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To hell with the actual day of Independence, I want a sequel to the movie! Or a British remake 
(Edited by Alan 04/07/2006 11:10)
(Edited by Alan 04/07/2006 11:10)
Posted: 08:50 Jul 04 2006
Happy Independence Day
To our American members, happy Indepenence Day, hope you all enjoy the festivities.
P.S. be afraid... The British are coming
(Edited by Maffrew 04/07/2006 09:05)
P.S. be afraid... The British are coming
(Edited by Maffrew 04/07/2006 09:05)
4 Replies and 1605 Views in Total.
Posted: 08:50 Jul 04 2006 
Thanks for the holiday wishes. I'm spending my time very constructively--eating lots of barbecue and sweltering in the 90-degree heat.
And I have to add that, the use of July 4 as our independence day has always seemed a bit strange to me. Although we mark it then, we really didn't achieve independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. Acutal independence came several years later and on a different date, either when the last major battle was fought or when the peace treaty between the US and Britain was signed. July 4, 1776, is just the date the American colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. But it was just a statement, without much of anything on our end to back it up. Britain had a whole lot to say about our so-called indpendence, and we remained British colonies for several more years while fighting dragged on. So I guess it's just a "feel good" date rather than the actual date when a new nation was born.
Also, just FYI in case you didn't already know, there is no anti-British sentiment bound up in this holiday at all. It's just a positive celebration of the US, not a negative lashing out at the nation we split from so long ago. And when you think of it, although we split politically, there is still much that comes from Britain that has remained a part of us. We speak English, our legal system is based in large part on yours, and many parts of our culture have deep roots in what the British left us. I think most Americans who understand our history recognize and honor that.
To put it another way, look at what you've helped unleash on the world. Yikes!
And I have to add that, the use of July 4 as our independence day has always seemed a bit strange to me. Although we mark it then, we really didn't achieve independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. Acutal independence came several years later and on a different date, either when the last major battle was fought or when the peace treaty between the US and Britain was signed. July 4, 1776, is just the date the American colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. But it was just a statement, without much of anything on our end to back it up. Britain had a whole lot to say about our so-called indpendence, and we remained British colonies for several more years while fighting dragged on. So I guess it's just a "feel good" date rather than the actual date when a new nation was born.
Also, just FYI in case you didn't already know, there is no anti-British sentiment bound up in this holiday at all. It's just a positive celebration of the US, not a negative lashing out at the nation we split from so long ago. And when you think of it, although we split politically, there is still much that comes from Britain that has remained a part of us. We speak English, our legal system is based in large part on yours, and many parts of our culture have deep roots in what the British left us. I think most Americans who understand our history recognize and honor that.
To put it another way, look at what you've helped unleash on the world. Yikes!
Posted: 18:22 Jul 04 2006 To hear the way my sister and her mates like to speak I'd say you've been retaliating somewhat....
by Sandia
To put it another way, look at what you've helped unleash on the world. Yikes!
(Edited by Alan 04/07/2006 22:00)
Posted: 21:59 Jul 04 2006 