THIS YEAR’S Fourth of July celebration is now over. Except for the fireworks and the spirited music, it holds no further memories. Now all that remains is for the politicians to climb aboard and explain what the holiday is all about, that is, our rights and responsibilities.

One such is Julia Shaw, program manager for the B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics at the Heritage Foundation, whose column appeared in the July 6 Rome News-Tribune. For those of you who may not be familiar, the Heritage Foundation is considered a conservative institution.

In her column, Shaw describes the four virtues of self government. These, to be sure, are noble and worthy of our consideration. However, in her explanation of how the majority of us abuse these rights, she makes me wonder for whom were these rights and responsibilities intended? Somehow it seems obvious that those who abuse the rights (or demand more) are from another party than one she calls her own. But that’s OK. She is entitled to her opinions; I would not deny her that right.

I just wish she were a little more even-handed in indicting those who want to take advantage of the rights guaranteed by our remarkable Constitution.

In enumerating the rights of the “new version of the modern ideal citizen” Ms Shaw introduces a harsher tone. Is this an illustration of our “new version of the modern ideal citizen”? I never imagined her to be one of those.

Ms. Shaw’s sarcasm drips at the mention of those who seek government help — here she exudes a self-righteousness that is perhaps her greatest sin. Her sermon seemed self-delusional. No one, neither right nor left, deserves to assume a better-than-thou attitude. The sad truth is that politics favors neither side; it takes negotiation to come close to a human/humane conclusion.

As long as both sides only see faults on the other side, you and I will remain polls apart. Look at the polls if you doubt me.