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The city has agreed to spend the most monies to support the 4th of July celebrations that it does not host. If memory serves me well the city has agreed to increase spending over this years celebration by almost 100%. And this is what we call "patriotic".

I call it a fireworks tax. And it supplements private donations, to pay for a celebration that cannot be met from its own private citizens. So we compel the subjects (or is it citizens) to contribute for the celebration.

Taxes to pay for the celebration of independence by the city is not an act of patriotism , it is an act confirming that we are not independent. That we cannot independently reach into our own pockets to support and participate in a celebration. And John Adams quote:

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

From where I stand, the celebration was for the folks to support this celebration as independents, not to support this celebration as collective taxpayers.

It is a celebration of INDEPENDENCE, not the "patriotism" of taxes to pay for a celebration. They were simply establishing a day for celebration; and if history serves me well, it was against taxation without representation.

And again, the Council by its vote for using tax revenue has misinterpreted the meaning of the 4th of July.

Mr. Keister, thank you for understanding the meaning of patriotism: It is not an act of taxation.