It's damnably hot, let's buy our Smart card first

The Irish Times journalist Keith Duggan reports on the Fourth of July celebrations in the US, including some of the antics that went on.

Below is an extract from the piece, which appeared in The Irish Times yesterday.

"An estimated 400 men, masked and carrying flags including those of the Confederacy, were filmed marching in formation on Saturday.

It was the words: playacting, costumes and smart cards that drew the attention of this blog.

"Patriot Front is not a banned organisation and in the eyes of many people there is an absurd and even pathetic element to the sight of grown men play-acting while in costume: the idea that yes, we’ll reclaim the nation but first, let’s buy our Smart card and ride the Metro because it’s damnably hot."