The Anti Holiday
Jul 4th 2011, 4:06 am
#16
Boomshacalaca!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: South of the North Pole.......Colorado
Posts: 5,066
Jul 4th 2011, 4:07 am
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: The Anti Holiday
Slavery should be forgotten because it happened a long time ago but 4th of July 'ass kicking' shouldn't.
Frankly I was quite surprised when Groudhogs day wasn't turned into some kind public display of military power.
Jul 4th 2011, 4:21 am
#20
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: The Anti Holiday
I've been in the states for five years and today absolutely has to be the worst day of the year to be here. I was at a 4th of July picnic my first year here and some drunk stuck his finger in my face telling me how "we kicked your #$$ two hundred years ago!" Akward! Then last year my house was "egged" on the 4th when I flew the Union Jack.. I'm laying low today, not going out, not doing anything.
The Union Jack might be taking it a bit far though lol
Jul 4th 2011, 4:34 am
#21
Boomshacalaca!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: South of the North Pole.......Colorado
Posts: 5,066
Re: The Anti Holiday
Samuel Johnson famously referred to patriotism as "the last refuge of the scoundrel." Just go ahead and refer to them all as scoundrels... see what the reaction is.
This always makes me laugh....
Jul 4th 2011, 4:43 am
#22
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: The Anti Holiday
Ian
Jul 4th 2011, 5:02 am
#23
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: The Anti Holiday
Jul 4th 2011, 5:09 am
#25
Are we there yet?
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: 31 miles from Cool (California)
Posts: 2,467
Re: The Anti Holiday
I'm sure that all Brits have had the "kicked your ass" thing on 4th of July.
I just laugh and say 4th of July is the day we decided that America wasn't worth keeping......
I just laugh and say 4th of July is the day we decided that America wasn't worth keeping......
Jul 4th 2011, 5:17 am
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 221
Re: The Anti Holiday
What's all the fuss about this day?
Everybody knows that "Nothing of Importance Happened Today".
Ducks...
Everybody knows that "Nothing of Importance Happened Today".
Ducks...
Jul 4th 2011, 5:23 am
#28
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,977
Jul 4th 2011, 5:39 am
#29
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: The Anti Holiday
You hear about the Boston tea party and ride of Paul Revere all the time, however in reality one of the main reasons the Americans revolted was George III issued a proclamation after the Seven Year War in 1763 that the American colonies were not allowed to expand westward, because Britain was tired of war so they made peace treaties with the Indians.
Benjamin Franklin et al opposed that so they used any excuse (the so-called "despicable Acts"), such as the Québec Act 1774 (which allowed Catholics to serve in govt. there) to agitate against the British Govt., which led to American Independence (admittedly the Tea Act and the Stamp Act put it over the top). And eventually the death of 95% of indians in North America, mainly through diseases contracted from the colonists. (Although in fairness the British had a hand in that to begin with, although they did eventually make peace with them).
Americans are quite happy to say they revolted against taxes, never heard one admit it was so they could seize land from the indians.
Note the following populations prior to European contact with the indians in North America:
North America, estimated to be 15 million.
Britain, estimated to be 3 million.
France, estimated to be 16 million.
Let's just say you get a very different teaching of North American history in Canada!
