Safe and Happy July 4th to all posters in here and their families; don't eat or drink too much and by all means, try not to blow your fingers off with the firecrackers!
Happy Fourth to all. Hopefully, some day soon the right wing America haters will repent and learn to appreciate the true greatness of this wonderful and sacred Land.
To you, it's the 4th of July, to me it's Thursday. http://www.allcupo.com/post/13252720444/to-you-its-thanksgiving-to-me-its-thursday
I love the America that is my home. I emphasize the two words of that expression: my, and home. Let's talk about 'home' first. There's a sort of backhanded old saying that says the 'home is the place that when you go there, they have to take you in.' Home is the place where you are part of the family. And family is what you never lose, the family is where you always belong. When you are born, the family welcomes you and bestows their love upon you. And when you come to the end of this life, when all your possessions and status and accomplishments, whatever they were, finally fall away and you are again naked before the universe, it is the family that gathers and testifies that you, in yourself and not for anything you can anymore do, are valued, are loved. My ideal is that America be the home of us all, and that we all be family. The other word is that word 'my.' It refers to identity, and connotes one individual. When I call America 'my home,' I take America unto myself, and feel it to be a part of my identity, and that I am a part of it. If I gaze upon the great physical manifestations of 'America,' the landscapes, the cities, the mountains, I don't merely admire the power and beauty of it all--I feel it is mine. I love it, all of it, I want to care for it, defend it, improve it, because it belongs to me, and I to it. I also feel other things when I am reminded that others have been kept from participating in this identity. I know others gaze upon 'America' and do not respond as I do because people with power have told them that America is not theirs, that their contributions are not valued, that they are not liked or respected, and they do not deserve what 'Americans' deserve. My feelings when I think of this include anger. I would not venture to say what their feelings may be, or to judge them. Families are never ideal; my homeland is not ideal. But I love my homeland as I love my family, and I wish all Americans to be able to say the same. [NOTE: posted by me earlier today in another topic, but I think it fits here. DQ]
As a 'foreigner' who has much affection for Americans as a people, allow me to echo the well wishes for your celebrations on the 4th of July. Eat, drink, and be merry, and celebrate the impressive society you have built. Happy Independence Day to all my American friends! Please don't take this amiss in any way, but I am always slightly amused by the presumption embodied in the thread title, that everyone in the world is either American, or subscribes to American values and culture. I am sure that was not the intention of the OP (it probably did not even occur to him,) but might the American posters here not scratch their heads a bit if I were to make a thread entitled "Happy 5th of November to all posters" ?
My favorite July 4th speech! "Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Mankind. That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We cant be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps its fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: We will not go quietly into the night! Were going to live on! Were going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"- President Thomas Whitmore
It is nice to see a good honest positive post on this forum. Some of the threads I have seen today have really troubled me. Even down to the pettiness of which political ideology loves their country more. The USA is 237 years young. There have been some great years, and years people would rather forget. I am only a visitor to the USA, but I could post what you said word for word about my 'home' and it would be equally honest and reflective. I hope every one has a great 4th, enjoy too much food, enjoy a drink or two and blow off some fireworks. But most of all I hope you appreciate what you have, the good the bad and the ugly.
Final display downtown Indy. Does not show the awesomeness of the display. Went to a 4th party around downtown and got hit on by two women and asked to join a bicycle ride (with a group) tomorrow by another. At my age either they are desperate or I am lucky. [video=youtube_share;ST8Y4eQ9H0s]http://youtu.be/ST8Y4eQ9H0s[/video]
Hey Washington was both desperate and lucky at the Battle of Trenton.........so I think you are just being a patriot American by keeping that spirit alive
Please do share your special days. When I see one from Canada or Austrailia---it makes me google what its all about
