# Happy 4th of July American Folk! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 4, 2000, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557 "2000-07-04T15:42:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Piig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@Piig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Piig)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2000, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/1 "2000-07-04T15:42:37Z")
I would just like to use this opportunity and this W.W.Website to wish our American counterparts a Happy Independance Day! Have a good one! From Piig (and the rest of the UK, bar the football hooligans) ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2000, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/2 "2000-07-04T18:38:56Z")
Thank you, my friend. It gives me great pleasure to know that while we celebrate our independence today, our greatest friend is the patron from whom we seceded. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2000, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/3 "2000-07-04T21:33:55Z")
I’d like to second Piig’s sentiments. The only problem is that if, like me, you’re foreign in the US, it’s a very, very dull day indeed. Like christmas with no presents or family. It sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2000, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/4 "2000-07-04T21:42:42Z")
I imagine it also sucks for the moderators having to shift threads. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/5 "2000-07-05T01:31:18Z")
**android** , unfortunately, it’s not as meaningful even to those born in this country. We often forget the meaning and significance of Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and Independence Day. They become little more than just another day off from work and an excuse to cook outdoors and drink too much. Today I went to Home Depot, since my son broke our front door lock, and it absolutely had to be fixed immediately. There were many people there, buying huge loads of material. They took the day we commemorate the birth of our nation and use it to re-panel the rumpus room. Somehow that didn’t seem right to me. I felt a little better at my parents’ home later that day. Before we ate, the patriarch said the blessing as usual, and thanked God for the country we live in and for those who founded it and defended it. A small token of recognition and remembrance, but more than many gave today, I would wager. Thanks for your kind thoughts, and yours too, **Piig** ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/6 "2000-07-05T01:48:19Z")
Thanks, **piig** To echo **Sofa King** ,it means a lot to have our “parent” wish us well, after we, the “child” had to rebel and learn how to do it for ourselves. **DAVEW0071** rightly lamented the lack of respect that we youngsters have for such sacred things as Holidays which commemorate important National events. But the good news is that, some day, DAVE will be the patriarch giving the blessing and much revered by his son, the lock breaker. The prodigal son _always_ returns home. It’s in the book! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/7 "2000-07-05T02:03:24Z")
4th of July celebrates our independence from England! ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/8 "2000-07-05T02:29:54Z")
**Piig** and **android** , thank you, I for one appreciate it. It _is_ funny… the post independance relationshops of colonies with their old parents. The U.S. is an anomaly; it has become a strong nation. And our ties with England and the U.K. are great and mutually, what(?), congenial. But if you look at the post-colonial existence of third world nations, they have, post-independance, tended toward maintaining close ties with the former imperial power. When the shit cuts loose in Rwanda, French paratroopers go in, etc. When America inherited the Vietnam fiasco from France, who became the intermediaries? Well, it’s time to go watch the city blow up the sky - Happy 4th, all of y’all! ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2000, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/9 "2000-07-05T06:26:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > 4th of July celebrates our independence from England! I once asked a guy from England if they had a Thankgiving day and he said “yes, the fourth of July.” Amazing coincidence, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/10 "2000-07-06T00:39:49Z")
Handy, IIRC, the Act of Union preceded the Declaration of Independance;). ---
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-4th-of-july-american-folk/24557/11 "2000-07-06T23:16:34Z")
I, too, appreciate the good wishes Piig. I’m very patriotic - in fact I almost got on here July 5 to preach about what a wonderful country it is and how fortunate we are (and how we take it for granted). The Washington Post did an article featuring some folks’ thoughts on freedom, and reading them (especially the naturalized citizens from oppressive countries) brought tears to my eyes. I’m also an Anglophile and I’m dying to visit the “mother country” some day. Thanks again Piig. If I ever get over there, I’ll look you up.