The Fourth of July

Discussion in 'Free Thoughts' started by S.A.M., Jul 4, 2007.

  1. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    So why was the 4[sup]th[/sup] of July selected as independence Day in the US?

    How do you celebrate it?

    Do you make any special meals? Any symbolic activities associated with it?

    What does it mean to you?

    And oh yes, a happy 4[sup]th[/sup] of July to all our American posters.

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  3. Killjoy Propelling The Farce!! Valued Senior Member

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    The 4th of July, 1776 was the day our merry band of scam artists voted to approve the Declaration of Independence from Britiain.

    I myself am doing diddley squat to celebrate it this year... I'll use the excuse that it's raining here.
    LoL

    It fills my cynical heart with pride to think my Great and Powerful homeland was started with a fine bamboozle, a wink and a nudge, and a bunch of cannon fire...!

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  5. ashpwner Registered Senior Member

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    Why our you so synical about the 4th of July? I thought that it was the british who were the bad guys in that.
     
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  7. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    You seem like the type to support this kind of patriotism.

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    http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/im_prepared_to_give_my_life_for?utm_source=onion_rss_daily
     
  8. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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    Late last night during my initial climb out of Kennedy, there was excellent visibility in all directions. Manhattan looked like a billion jewels, and from North to South for hundreds of miles in one glance, I could see the early fireworks popping up beneath like frantic, eager flowers. Up through the silvery clouds, a nearly full moon chased along the gleaming cloud-tops with me. 20 minutes later, I said goodnight to the moon, and slid back down through the cotton puffs toward the inky blackness of farmlands. Here and there was the usual isolated light, but then rising up all around here, there, far in the distance, and bursting in air, the sparkly Chinese imports gave proof through the night that life is sometimes indescribably beautiful.

    I think because of the rain forecasted today, many of my countrymen decided to cut loose last night, and I sure enjoyed the spectacle, and the freedom to view the celebrations in megalopolis and boondocks from my catbird seat. In spite of recent national fits of paranoia (JFK was in momentary security-conniption earlier because of a stray bottle of cologne) that I can still take off from my grass runway, pick up a friend in JFK, and whisk him over to the boonies of Pennsylvania on such a stunningly beautiful night- it gave me great satisfaction in this beautiful country.

    Some say freedom isn't free. I'm not so sure about that- Enjoying the freedom of flying and living that I do, I am more inclined to agree with the sentiments of our being "endowed by [our] Creator with certain inalienable rights" as expressed in our Declaration of Independence. But I will say this about our freedom: We should never give it away. It's so precious.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2007
  9. Killjoy Propelling The Farce!! Valued Senior Member

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    It's much more interesting to see it outside the realm of the claptrap they shoved down our throats in school...
    Realizing that George Washington was a nigh-genocidal minded Injun killer, Thomas Jefferson was knockin' boots with his female slaves, and that the "Massachussetts Gang" had to ramp up the rhetoric a couple or 3 times to keep the "Flame of Liberty" alive gives one a sense of perspective that those old "2-dimensional" portrayals of the Revolution never could.

    I like George Patton's take better...
    Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.

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  10. sandy Banned Banned

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    There's a huge celebration at my church. I celebrate the 4th by going to church and giving thanks, taking part in the parade, party with friends/ family, and relaxing. I also deliver flags and presents to shut-ins.
     
  11. Gondolin Hell hath no fury like squid Registered Senior Member

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    The shut-ins want flags?
     
  12. sandy Banned Banned

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    Yep. There are plenty of patriotic shut-ins. They love company and they treasure their flags. I usually have people hugging me begging me not to leave. But I tell them I have liberals on SciFor to annoy and they let me go with a smile.

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  13. Killjoy Propelling The Farce!! Valued Senior Member

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    Their shut in...

    It's not like they can go out and get one themselves...

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  14. Gondolin Hell hath no fury like squid Registered Senior Member

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    Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh..... well tell them to get their asses up and get their own damn flag!
     
  15. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    Do you really think that just saying or writing those words is enough, Hype?

    A lot of people died to enforce those words and to give those words meaning. And yet you slough off all that effort, all that blood and pain, by making such a idiotic statement as that? Without the force of arms to back them up, those words don't mean shit.

    Baron Max
     
  16. lixluke Refined Reinvention Valued Senior Member

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    I am the opposite of the patriot. I hate these oppressive bastards who have no concept of what independence is.

    1. That movie Bowling for Columbine asks why we as a country are so violent. I have said this once, and I will keep doing so. The reason we are violent is because of the prevelence of the false belief that violence and greed are part of human nature. If you do not have these cheesy false beliefs, it's like you are not even American. As long as the false belief that violence is part of human nature is a socially accepted concept, violence will continue.

    2. One big aspect of American idiotic mentality is obsessive praise for hard workers. Americans significantly have a contempt for those who are not hard workers, and glorify and reward those who are hard workers. Not that there is anything wrong with liking people that work hard. It is just that it is a major obsession in America. Why is this so? In order to perpetuate the slave mentality, people are praised for being hard workers. Lots of great praise to all the hard workers! Working to fill the pockets of the rich so the rich don't have to lift a finger.
     
  17. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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    That's the spirit. You don't go, likluke.
     
  18. Parhadron Registered Senior Member

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    Today is my birthday, so it's like meeting a bunch of people you don't know every year who look as if they do not want to eat hotdogs, but might like to sneak up on you with a rocket.

    And then you're older at the same time.
     
  19. Parhadron Registered Senior Member

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    ' course I can always declare independence from it, too.

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  20. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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    Some say freedom isn't free. I'm not so sure about that- Enjoying the freedom of flying and living that I do, I am more inclined to agree with the sentiments of our being "endowed by [our] Creator with certain inalienable rights" as expressed in our Declaration of Independence.

    Baron Max: "Do you really think that just saying or writing those words is enough, Hype?"

    No, understanding and appreciating their meaning is of vital importance to our democracy. We are free, and not by some magic bestowed through ritual violence. This founding idea, this exquisite observation, is that we are free by our very nature, by our inborn potential; that accordingly we deserve a government of our own, by our own design, working for us, requiring our active participation.

    "A lot of people died to enforce those words and to give those words meaning."

    What people- Please be specific. This sounds like the vague language of a primordial cult of sacrifice. It also reminds me of the slogans and mindsets of authoritarian societies. July 4, 1776 was an evolutionary leap away from that kind of primitivism.

    "you slough off all that effort, all that blood and pain, by making such a idiotic statement"

    I gladly slough off effort, blood, and pain. I don't hold these up as holy national sacraments. The USA was not founded as a blood-cult.

    "Without the force of arms to back them up, those words don't mean shit."

    Force can "back up" any words. Force does not sanctify.
     
  21. (Q) Encephaloid Martini Valued Senior Member

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    Without hard workers, who would the leeches sponge from?
     
  22. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    How truly sad that you don't even know the answer to that.

    Baron Max
     
  23. EmptyForceOfChi Banned Banned

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    lol

    peace.
     

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