What's Wrong with America, Fireworks Style.

It took fireworks and the fourth of July to remind me what is wrong with America.

I believe firmly that the problems in any society reveal themselves gradually, rearing their ugly heads in unexpected places.

Every year I look forward to watching the Independence Day fireworks in Chicago, whether in person or on television. Accompanied by the Grant Park Orchestra, the fireworks are a well-coordinated multimedia work of art, not to mention a great statement of Patriotism.

Despite our many problems, concerns, and divisions, America is still something to celebrate.

Why then, instead of the Grant Park Orchestra playing patriotic music, were television viewers instead treated to snippets of shallow top-40 fare?

Instead of America the Beautiful, I heard Gwen Stefani. Instead of the triumphant strains of the 1812 overture (patriotic even if it WAS written by a Russian composer), I heard Kanye West. Instead of the traditional fireworks closer of the Stars and Stripes Forever, poor Mr. Sousa was replaced with Matchbox 20. Not only that, but the Matchbox 20 song was quite literally about the collapse of the world.

Yup. Nothing like some apocalyptic Emo music to ring in the fourth of July festivities.

If you're not bothered, you're not listening. Do we do away with tradition -- as well as the meaning of our greatest national holiday -- to raise ratings?

If Kanye West raises ratings INSTEAD of Sousa on the fourth of July, then what is wrong with America? Have we really become so shallow and stupid? (I will not even address what such thinking says about our national musical intelligence.)

In the end, the Matchbox 20 lyrics were right. "How far have we come?" Do we really care enough about America to actually clap along to the Stars and Stripes, let alone to work to fix her problems in such crucial times?

Let's hope this is the first and last time such a thing occurs. Tomorrow, I'm writing letters to all of the local newspapers. If you want to play pop music, at least play patriotic pop music. Save the party tunes for New Years Eve.