Doo Dah Parade

Participants of the 28th annual Doo Dah Parade marched for Freedom of Speech Through Humor yesterday afternoon in the Short North. What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than unfettered ingenuity, political satire, and flashes of nudity? We all have differing opinions about what is and what should be, but as Americans, we have the right to share them publicly. Citizens of many other countries do not yet have these rights1. Regardless of our race, religion, political orientation, socioeconomic background, education, and occupation, we U-S-of-A-ers are lucky. Our undeniable liberation of spirit was evidenced yesterday by the Marching Fidels, Tea Party haters, Wal-Mart mockers, war protesters, energy savers, hippies, humanitarians, wholesome swing dancers, defiant zombies, vegan activists, a proud cannibal2, and the ballsiest University of Michigan fan alive. And then there was the Angry Baby Mask Wearer, who gets his own sentence because that was just plain creepy. Go freedom.

1 Chinese individuals don’t have the same rights as we do, but they can manufacture our flags.

2 It’s hard not to laugh at an “Eat Locals” T-shirt.