As Americans get ready to celebrate our independence from British rule on July 4th, I think back to those exciting fireworks displays, grilling out with family and friends and eating some good Ohio sweet corn. I also remember a saying my grandfather taught me, “Knee high by the fourth of July and the corn will be good.” Unfortunately, this July 4 season Americans are knee high in something other than corn; yet another political sex scandal.
Seeing the latest political leader’s tearful public acknowledgement of infidelity, I was reminded of another fall from grace that sent shock waves - or was it smoke rings - around the world but not for the reasons you may think.
I was living and working in Sydney, Australia during the Clinton years and I invited some friends over for a good old July 4 American-style barbeque. It was a mixed crowd of Americans, Australians, British and French. Throwing some burgers and hot dogs on the barbie, a cigar got lit and the conversation quickly moved to the Monica Lewinsky scandal as we all tried to one-up each other with lewd jokes. I’m one of those guys that cannot remember a joke to save his life, but I do remember one thing that was said that day, “Mate, we’re just thankful the Brits sent us the prisoners and you got the Puritans!”
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