Fourth of July brings new perspective to writer

By Morgan Tarpley

The Fourth of July holiday has always meant several things to this American writer. It has been a time to wish my cousin - who is six days younger than me - “Happy Birthday,” a time to eat watermelon with my family after swimming in our local lake and a time to spend my allotted amount for fireworks to pop Blackjacks, shoot roman candles and fire screaming missiles into the dark night by the light of a bonfire.

But my Fourth of July today holds a different importance.

Being patriotic in my office :)

It’s about community (and still, of course, family) togetherness and is a time of remembrance. A time to remember all the people who have not only given their lives and have fought and are fighting for our freedom but to remember the people who we have lost in our lives and who we care about that are still here with us today.

Even looking at our national flag brings a new perspective for me today. I have always been patriotic, not only of our country but also of our state as well, so the flag has been significant before I ever waved one as a small child at my father’s return from a year of military service overseas.

Old Glory brought a new image to my mind when I caught my first sight of her outside of our nation. I guess my feelings can be compared to watching the opening and following events of the Olympics; watching for our nation’s team carrying our emblem and listening to our anthem as a gold medal is presented. I just felt this way recently with the U.S. games in the World Cup. It’s national pride. I know others have not forgotten this feeling.

My fiance and I cheering on the USA in the World Cup! lol

I feel this pride even more when I leave this country and become a living representative of it abroad. I carry a miniature Stars & Stripes with me when I travel internationally.

Our country’s flag has always been an important physical representation of the freedom I experience in life but it means so much more when you see it outside our borders. It may not be always be a positive representation but it is one none-the-less.

I am quite aware of the belief of many American people have of an “obvious heavy opposition” to Americans by people of foreign lands and cultures but though I have experienced slight opposition in opinions and comments regarding the USA when I travel, the comments of the majority of people I have met overseas have not been hostile or even rude to me concerning my country.

Instead, we seemed to see eye to eye for a moment, past our government’s decisions and cultural differences. That moment is when I have been a voluntary American diplomat and I hope at least just one positive glance at our country through me made a difference in the flurry of stereotypes and false media portrayals out there for Americans. Though I am sure some of the time (well a majority of the time) as Americans will not all agree with the decisions the officials ruling our country make we still hold true to our foundation.

Veteran Honor Guard raising Old Glory

Traditions seem to die hard and I am glad there are still Americans today who want to continue to uphold the traditions of honesty, integrity, loyalty and strong moral value, which our country’s foundation was built upon, which we celebrate with family reunions, firework displays, cookouts, picnics and church services on this special day to celebrate our independence.

I am glad tradition still lives on in our community and in this country. I hope you, reader, had an enjoyable Fourth of July holiday (if you celebrate it). God Bless!

Do you celebrate the Fourth of July? If so, what is your favorite tradition? If not, what is your favorite holiday and tradition specific to your nation? I’d love to hear about it! :)

Morgan Tarpley

Morgan Tarpley is an award-winning newspaper reporter and photographer in Louisiana. She is also a historical novelist currently seeking representation. Besides writing and traveling to over a dozen countries, her interests include acting in her local theater, photography, singing and currently planning a November wedding.

For more information about Morgan, visit her website (www.morgantarpley.com) and blog (www.pensonaworldmap.com). You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.

Flags and Vuvuzelas

Hi. Ruth Ann here. Welcome to my photo tour. We're visiting South Africa during the build up to the FIFA World Cup and the first few matches.
Hi, Aspiring Writer here. I'm accompanying Ruth Ann to give my point of view as we go along.


Signs heralding the World Cup have been in evidence everywhere for months. Flags flutter on cars, bicycles, taxis, buses, buildings, highways, walls, poles, trees, gates. . .  They adorn clothes, finger nails, false eyelashes, sunglasses, cakes, vuvuzelas, shops, markets, menus. . .
World Cup merchandise is on sale at street corners, traffic lights and flea markets as well as in shops, supermarkets and malls. . .
Vuvuzelas blare at all hours of the night and day.
Photos of  bird-shaped seed pods, bees clambering through jacaranda blossoms, beaded  ornaments and other harbingers of an emerging story world fill the memory card of my camera. 
Ever increasing numbers of characters roam through the landscape of my imagination.

On the 11th June I wake up while it is still dark to the blasting of a vuvuzela outside my house. The great day has arrived.
Someone emerges from the throng of characters. He announces that he has heard the 'call to adventure' and asks if I'll tell his story.

Later in the day I sally out to take photos—here's a happy pair setting out to enjoy the World Cup experience.

I offer to write a novel about his journey and my would-be hero sets out.

The next photo, taken inside the Loftus Stadium at one of the first matches, is used with the permission of photographer Derek of Just Footprints Foundation. Derek asks "Where's William?" He describes William as the Ghana soccer supporter in the red and yellow supporter's shirt. He's sitting in block MM, rowJ, seat 74. Can you see him? No, I can't find him either.

I've lost my hero! I can't pick him out in the crowd. The characters all look the same—they're ho-hum.

Of course, it's important to dress appropriately to show which team you support and to add to the vibe reverberating through the country.
Maybe I'll find my hero if I give him clothes fit for his quest.

Just look at all these soccer players! What wonderful memorabilia.
I find him! But he's so wooden—in fact he's a stereotype.

Even the people hard at work join in the excitement and fun.
I give my hero a real job and a goal in life.

Zakumi, the official World Cup mascot, has been sighted all over South Africa. His feet look somewhat grubby in this photo. The hospitable leopard has dyed his hair green--he feels it's the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch. 

Aha! Heroes are generally reputed to have feet of clay, so I give mine a flaw. I also add a quirk or two.

At first I think these are yellow bushes or flowers growing next to the highway. As we draw closer I realise they are hands, and each one says, "Ayoba!"  Ayoba means cool and describes the atmosphere in South Africa.

 My hero's come to life and there's only one word to describe him. Ayoba!

Christians have prayed that people from all over the world will be reached with the gospel during the World Cup. Here my friend, Marilyn, shows the flag she made to use in her church's outreach program.

I pray that God will use the words I write to help people to know Him better.

Yesterday the last match of the final 16 teams was played. On Friday it'll be time to put on my Makarapa (soccer headgear unique to South Africa) and watch the quarter-finals. I wonder who'll go through to the semi-finals.

And now I'll don my Writer's Hat and settle down with my laptop to write my hero's story. I wonder what adventures he's going to have.

I hope you enjoyed visiting South Africa at this exciting time. Please come back to our blog on July 8 when Shirl Corder will be sharing some writing insights about her World Cup experiences and posting more photos.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my hero. I'll update you on his adventures in a future blog.