Remember when dissent was the highest form of patriotism? Apparently that applies only when Republicans are in charge. Protests against the Iraq war, for instance, were widely treated as noble expressions of public conscience. Now that Democrats control the White House and Congress, community organizers who oppose health care reform are deemed a threat to democracy.

ROSS MACKENZIE Times-Dispatch Columnist A4th of July conversation between Dude—a teenager—and his Uncle Sam . . . Yo, Uncle. Wasup? Good morning, Dude. What am I doing? I’m getting into my suit for the parade. What’re you gonna be in a parade for? They gonna have a lot of hot chicks and cool floats? I don’t know about that, Dude. But I do know there will be many military people and ordinary citizens—and brass bands playing Sousa marches and songs about America. It’s our annual celebration of independence and liberty.