Freedom is a state of continual change

The fuse is lit.

Like over-zealous mushrooms, the Barnum and Bailey style tents have arisen from chopped alfalfa fields south of the overpass. Red, white and blue huts sit on street corners. Kids on bikes circle. As vultures, with coupons under wing.

Punks are welcome in the neighborhood this week.

And all because of Independence. And its buddy, freedom.

In his college text, "Give Me Liberty," Eric Foner traces the development of America in light of our continual re-definition of "freedom."

The historian suggests the fundamental experience of America centers upon the continual review of the concept of freedom and its application.

To the freed man during Reconstruction, it meant a freed slave could own property. Freedom meant unencumbered ownership.

During the Gay ’90s, (if they only could have foreseen the future, any other adjective) industrial capitalists saw freedom as their ability to create the biggest business in the land. Freedom meant unfettered business opportunity.

The Progressive Era saw women achieve suffrage. First in a few states, then nationally. American women were free because their vote counted.

The ’20 brought economic freedom. The stock market promised ever single investor would be free from the financial restraint. Freedom was all about investment. Borrow and invest. Borrow and invest.

WWII begged the question: If a man were truly free, should he not be allowed to reside in any military barracks regardless of skin pigmentation?

Foner cites the Civil Rights Movement in the ’50s and ’60s as the first true movement toward racial equality. Instead of an exchange concerning race conducted in Platonic terms, America violently discussed "sitting down" at Woolworth’s. Who could? Who could not?

A confounded (to many) mixture of freedom-based initiatives, generally grouped as the Women’s Liberation Movement, arose in the ’70s. Freedom involved equal pay for equal work. Advancement in salary, rank and status properly based upon skill and performance, uninfluenced by birthright genitalia.

Reproduction rights sank its anchor in the Mississippi, splitting the country.

At what age does freedom ring? Who determines? Why?

Today every American wants the freedom to marry.

Danged if some haven’t found a way to get free money.

Being an idea, America morphs from one form to a second to yet a third while round-the-clock political analysis struggles to maintain pace.

Talk about continual evolution.

Like activated yeast, American freedom bubbles relentlessly, expanding into every square inch of the bowl. Once it flows over the top, just try to stuff it back.

Foner suggests that life will never "be the way it was." That is not the nature of a free society. Life - our freedoms included - will always exist in the future.

This American experiment is great theater; the United States a stage for the most adventurous performance involving actors of every nationality and pedigree.

Seems foolish to back a drama where the script is written as the actors develop the plot.

But that’s us. That’s America.

Your life and the lives of your neighbors will add another chapter for Foner and his peer historians to investigate.

And Independence Day - it’s all about you and your part in the production.

So buy the biggest boomers you can find this week. Longest punks, too. Light the sky this Saturday night.

The dark canvas awaits the changing shapes, explosive colors and thunderous voices announcing once again.

"We hold these truths to be self-evidentâ€-"

Don Cunningham of Fremont is a regular contributor to the Tribune’s Opinion page.