Comments on: Independence Day

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 21:05:34 +0000

I seem to remember reading that it was done so more people could sign it. Actually many of the ‘signers’ didn’t make the effort for months.

Hell, we had only been on the ‘new’ Gregorian calendar since 1752, so a lot of dates were still screwed up.

By: Badtux

Badtux — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 17:08:43 +0000

Hmm, so T.J. accidentally put the wrong date at the top of his essay “Why We Want To Be Independent”, and everybody uses that rather than the real date, July 2 because they don’t know any better? So we celebrate Independence Day on July 4 because of a clerical error that should have been caught in copyediting but made it into print?

Heh. Given the reign of error we’ve had the past handful of Presidents, nothing surprises me anymore :).

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 16:17:44 +0000

LOL Yeah... But on the plus side, stups the wacko's annoying *real people* for awhile. ;) Curiously, JewishNews had a good article about the Egyptian Independance Day (which IMHO, the Egyptians have a legitimate reason to celebrate).

Like most of the people on the planet, I was glued to my TV screen last night, following the events in the streets of Cairo. Talk about throwing a party – this has to have been the most wonderful 4th of July celebration ever. And, by the way, if the Egyptians want it – they can declare July 4th their official Day of Independence (even though it was all happening on July 3rd). Or maybe we’ll make it a twofer, with the Egyptian day coming right before the American. A day in Cairo, a night in DC kind of thing. I don’t think it’s been done before – an Islamist president being toppled by a popular coup, completely driven by the people. They’re still poor and hungry, but last night they looked crazy happy.

Best 4th of July Fireworks – in Cairo

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 15:55:55 +0000

Come on, ‘Noz over at Rubber Hose has the plan already laid out – the wingers will claim the evil Arabs are trying to steal the Fourth of July as a holiday… 👿

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 10:15:11 +0000

I dunno... But it seems that Egyptians think it's a good day to celebrate! :) 2013 July 4th Fireworks Photos Ranking: Cairo fireworks ranked best Let's see the wingnuts get all uptight about that! :lol:

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 06:11:32 +0000

In reply to Badtux.

Because that’s the date they put at the top of page, and both TJ and John Adams died on that date fifty years later, so it must be a portent or perhaps karma, or just another coincidence. The whole thing my have been a cover up to hide the fact that Alexander Hamilton was messing around and need a strong alibi for that date.

It’s become just an excuse to get drunk and blow things up in the middle of the summer. Sooner or later it will be celebrated on the first Monday in July so there’s a three day weekend and Congress can take two weeks off instead of just one.

By: Badtux

Badtux — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 05:55:57 +0000

The independence resolution was passed on July 2, 1776. I’ve always been baffled as to why we celebrate Independence Day on July 4, which is just the day when Thomas Jefferson turned in his assigned essay entitled “Why We Want To Be Independent”, which was promptly marked up in red and given a “F” until 50% of it had been cut out (especially the parts dealing with slavery, which was a taboo subject in the South even then).

In a way it was quite fitting that Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act on July 2, because that was the true Independence Day to begin with.

– Badtux the Baffled Contrarian Penguin