By REG HENRY, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With patriotism at high ebb around the Fourth of July, and the Second Amendment with perfect timing having been confirmed as an individual right to own guns, I believe it is the hour when we the people must assert our ancient right to keep and bear fireworks.

As Father's Day arrives Sunday and it already feels like summer, I offer today a father-son column on the old ballgame from an immigrant's point of view.When I say the old ball game, I do not mean baseball. That is where the immigrant part comes in. I write of the really old ballgame -- cricket.

News item: Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan recounts in his new book -- which I think is called "Will You Pay Lots of Attention to Me Again If I Come Clean?" -- that he heard George Bush speaking on the phone and not remembering whether he had ever used cocaine.

Being a patriotic fellow, I am always saddened to learn that the good ol' USA isn't No. 1 in all fields.

(ital)Due to some oversight, I have not been asked to give any graduation speeches in this abundant season of them. Because it is heartbreaking to think that young Americans will miss the benefit of my wisdom, I have decided to jot down some advice anyway.(endital)X...X...X

Among the many "thou shall nots" of the Ten Commandments, the Almighty in his wisdom threw in a couple of positive ones to keep folks from becoming too depressed.It so happens that my favorite one of these is "Honor thy father and thy mother."

The Pennsylvania primary has come and gone. The people have spoken or inadvertently burped, as the case may be. Anyway, what a relief that everybody around here can shut up for a while.But it is not clear what we have learned in the process, except that the next time George Stephanopoulos appears with his grubby questions in a TV debate, someone should bring a fly swatter.

As a matter of full disclosure, I should tell you that my wife, a long-time Republican, has changed her party registration in advance of the Pennsylvania Primary and has appeared in public wearing "Another Momma for Obama" button.

It is time once more to ask the eternal question: Is this a great country or what? Yes, it's a great country, and in this great country the pursuit of happiness takes many forms and sometimes it all comes together in one great starburst amid the rocket's red glare.

There is a temptation as we grow old to condemn everything new as a sign of anti-progress. In wise maturity, perhaps we should guard against this tendency -- but that would spoil the fun.