Too much thinking for a holiday - but here goes...

We're faced with a lot of conflicts as humans. Today, for example. NASCAR held its annual Coca-Cola 600 auto race in Charlotte, North Carolina. Prior to the race was where the conflict occurred.

A religious figure (a pastor or clergy of some sort) came out to offer the invocation, thanking his God for providing the world and whatever else is involved in making the country great. Then, a group of bagpipers played "Amazing Grace." After that, a half dozen Marines fired 5 shots in the air (blanks, I'm hoping) and a bugler played "Taps." Back and forth it went, from warfare to God. Maybe they're the same thing?

Then, someone sang "The Star Spangled Banner," another song glorifying war (one that we lost) and paying homage to a flag. As the song went on, some warplanes flew over the track at a dangerously low level. I guess that's designed to make us (a) be thankful for warplanes and (b) be glad that they weren't dropping anything on us.

The lines between God, country and war are fuzzy at best, and days like today serve to confuse us even more. Sure, I'm thankful that those men and women are over there defending us - from what, I have no idea. I hear the words "defending us" but I'm never quite sure what it means. This isn't World War II or some global conflict. It's largely a group of people who use religion as a shield and have decided to sacrifice their lives for it. I'm talking about them.

Generally, when some scandal occurs and someone does something scurrilous, we wonder, "What is this teaching the children?" I think the same things when I see clergy and objects of war sharing a stage on television.

Then there's the race. Can't forget the race. It's another tribute to America, where giant cars that nobody but professionals own run 600 miles in a a circle and use about 600 gallons of gasoline - excuse me - racing fuel. It's all about America. God, war, the country and driving fast in a circle and crashing sometimes. And it's broadcast on Fox, which seems to make sense somehow.

And to top it off, the winner gets a 225 pound trophy from Coca Cola. More excess. A trophy that cannot be lifted. The perfect end to a perfect day. In the middle of a recession.

UPDATE: The race has been postponed until Mondy due to rain. It appears as though God wasn't watching after all.