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What are our friends to the south (and north... and, well, west) doing for America Day? As a Canadian, I do nothing (well, maybe I'll watch Will Smith's magnum opus, Independance Day). How do you celebrate putting one over on the Brits? Drink "beer"? Shoot shit? Watch pretty, sparkly things go boom? The world needs answers!

Yes, I'm fully aware it's simply called the 4th of July. Thanks, though.

BBQ. There's a possibility I may be playing a dungeons and dragons type game with my friends while the stars explode.

But, BBQ is necessary.

We're not really doing much. My Parents are going to some July 4th festival thing and I'm probably going to be playing some games with my brother.

I like to remember that the "rocket's red glare" that're "bursting in air" are Canadian/British. He was writing about a battle late in the war of 1812. America wasn't doing so hot back then. The government building had been torched (then later white-washed to become the first whitehouse) and while the Canadian/British forces had difficulty maintaining an area after the defenders and militia had been scattered (because Americans don't like being beaten on their own soil), they had no real trouble with the American 'military' such that it was back then.

Take pride though, America: those weren't fireworks, and your forefathers weren't playing capture the flag regarding their happiness that the flag was still there: they were losing, on the brink of annihilation and managed to make it through the night all the same. That peace talks that followed resulted in the Canadian/British forces giving back the territory that America had lost to them (because they'd never keep it, given that Americans lived on it), and today American children if they're taught about the war of 1812, they're taught that America won. I think that is a tragedy. The true spirit of America is in that song: how it behaved in the face of defeat is much more laudable than claiming the affair as a historical 'victory.'

I have the final for my summer course next week, so I'll be spending it studying.

Not that I'd really be celebrating if I did have the time off. Usually I sign up to work on the 4th (assuming the job I have at the time is open then) and take any extra shifts that people don't want to maximize the amount of time I can claim time-and-a-half.

And to echo Brad's sentiments, that never made much sense to me either. I mean, I can understand the pride of having been able to muster a generally effective resistance, or being able to fight the British/Canadians to a standstill on the Great Lakes (it's been a while since I've taken a US History course that wasn't propaganda, but as I recall that happened), or the fact that we managed to accomplish some of the goals we set out to do (like ending impressment of American citizens) but claiming decisive military victory never made much sense.

I actually have a firework called The ASS-RIPPER!!!!
I've been saving this bad mother.

metcarfre wrote:How do you celebrate putting one over on the Brits?

Right right...

I'm gonna avoid the political history lesson and just say, in classic Worms style

"Yew traita!"

Shea wrote:I actually have a firework called The ASS-RIPPER!!!!
I've been saving this bad mother.

Wouldn't, technically, any firework be an "Ass-Ripper" if you light them off in the right area?

As for me, going to a BBQ at my aunt's house. Holidays are about the only time I get social with a lot of people, so I usually take the opportunity.

Brad wrote:I like to remember that the "rocket's red glare" that're "bursting in air" are Canadian/British...

I dispute that point in particular as them solely being British. Canada didn't exist then, and it wouldn't develop its own sense of identity until after (and partly because of) this war.

And, while the defense of Baltimore inspired the lyrics (or, rather, poem), the United States did see military successes during the war, particularly at sea.


ANYWAY,

explosions, yo

Saying Canadians didn't fight in the War of 1812 is like saying Americans didn't fight in their Independence War. The Province of Canada did exist (consisting of Upper and Lower Canada, AKA Ontario and Quebec. The Maritimes weren't really important here), and many of the soldiers fighting came from that colony/province. Britain provided support and officers, but they weren't interested enough to fight the war themselves. So the colonists from Canada did most of the fighting themselves, regardless of whether or not we were a country yet.

Uh, that's kind of a myth. The vast majority of the fighting was accomplished by British regulars, and First Nations. Colonists helped, yes, but at every major battle it was the regulars that made the difference - and, arguably, the natives.

Shea wrote:I actually have a firework called The ASS-RIPPER!!!!
I've been saving this bad mother.

I want a video of the ass ripper plzkthx.

brits? PSSSH they piss and moan we made it on our own

Happy Birthday America.

TheRocketSiobhan wrote:

Shea wrote:I actually have a firework called The ASS-RIPPER!!!!
I've been saving this bad mother.

I want a video of the ass ripper plzkthx.

Quit reminding me that I don't have a digital video recorder. *sniff*
I would either have to order one online (Which I don't trust the shipping services for expensive high quality electronics. Not after UPS busted a 26 inch LCD HD TV on it's way to my house.), or drive 70 miles to Chattanooga to get one, because the level of availability in this town is ass. There's not even one in my Wal-mart yet! Hell, in the K-mart here in town they've still got Castlevania : Circle of the Moon for sale, which was released for GBA back in 2001! I'll get one after I've saved up enough to buy the PS3 that I want, and I've saved up some more.
But I'll be sure to tell you about it.

The War of 1812 isn't really taught here in the States. It really should be, but it isn't. Propaganda and all that. C'est la vie.

As for sticking it to the Brits . . . well, that ain't much true either. England didn't really want us anyway. If they really did, they'd have put up a much bigger fight. Basically, England put up a token resistance, realized we wouldn't quit, then gave us our freedom. The US was basically a rebelling teenager that continually pissed off its parent until it was tossed out on its ass. Canada was the good child that left home nicely.

Anyway, I'm taking my girlfriend to a quiet coastal town to relax. We'll eat some sandwiches, sit on the beach, watch explosions, and go home. I'm looking forward to it.

Fuck independence day. The 4th is an even more important day. My birthday.

gcninja wrote:brits? PSSSH they piss and moan we made it on our own

Yup, the USA made pissing and moaning their own.

Hakaryu wrote:Fuck independence day. The 4th is an even more important day. My birthday.

Hope you like fireworks for a birthday present...

Hakaryu wrote:Fuck independence day. The 4th is an even more important day. My birthday.

That's something worth celebrating. Congratulations on being a year closer to your inevitable doom. Er.....j/k?

Lyinginbedmon wrote:

gcninja wrote:brits? PSSSH they piss and moan we made it on our own

Yup, the USA made pissing and moaning their own.

Oh SNAP!

-m

Rocking out to Ukrainian punk, drinking vodka and, from a safe distance, watching the offspring of Latin immigrants blow shit up with illegal fireworks. Just like they do every night. And day. Usually I just pretend I'm living in a war zone. If I get really adventurous maybe I'll go outside and pepper spray someone for the fun of it.

Theokotos wrote:Rocking out to Ukrainian punk, drinking vodka and, from a safe distance, watching the offspring of Latin immigrants blow shit up with illegal fireworks. Just like they do every night. And day. Usually I just pretend I'm living in a war zone. If I get really adventurous maybe I'll go outside and pepper spray someone for the fun of it.

Damn, I should move to where you are. Maybe I'll get some peace and quiet for a change!

You say "Oh SNAP", but it's true. Americans are complainers.

The landed gentry do love us and our quaint ways.