In ’83, James Watt made his famous speech and labeled us the “Wrong Element,” and banned the Beach Boys from playing at the Mall on July 4th. I went and watched Wayne Newton play. All I can say is there was a lot of room to sit or stand and watch the concert. That is the only memory I have. It was also my first introduction to politics.
On July 4th, 1984, we hit the local liquor store and filled up a large cooler of beer with some ice and headed to the Mall. There were a half dozen of us to start, and our numbers grew. We were there to see the Beach Boys play. By the time the concert started, there was very little room to sit or stand. Also, long lines to the porta potties. Fourth of July at the Mall in DC — what could beat that?
A bunch of entertainers signed on to play the Great American State Fair on the Mall for our 250th birthday — and then bolted the moment they remembered the President of the United States would be involved. Imagine that. The sitting President, at America’s party. The nerve of the man.
Take Martina McBride. She backed out, saying she’d been “misled” into thinking it was nonpartisan. That’s funny, because back in 2009 she had no trouble singing at Barack Obama’s White House. Apparently a Democrat’s stage is a celebration and a Republican’s is a trap. I get a real kick out of that kind of arithmetic.
Now, I’ll be fair. Bret Michaels walked too, and the man actually won Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” back in 2010 — so he’s nobody’s partisan. He said he got threats aimed at his family and crew, and if that’s true, shame on whoever sent them.
And that’s the part that ought to worry all of us. The Mall on the Fourth used to be the one patch of ground where none of this mattered. Left, right, lawn chair, beer cooler — we all just showed up for America.
I’m sure there are numerous America-loving entertainers who would jump at the chance to play for the big 250. Have they been asked?
Two hundred and fifty years. The big one. And we can’t even agree to throw the party.
I don’t know about you, but this year, I’ll hitch the flatbed trailer to the Silverado and a bunch of us fat and old folks will climb on board and drive down main, throwing some candy. Some of our local communities are having great celebrations this year. It is 150 for Colorado and she has not aged well. In addition to the 250th for our great country.
At the end of the day, i’ll drink a couple of cold ones. I’m not picky, but anything but Bud. I’m still mad at them.
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