Opinion

It is Independence Day, a great American tradition which combines three things we like: eating, alcohol and fireworks. It is set against the pent-up tension of having to be around all your relatives in scorching heat with dubious potato salad. We Harts have a great time. We drink, and then Uncle Mac (my “Drunkle”) does his fireworks show. Nothing brings back memories like hearing the kids say, “Quick, ice down his finger.” My Druncle saw something special in me: when he saw me, he’d always give me a high 4. day The extraordinary thing about America isn’t that we always get everything right. It’s that we keep arguing, inventing, rebuilding, laughing, and trying again. Democracy has never been tidy. Our Founders never supposed it to be. It’s less like a precision Rolex watch and more like a family road trip where everyone insists they’re navigating and elements are always disgruntled.

What a country, right? As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday on the Fourth of July, let’s pause and list a few reasons to love America. Thanks to cable TV and YouTube, we can still enjoy the Ed Sullivan Show, Little Joe Cartwright and Mary Tyler Moore, even though few people under 40 know who they are. We have amazing medical workers who respond to the emergencies the rest of us are trying to run away from.

In the South, we use the term “grace” in many different contexts. We say grace at supper time, we give grace to our neighbors, and we show grace through our actions. The term grace according to the dictionary is defined as simple elegance or refinement of movement. But if you were to uncover the biblical description you would find that simply put, grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely, the peace of God given to the restless and the unmerited favor of God. Friend, we are all undeserving of God’s grace. “ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12.

Approximately 61% to 68% of Americans typically plan to grill, cook out, or attend a barbecue on the Fourth of July. This makes Independence Day the most popular holiday of the year for outdoor cooking in the United States. If you will be among that group of Americans, just remember, as the meat sizzles, don’t let your food safety practices fizzle. By handling and preparing food safely, you are helping ensure you, your friends, and your family avoid unwelcomed foodborne illnesses. When preparing food, always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Hand sanitizer is not as effective as handwashing, but it’s better than nothing. So, if you don’t have access to running water, use hand sanitizer. Another risk we often take when grilling is crosscontamination. Any utensils and cutting boards that contacted raw meat must be cleaned. Use separate plates for taking raw meat to the grill and then pulling cooked meat off the grill. The USDA recommends using separate cutting boards; one for meat, and another for fruits and vegetables.

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