What's the purpose of a parade?

Here's a emotional post from Gerah: She hates a parade: Rednecks and Transvestites

I have had it with "GOD BLESS THE USA!" stuff. Look around, folks. We're all overweight, happy, driving SUV's, living in huge homes, and eating bags of candy at a parade while many, many other people on this planet are starving and don't have cars or homes.

If you ask me, God has already blessed us. Stop asking for him to bless us more. I WISH, oh, how I WISH somebody would raise a sign that says "GOD BLESS THE INNOCENT IRAQIS!"

She goes on to pondering creating her own 'condom' float. I see her point, but to me the 4th of July parade is acceptable as a bunch of patriotic fluff. Here's what my comments to her post said:

I feel similarly about all those 'yellow ribbon' magnets on cars. To me, its showy and shallow.

The parade I feel the most strongly about is our town's Memorial Day parade. Sparsely attended and less than 5 minutes long, but so important and emotional to honor those whose actions were so much more than mine.

And, Gerah, this parade isn't about grandstanding for America...its just about these men and women.

For my 4th this year, we visited Jockey Hollow (w/kids) and watched Bowling for Colombine (w/o kids). Both provide great lessons about America.