2scents: Once again, I think the point isn’t that the barbecue is L’kavod July 4th. July 4th is just a happy day to begin with to give Shevach V’hoda’ah LeHakadosh Baruch Hu for giving us a great place to live and follow the Torah relatively unhindered. Couple that with a hot summer day and no work and a barbecue is the natural conclusion.
I think this is a perfect example of the Goyim doing something logical. Are we supposed to be illogical because they do the logical thing. We don’t drive on the sidewalk and walk in the street, even though the Goyim do the exact opposite. We are not obligated to avoid doing everything they do (we walk and breathe and sleep just like they do). July 4th is just a logical day for a big barbecue. There’s nothing wrong with doing something logical.