And to the deplorables who put up this sign Have Happy 243rd Independence Day. Enjoy the day and we hope it doen’t rain on your parade. The Management.
Tag: Independence Day
Jul 05 2012
My Little Town 20120704: Independence Day
Those of you that read this regular series know that I am from Hackett, Arkansas, just a mile or so from the Oklahoma border, and just about 10 miles south of the Arkansas River. It was a rural sort of place that did not particularly appreciate education, and just zoom onto my previous posts to understand a bit about it.
Before we get started, please allow me to wish our great Nation a very happy 236th birthday! Although the United States is not completely perfect, it is indeed a more perfect Union than had ever been conceived up to the time, and remains more perfect than any other. As long as the People are in charge, this will not change. Actually, I sort of begrudgingly look at 04 July as the anniversary, because I believe that the Nation actually came to be with the adoption of the Constitution of the United States on 04 March 1789, making it 213 years old, but the Founders chose 04 July, so I shall not argue too much. Actually, the Declaration of Independence was signed on 02 August 1776, but the wording of the document was approved by the Continental Congress on 04 July 1776. By the way, John Adams preferred 02 July because that is when the Congress voted to secede from the UK.
There were not very many formal observations of Independence Day in Hackett when I was little. Actually there were none. However, we still celebrated it in our own ways.
Jul 05 2010
Pique the Geek 20100704: The Science of Fireworks
This has been sort of a recurring theme for me the past few years for the installment nearest Independence Day. You can hit my profile and find the earlier entries in this series.
This time, I intend to focus on the single greatest improvement in technology (other than the development of black powder) that has made modern, highly colored fireworks possible. Until relatively recently the only colors available were white, yellow, and a dull red, with very faded out, compared to today, other colors.
First some theory, then some facts. Please follow.
Jul 05 2010
George Orwell and Howard Zinn on Nationalism
Crossposted at Daily Kos
Writing in 1945 in his remarkable essay Notes on Nationalism, author George Orwell noted the following distinction between patriotism and nationalism
Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By “patriotism” I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.
— Author and journalist George Orwell
Jul 04 2009
So Far Away From Home
Many’s the time we’ve been mistaken, and many times confused.
Yes, and we’ve often felt forsaken, and certainly misused.
Obama says it’s all right, it’s all right, but I’m weary to my bones.
On this Independence Day, on this 4th of July 2009,
America’s so far away from home,
So far away from home.
Our government tortured people to death, our government spies on us, our government hands trillions of tax dollars to Wall Street criminals. As a professor, Barack Obama taught Constitutional law. As President, he betrays the Constitution and calls it looking forward. He consults with RePug lunatics and calls it bipartisanship. He takes one step towards change, two steps back, and calls it progress.
I don’t know a soul who’s not been battered,
Don’t have a friend who feels at ease,
Don’t know a dream that’s not been shattered,
Or driven to its knees.
Jul 03 2009
This 4th of July, “Give Peace a Chance”
Jul 04 2008
“Independence Day”, and No Celebration?
Yesterday I got an e-newsletter about the same time I caught this post. The e covered what prompted the post by ScottyUrb.
Today, the 4th of July, we here in the States celebrate our “Independence”, no need to go into an explanation, or give a link to read about, we’re all supposed to know and understand what that means, and so are others who think they’ve achieved that.
This year there’ll be alot less traveling to a further destination for relaxation or whatever, more home bodies, we all know the reasons, or we should.