Dear Commons Community,

As we get ready to celebrate this 4^th of July, there are many reasons (two wars, a down economy, unemployment, environmental disaster in the Gulf) why we might feel subdued on our country’s birthday.  However, I would like to encourage us in the words of Maureen Dowd:  “On this Independence Day, if you’re passionate about it — even (or especially) if no one else is — let your freakin flag fly”.

Tony