First off, this is the first time I’ve done Round the Reader and being asked to do it on Sundays was a total surprise. I am glad to be a part of it and affiliated somehow with the quality blogs of the RtR crew.

Terrorists in Iraq have taken Egypt’s top envoy to Iraq hostage. Certainly this isn’t the first time a diplomat has been taken hostage, however as Scott says, it’s Muslim versus Muslim violence.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told the international community to support Iraq, something in which President Bush has asked several times. Just how Russia helping Iran build nuclear plants fits into the picture of helping Iraq is not known.

In honor of Live 8, another one bites the dust. Saudi Arabia’s most wanted Al Qaida member Younis Mohammad Ibrahim al-Hayyari has died. Speaking of Live 8, London had the best lineup while Philadelphia was robbed.

This just in . . . that is one ugly dog!

I am still searching what to do on Independence Day. Perhaps I should go watch Batman Begins and then smoke some ribs? Marcus saw Batman Begins and was “definitely impressed.” Maybe I should do something more patriotic and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

While I’ve never considered the American flag an eyesore, I don’t want to be too patriotic and be forced to take down the American flags in my neighborhood. At least the city isn’t making residents burn the flags as Indymedia wants.

I just started watching the television show ’24′ and I’m on Season 1, hour 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. whenever Netflix decides to ship me the next DVD. It’s a fantastic show, but is it biased? Muslim groups in the United States have protested against Season 4 saying it gives the wrong impression of radical Islamic terrorists hiding into American society, but we all know from Lodi that it’s not a far stretch.

Syrian support for the Iraq ‘insurgency’ does not appear to be hidden, but it is not the first time anyone has ever mentioned that. Even Britney Spears is to blame.

Spears though, has nothing to do with 9/11, but there is an Iraqi connection.

On this July 4th weekend, let us remember the strides the Founding Fathers made in order for us to live free. As Americans, we easily forget what freedom means and what sacrifices others before us have made to endure this freedom. We are able to barbecue with our families because of the sacrifices our ancestors have made.

Last night I ordered pizza only because I didn’t feel like cooking after my tree fiasco. The pizza place I picked up my order from is run entirely by Arabs. As I paid, one of the men asked me why I’m not cooking out. My response was that it is not July 4th yet and that besides the holiday has blended in too much with every other day for me. The man, from Iraq, looked at me strangely and said, “It must be nice to grow tired of celebrating freedom.”

Jonathan And Wanda Rantings linked with Iraqis LOVE "Freedom"
Conservative Thinking linked with Tired of Celebrating Freedom?