Great American State Fair Is Failing for the Reason You’d Expect

I’m not a big fireworks guy. Nothing against em, but I’m not usually interested in cranking my neck to watch things explode for thirty minutes. But I have kids, and they love fireworks, so I was trying to figure out where we could peep some this year. Usually, we’re seeing family in Massachusetts or Connecticut on the 4th of July, but this year, we’ll likely be home in Jersey City. Luckily, we’ll get to see some big flashing lights because the Macy’s fireworks display is happening on both sides of the Hudson River this year!

Why is that? I was certainly curious. Perhaps everyone involved assumes the Knicks will run away with the Finals? Maybe everyone will still be freaking out over Disclosure Day and trying to signal aliens? Both of those answers could have been true. Instead, I was hit with a hard truth: the United States of America turns 250 years old this year. Yippee. Can you feel my excitement, or is my sarcasm coming through via written word? I can never be certain.

Yes, the ole U.S. of A. is hitting a big milestone this year, and I could not be less excited. And, I can assume, that my sentiment is shared by others. It’s not that I don’t love this country and all. I do! Which is why I want what’s best for it. Instead, it’s being stripped for parts by a bunch of fascists who are ripping copper wire out of the walls in an attempt to milk every last cent as they make the building collapse. They want to divide us, and a lot of folks are sick of it.

That has certainly been the case for the Freedom 250 Concert Series, which will be a part of the Great American State Fair that will happen in Washington, D.C. A host of musical guests were announced for an extravaganza celebrating everyone in this country of ours. Now, several artists, like Young MC, Martina McBride, The Commodores, and Morris Day, have dropped from the festival, claiming that they do not want to take part in a partisan event.

On the one hand, good for them! I’ll admit that I, too, could be swayed by the idea of celebrating everyone in this country, even if a great deal of folks from certain areas have pissed me off for obvious reasons. Unity is important for change and progression. But there’s no doubt that this would be turned into a love fest for our current President, which can’t happen without taking shots at more than half of the country that despises him. My thing is, surely all involved should know it would always be that way.

That said, agents and managers can absolutely book gigs without consulting the artist first. That happens. Also, they could have very easily been sold a bill of goods, and were told it would merely be a celebration of the whole country. But there’s no way in hell that the current guy in charge was going to allow something civil to happen on the front lawn of his vacation home without getting to drag his opposing party, and anyone who opposes him, through the mud. At least folks got wise to it first.