass a Bicentennial toilet seat down to your children as a memento of our two hundredth birthday? If this is the way we celebrate our Bicentennial, I would hate to see the way we will treat our three hundredth birthday.
Not only are they very interesting but they are also educational. The children of today can learn a little bit more about their heritage. After the Bicentennial year is over, I hope they continue these historical comments.
Another good thing that has come out of our celebration is the coin mint set. However, it has one small drawback - it costs a mint. The coins are made of silver and will increase in value, making them a good investment.
Commemorative plates of pewter, silver, Wedgewood china, and porcelain, depicting scenes of early American history will also be valuable and worthy mementos of the Bicentennial. I have shown you how I feel about two sides of the BUYcentennial. What you think is up to you.
I say, "let's make our nation's Bicentennial something to be proud of, something we can look back on with pride and dignity instead of disgust. Instead of trying to commercialize the occasion and make a fast buck, we should try to make the United States once again come alive with the spirit and courage our founding fathers had when they declared independence.
We should keep this spirit alive and well and living in the U.S.A. all year round, not just during the Bicentennial or on the Fourth of July.
Let me ask a question. Would you be proud to pass a Bicentennial toilet seat down to your children as a memento of our two hundredth birthday? If this is the way we celebrate our Bicentennial, I would hate to see the way we will treat our three hundredth birthday.