When is enough ENOUGH?

Ahhh, the Fourth of July. Fireworks. Tons of people. Red white and blue as far as the eye can see. Cookouts. Family time. And of course....a parade. Now, don't get me wrong--I am not someone who is some sourpuss about holidays or the 4th, for that matter. It is personally one of my favorites, due to the fact it is in the summer and it usually revolves around explosives.

However, I have had and probably will have a problem with the parades of today's day and age. While I love the marching bands and the local fanfare, along with the loud sirens and clowns frolicking about, I have a real problem with businesses that basically utilize the parade as an in-your-face advertisement for a captive crowd.

The biggest thing behind that is that I really don't even have an issue when businesses take the time to make a float and put some effort into trying to get customers, etc. But when I see people simply walking around handing out things as a car goes by with a draped banner off the side of it, to me---that's just pure laziness AND it's pretty insulting for the time we have put into being there.

The compromise? Judges or city officials who are responsible for the parade, instead of just taking an entry fee and giving broad guidelines should be more conscientious of the things being entered and expecting more from what is in the parade in terms of quality. I mean, I am all for spending 45-60 minutes at a parade, just give me what I want to see-not politicians handing out mini frisbees and personal training businesses with their kids on a truck waving at me. It's one thing to hold my kids' attention for that long with the anticipation of getting enough candy to put someone into a diabetic coma, but for those of us on, say, our 30th or so parade, not so much.

I realize that the fourth is a celebration of the freedom that we have as Americans, but when is enough ENOUGH?

TAGS: American Holidays, Dads, Fatherhood, Fourth Of July, Fourth Of July Celebrations, Fourth Of July Parades, Holiday Celebrations, Parenting
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