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I've seen numerous postings on Facebook the past couple of days purporting to be related to the 4th of July. It really dismays me that so many Americans really don't seem to understand why we celebrate the 4th of July. Their posts are covered with flags and fireworks, but also with utterly inappropriate pictures of people in uniform and memes about honoring veterans and those who have died in service to the country.

The 4th of July is about the founding of our Republic. It is about separating from Great Britain, and the struggles our nation went through that culminated with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776. It is not about honoring veterans or our war dead. We have two whole separate days for celebrating and honoring those things, and they belong in their appropriate place. To my mind, it disrespects the efforts of the true patriots of the mid-18th Century who did the amazing things they did that led to the creation of the United States of America. Our freedom is directly attributable to their struggles, their insight and foresight, and their sacrifices *off* the battlefield and in no way connected with the military.

We created Memorial Day to honor our war dead, and Armistice Day/Veterans Day to honor our veterans, living and dead. We've corrupted the meaning of the celebration of the 4th of July with the disturbing new trend in America of fetishizing and worshiping all things military.

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Happy Independence Day!!!

Love the Walking Dead and Dr Strangelove references.

#willferrelforpresident

tv-saturday_night_live-1975_-dale-will_ferrell-accessories-usa_mens_thong.jpg

Edited by Exhausted
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1. Does it really matter? The majority of people are ignorant about alot of history (Leno never had to work to hard to find them on his "jay walking" segment), why get worked up about something you can't change

2. Our service men and women (past and present ) defend the rights our founding fathers fought for, so I hardly see it as dishonoring the revolution by celebrating the military on the 4th.

3. I'd be more upset by the current fascination of the American public and media with the "royals" that we fought to get rid of. Who gives a rats behind about "the royal baby" or the "royal wedding" blab balb blab. When it comes to royals the French got that one right!

Edited by graves_09
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I'm not "worked up". And I didn't originate the quote "Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it" either.

It's a sad statement on our educational system if you ask me. People can't even do simple math, they have no idea how our system of government works, and they have no understanding of the history of how we got to be who we are. Very sad.

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I'm not "worked up". And I didn't originate the quote "Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it" either.

It's a sad statement on our educational system if you ask me. People can't even do simple math, they have no idea how our system of government works, and they have no understanding of the history of how we got to be who we are. Very sad.

Preaching to the choir, but what are you going to do? Our society values entertainment and athletics more than knowledge and rational thought. Nerds weren't cool until people needed them to fix their /iPhone or network their computer. It's not right and I have no answer on how to fix it.

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Don't let the 4th get to you. It's the same on Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving or any

holiday. The stores are open 24-7-365. Morals and value? Yea, right. Anyways if you don't

like it do as I am doing, just sit back and watch the show, my retirement is just the beginning

of the end. I really don't want to see what it is like for my grand children's children in 30

plus years. Maybe that guy with the frizzy hair is right, the aliens will come and bump us up

a step to the next level of "higher intelligence", whatever that is. Just sit back, grab a brew

and enjoy it while you can.---John

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1) I'm not retired, so I'm not a veteran.

2) I'm not dead, so I'm not a memorial.

3) I AM still,alive and serving after 18 years, and my sole purpose is to support the doctorin set forth by our Decleration so go ahead and celebrate as you see fit

Edited by rightwinger26
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I've seen numerous postings on Facebook the past couple of days purporting to be related to the 4th of July. It really dismays me that so many Americans really don't seem to understand why we celebrate the 4th of July. Their posts are covered with flags and fireworks, but also with utterly inappropriate pictures of people in uniform and memes about honoring veterans and those who have died in service to the country.

The 4th of July is about the founding of our Republic. It is about separating from Great Britain, and the struggles our nation went through that culminated with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776. It is not about honoring veterans or our war dead. We have two whole separate days for celebrating and honoring those things, and they belong in their appropriate place. To my mind, it disrespects the efforts of the true patriots of the mid-18th Century who did the amazing things they did that led to the creation of the United States of America. Our freedom is directly attributable to their struggles, their insight and foresight, and their sacrifices *off* the battlefield and in no way connected with the military.

We created Memorial Day to honor our war dead, and Armistice Day/Veterans Day to honor our veterans, living and dead. We've corrupted the meaning of the celebration of the 4th of July with the disturbing new trend in America of fetishizing and worshiping all things military.

Watching the mini series on HBO on the life of our second president John Adams. What a remarkable life. One of our true unsung heros of the founding of our country.

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I've seen numerous postings on Facebook the past couple of days purporting to be related to the 4th of July. It really dismays me that so many Americans really don't seem to understand why we celebrate the 4th of July. Their posts are covered with flags and fireworks, but also with utterly inappropriate pictures of people in uniform and memes about honoring veterans and those who have died in service to the country.

The 4th of July is about the founding of our Republic. It is about separating from Great Britain, and the struggles our nation went through that culminated with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776. It is not about honoring veterans or our war dead. We have two whole separate days for celebrating and honoring those things, and they belong in their appropriate place. To my mind, it disrespects the efforts of the true patriots of the mid-18th Century who did the amazing things they did that led to the creation of the United States of America. Our freedom is directly attributable to their struggles, their insight and foresight, and their sacrifices *off* the battlefield and in no way connected with the military.

We created Memorial Day to honor our war dead, and Armistice Day/Veterans Day to honor our veterans, living and dead. We've corrupted the meaning of the celebration of the 4th of July with the disturbing new trend in America of fetishizing and worshiping all things military.

Interesting take, I was surfing facebook this AM and also noted many posts that essential stated - Happy Fourth, Don't Forget / Thank the Troops. Don't recall seeing those in previous years.

I'm a rather big fan of our military and try to instill their sacrifices in my kids but it does seem just a bit off base. Not that it's a bad thing I guess, just a bit odd. Especially since most of the folks I personally know who are posting this stuff would be hard pressed to find Afghanistan on a map or explain in detail what our strategy is against ISIS. It almost seems a bit empty. I guess it's better than where the country was back in the 70's when the military was the butt of many jokes.

Anyway, a safe and happy 4th to all the ARC'ers out there.

Edited by 11bee
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How about we celebrate with pictures of our models with Patriotic themes (centennial and bicentennial schemes included).

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

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The "artwork" of Clinton with a joint in the corner of his mouth had my wife and I rolling on the floor! :rofl:/> Happy 4th of July!

With Monica at his feet wishing she had a joint in her mouth.........

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We've corrupted the meaning of the celebration of the 4th of July with the disturbing new trend in America of fetishizing and worshiping all things military.

I agree, we should celebrate it as General George Washington did in 1778 by firing off some cannons and giving his men a double portion of rum.

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So let me see if I understand.

Americans are using their personal liberty to celebrate Independence Day as they wish, but celebrating all the same.

They are also using said freedom to express gratitude to their veterans on more than the one day out of 365 stipulated by the government.

Yep, that all sounds fine to me, congratulations cousins, and many happy more!

:happy-birthday::occasion2::happy-birthday:

Cheers, Ian

PS- since you`ve been gone, we rented your room, hugs.

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The "artwork" of Clinton with a joint in the corner of his mouth had my wife and I rolling on the floor! :rofl:/> Happy 4th of July!

Where can I buy full-size prints of these?

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Our freedom is directly attributable to their struggles, their insight and foresight, and their sacrifices *off* the battlefield and in no way connected with the military.

We created Memorial Day to honor our war dead, and Armistice Day/Veterans Day to honor our veterans, living and dead. We've corrupted the meaning of the celebration of the 4th of July with the disturbing new trend in America of fetishizing and worshiping all things military.

OOOOOOKKAAAAY....

This sounds more like an anti-military rant than "Americans don't know their history." Just the way you have used terminology is pejorative. Although it is you that originated this thread, it is you that do not seem to get it.

American independence was not the exclusive domain of the civilian political effort of the period. Nor is the modern meaning of the holiday only about celebrating their efforts. It took a war (actually, several wars) to secure the future of the nation. Although the ideas, persuasive writings, and eventual proclamations originating from the enlightened thinkers of the period were critical to the form, make no mistake, America was established, grew, and has been maintained primarily through military power. The military, represented by our citizen soldiers, was responsible for shedding the blood that established this great nation. It was not the Founding Fathers, generally speaking, except for those few that donned the uniform.

Yes we have Veteran's Day to honor Veterans (serving and retired), and we have Memorial Day to honor the sacrifice of those who gave their life or limb(s) in battle, but that is not the same thing as honoring an institution. As well as the political things you mentioned, Independence Day honors the institution that secured and maintains it....the US Military. The fact that we use fireworks to celebrate July 4th is an homage to the military, perhaps inspired by the "rocket's red glare" of the Ft McHenry attack during the War if 1812.

On Independence Day, we celebrate all things that we consider characteristically American: "Land of the free, home of the brave," the founders, our democratic institutions, hot dogs and burgers on the grill - simple food for simple frontier folk, and yes, the contributions of our "take it to 'em" military heritage.

I don't at all see the worship of our military as a "disturbing new trend." I don't see any evidence that that is happening at all. In fact, I see the opposite. Hardly anyone serves any more, and as a result, our modern civilian population is rapidly losing context and the ability to relate to the military mission or its mindset. Our current president, for example, never served and has no clue on the basic concept of "negotiate from a position of strength."

If there is a trend of military appreciation developing, then I say great. It is long overdue. The military has earned and deserves a place of honor in American society. They should be celebrated, especially on July 4th. The only corruption here is your attempt to disenfranchise the military from a great national holiday that they were largely responsible for creating.

Your attack on the military on Independence Day of all days comes across as personally motivated. Have you ever served in the military? Did you have a bad experience?

Answer honestly here. I am not trying to start anything. I am just trying to figure the source of your motivation as it seems WAY out there from where I am sitting.

Edited by DutyCat
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