FWIW, yes it is Independence Day here in the states. It’s also the 4th of July. My calendar displays both. Now, lighten up, watch the parades, maybe set off some fireworks and burn a couple of steaks on the grill. Getting testy about what to call the day gets us exactly nowhere.
For those who are interested in historical things, there’s bound to be material all over the place about how this holiday got its start. Wikipedia is sure to have something on it, and the PBS stations can usually be counted on as well as the History Channel for those of you who have cable or satellite (I’m still old fashioned– and broke– enough to be using “rabbit ears” here).
Edit, add-on: Yes, Wikipedia has something on it. It seems the day goes by both Independence Day and Fourth of July, depending on circumstances I suspect. See link below. Now, about those parrots—- Here, kitty kitty kitty…..
I will Celebrating Independence Day a little late…tonight. Some folks in family had to work yesterday. I WILL be thinking about our independence from the United Kingdom.
“England” is more correct than “United Kingdom” (that term wasn’t officially adopted until 1801), but “Great Britain” would be more correct still. England, Scotland and Wales were politically unified; it was a “united kingdom”, although it wasn’t yet the UK.
In some of the colonies, the main focus of discontent was not the Crown, but the Proprietors (the Pitts, for example) who imposed their own restrictions on colonial autonomy above those taxes and so on imposed by Parliament. One of the ideas that was floating around before complete American Independence became the agreed-upon goal was for British America to be granted an equal status as Scotland and Wales, providing its own representatives to Parliament but still under the sovereignty of the King (who by that point was a German anyway).
If this proposal (supported by Ben Franklin, notably but not solely) had found favor across the Atlantic in the 1760’s, then the events of the 1770’s might never have come to pass.
randayn about 14 years ago
On this day, more than others, Joe, Thank you for your service. Love your picture.
HAPPY 4TH OF jULY, EVERYONE!
Limb_Ashhauler about 14 years ago
i wonder what the parrot’s name is.
jpozenel about 14 years ago
Barney’s parrots learned to repeat what they hear in his home.
Apparently Barney has both of his birds in the bedroom with him and his wife. They seem to imitate his wife more than him.
Parrots learn by constant repetition.
If Barney ever get a divorce he can only hope that his wife gets custody of the birds!
Limb_Ashhauler about 14 years ago
deja moo?
jpozenel about 14 years ago
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!
HAPPY 5TH OF JULY POSTAL EMPLOYEES!
mjmsprt40 about 14 years ago
FWIW, yes it is Independence Day here in the states. It’s also the 4th of July. My calendar displays both. Now, lighten up, watch the parades, maybe set off some fireworks and burn a couple of steaks on the grill. Getting testy about what to call the day gets us exactly nowhere.
For those who are interested in historical things, there’s bound to be material all over the place about how this holiday got its start. Wikipedia is sure to have something on it, and the PBS stations can usually be counted on as well as the History Channel for those of you who have cable or satellite (I’m still old fashioned– and broke– enough to be using “rabbit ears” here).
Edit, add-on: Yes, Wikipedia has something on it. It seems the day goes by both Independence Day and Fourth of July, depending on circumstances I suspect. See link below. Now, about those parrots—- Here, kitty kitty kitty…..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IndependenceDay(United_States)
ComicKazi about 14 years ago
I’d just like to say a few words about the art: Wonderful stuff, David Clark.
Ratbrat about 14 years ago
Canadians celebrate Canada Day on July 1st, the date of our confederation as a country. We also have fireworks and associated festivities.
Happy Independence Day to our US neighbours!
Ushindi about 14 years ago
D@rn! Now I don’t know whether to have a good July 4th or a good Independence Day - what if I have a good wrong one? This is so confusing…
Hillbillyman about 14 years ago
I will Celebrating Independence Day a little late…tonight. Some folks in family had to work yesterday. I WILL be thinking about our independence from the United Kingdom.
Packratjohn Premium Member about 14 years ago
The UK? I think you might mean England.
fritzoid Premium Member about 14 years ago
“England” is more correct than “United Kingdom” (that term wasn’t officially adopted until 1801), but “Great Britain” would be more correct still. England, Scotland and Wales were politically unified; it was a “united kingdom”, although it wasn’t yet the UK.
In some of the colonies, the main focus of discontent was not the Crown, but the Proprietors (the Pitts, for example) who imposed their own restrictions on colonial autonomy above those taxes and so on imposed by Parliament. One of the ideas that was floating around before complete American Independence became the agreed-upon goal was for British America to be granted an equal status as Scotland and Wales, providing its own representatives to Parliament but still under the sovereignty of the King (who by that point was a German anyway).
If this proposal (supported by Ben Franklin, notably but not solely) had found favor across the Atlantic in the 1760’s, then the events of the 1770’s might never have come to pass.