# Happy Independence Day! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 4, 2009, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893 "2009-07-04T13:25:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/1 "2009-07-04T13:25:49Z")
My fellow Americans: Here’s hoping you and yours have a wonderful Fourth of July! Whether it’s with fireworks, a cookout, a clambake, a parade, a speech, a toast or three, or whatever makes you happy, enjoy the day and celebrate the courage and commitment of the Founders back in 1776! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/2 "2009-07-04T13:49:10Z")
Happy fourth, we even got bonus fireworks last night. We took the kids to see Ice Age and in the park next to the movie theater they had a fireworks display 10 minutes after that. We did not know about it, but we had the perfect spot in the lot. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/3 "2009-07-04T14:02:50Z")
Wishing a safe and happy holiday to those celebrating this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/4 "2009-07-04T14:23:08Z")
I work in a 24/7 call center, so I am at work today and a few people are calling in to book travel. I work the early day shift, do it doesn’t bother me since I will be home to light off fireworks and join my sister and her boyfriend for a barbecue. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/5 "2009-07-04T14:24:52Z")
Declaration of Independence. It’s a good read. I take a few minutes each year to appreciate it. Happy 4th! ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/6 "2009-07-04T14:39:10Z")
Here’s a [non-Facebook link to the Declaration](http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/freedom/doi/text.html). I caught part of [this show yesterday](http://www.backstoryradio.org/2009/06/independence-daze-a-history-of-july-fourth-2/). Interesting background and related anecdotes. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/7 "2009-07-04T14:57:15Z")
John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail, “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.” I have to say we have a relatively quiet Fourth planned here, though. My two eldest sons have gone for an overnight visit with my eldest sister, and we’ll be going to a neighborhood picnic and fireworks later. Plus I’m listening to some Sousa marches now as I scope the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/8 "2009-07-04T15:01:26Z")
Damn, now I want to party at Jack and Abby’s place. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/9 "2009-07-04T15:48:22Z")
[QUOTE=Ben Franklin] Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. [/QUOTE] In honor of our Founding Fathers, I will be testing this theory all day. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/10 "2009-07-04T15:51:37Z")
As a Briton allow me to wish y’all 😃 a happy holiday. You’ve come a long way in just over 200 years, may the next 200 be just as productive. Now then, can we please have our tea back? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/11 "2009-07-04T15:55:05Z")
Between the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic drift I calculate that you ought to see the first crates washing up somewhere around Bristol in 2017. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/12 "2009-07-04T16:00:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Between the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic drift I calculate that you ought to see the first crates washing up somewhere around Bristol in 2017. Yeah well those Bristolians are well known “finders keepers” so I doubt I’ll see a single leaf. Incidentally I was in RI for July 4th 2004, had a great time and it has to be said you guys sure know to put on a grubfest ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/13 "2009-07-04T16:43:59Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In honor of our Founding Fathers, I will be testing this theory all day. I have a t-shirt with this saying on it. Whether or not it’s apocryphal, it _should_ be true!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/14 "2009-07-04T18:42:01Z")
I’d seen that around, too. Looks like it’s a paraphrase of Franklin’s views on wine, not beer: [http://www.beerinfood.com/Franklin.html](http://www.beerinfood.com/Franklin.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/15 "2009-07-04T19:53:53Z")
Why the Fourth? The resolution was presented to the Congress on the 2nd, and most of the delegates signed it much later. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/16 "2009-07-04T20:21:17Z")
> [@Mk\_VII](#): > > Why the Fourth? The resolution was presented to the Congress on the 2nd, and most of the delegates signed it much later. Because if it wasn’t on the Fourth, we wouldn’t be able to take off from work for the Fourth of July! Plus, the ending of Independence Day, where the humans rally and defeat the alien invaders on July 4th, wouldn’t have been as dramatic. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/17 "2009-07-04T23:30:28Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > As a Briton allow me to wish y’all 😃 a happy holiday. > > You’ve come a long way in just over 200 years, may the next 200 be just as productive. > > Now then, can we please have our tea back? Very good of you. You like salty tea? 😕😉 Spent the afternoon eating hamburgers with Dad, at his house. Very friendly & agreeable. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/18 "2009-07-04T23:54:17Z")
> [@dwc1970](#): > > I work in a 24/7 call center, so I am at work today and a few people are calling in to book travel. I work the early day shift, do it doesn’t bother me since I will be home to light off fireworks and join my sister and her boyfriend for a barbecue. I hear ya! Me too, 'cept mine’s for [del]totalfrickin’idiiots[/del] people who have cellphones. I worked the early shift too but am home and just feasted on rigs, bbq, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and rolls. It’s time for more pool time to be followed by ice cold watermelon. Plus I have had many beerverages and there are rumors of tequila shots. May Og have mercy on my soul. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/19 "2009-07-05T00:13:02Z")
I went to the Alameda County Fair today and enjoyed myself immensely. What could be better on the 4th of July than corn dogs, lemonade, funnel cakes, midway rides, games of chance, country music, a baked goods contest, and all the rest? I even got to see the “All Alaskan Racing Pigs” – which, considering the recent political developments, seemed quite timely and strangely appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893/20 "2009-07-05T00:34:42Z")
> [@Mk\_VII](#): > > Why the Fourth? The resolution was presented to the Congress on the 2nd, and most of the delegates signed it much later. Independence was indeed approved on July 2, but the document itself was adopted by vote on July 4, and it’s thought the engrossed copy was signed by President of Congress John Hancock and many other (although not all) members of Congress that day. It bears the latter date and is of course familiar to most Americans: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Us\_declaration\_independence.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Us_declaration_independence.jpg) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-independence-day/501893.md?page=2)