I ate tonight at a small burger joint on 23rd called Lucky’s (good crinkle cut fries, and a burger that… made you appreciate you had good crinkle cut fries). It’s a little one-room place, there were maybe a dozen people eating in, and for whatever reason the four TVs on Lucky’s south-facing wall were playing Independence Day (on E!). I don’t know if folks were just eating quietly or if the TV volume was way high, but the events of July 4, 1996 were at the forefront of our dinners.

I was halfway through my cheddar burger when President Whitmore started delivering his big speech, and when he built to that classic “Today, we celebrate our INDEPENDENCE DAY!”, I did what any American - nay, any HUMAN - should do and applauded. Heads whipped towards me and the other diners laughed. LAUGHED! As if I was some “comedian” trying to do a “bit” or “unite a crowd with a well-timed comment.” FUCK NO, I was just being a patriot. A patriot who then went back to really digging those crinkle cuts with a little of that chipotle mayo.