Do most Americans think about freedom and independence, or is the 4th of July just another reason to party, get drunk, and shoot off fireworks?

@Adogslife
I'll give you a clue... does King George III of England ring a bell with you?

@SandWitch spoken like a true child.

@SandWitch except there were BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN that fought in the Revolutionary War so that we could become a country. Not sure if you're assuming that Adogslife was referencing our current military (which by the way, I do appreciate their service regardless) or not.

@SandWitch Thankfully, we are free to decide for ourselves why and how we celebrate Independence Day. Not all states in these United States had to first exist as British Colonies. Most though had to break free of one or more European bully governments before arriving as states in these United States,

So we collective celebrate Independence Day for our independence from whomever the bully nation that once served as our overlords. Independence is a moveable or series of events. The Brits took another stab at us in 1812 and a handful of my ancestors sent them a’running at the Battle of New Orleans. Another set of relatives made Texas not a part of Mexico, so unless we are ready for 4 or 5 separate Independence Day celebrations, I’m fine with lumping our collective Independence together on July 4th.

Not quite the same as Memorial Day. On Memorial Day we honor their sacrifices, on July 4th we celebrate their achievements.

@Heartlander


I disagree with you. You're still confused about the significant meaning Memorial Day and Independence Day have from each other. That is precisely why most Americans don't understand why they celebrate Independence Day. They don't understand because they confuse the 'true' meaning of each commemorative day as being one in the same much like you have done. They are not one in the same, nor even close in technical meaning.

@SandWitch Practically all, if not all, such holidays have a variance between the ‘true’ or original meaning and the twisted meaning. Christmas has come to mean dozens of things. I grew up where Mardi Gras is celebrated. Does everyone celebrating Mardi Gras realize they are celebrating Fat Tuesday, a last spirited day before beginning the penitent 40 days of Lent?

Drifting from what may have been the original reason for Independence day allows us to celebrate our own independence, that we are independent. Our breaking free from France, and Spain, and Mexico, and wherever is every bit as significant as Virginia and Pennsylvania breaking free of England. And again, without the patriots taking up arms to defy the heavy hand of overlords there would be no independence.

@kodiac I second this. We went from a Republic, to a Democracy and we're spiraling down to possibly Communism since the only way down is to cause a huge reset to where we, as a whole, are so desperate for a savior to lead this nation we'll offer our freedoms. I swear if we're not the second fall of Rome, idk who is.

@carpediem then maybe I am wrong, lol. I served for 2 years, have lived and been educated in the US. I have my feelings/beliefs on what America is. Frank Sinatra sang a song about that many decades ago, the current politicians should review it.

@samueltyler2 Thank you for your service.

@carpediem it was a hardship, but worth it.

@BlueRain
Spoken like a true child. Have another drink and get over yourself. 🍹

@SandWitch 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@SandWitch I understand, but I draw a bit of distinction between the people and the culture because my fondness of the people don’t always extend to British institutions, which at times behaves like bullies.

@RedGrizzly


The USA still celebrates Independence Day religiously because it had almost lost that war? 🤣 That conclusion of your's is actually laughable! 250+ years ago, I may have gone along with your analogy, but seriously, that reason you give that America had almost lost that war and therefore celebrate today because they almost didn't win, simply doesn't fly nor continue to fly not long after the smoke cleared!

The American Revolutionary War took place over 250 years ago! And now you're trying to tell me that the USA celebrates Independence Day religiously these days because they almost lost a war that took place closer to 300 years ago than 200 years ago?! Like, WTF! Get real!

The truth is, you don't have a clue nor does the USA as a Nation have a clue why Americans feel the insatiable need to celebrate Independence Day like they had just won a war, other than the obvious reason for celebration which was America's total gain of independence from Great Britain in the mid-1700's, which of course was coincident with the birth of this new Nation called 'America'.

For you to suggest that "America as a superpower would not exist...EVER" had they lost the American Revolutionary War over 250 years ago, thus being the reason Americans today celebrate Independence Day that is based on an event that took place over 250 years after that war ended, is an extremely far-reach of creative imagination on your part!

Independence Day in the USA today means nothing more than a date on the calendar which commemorates the day in each calendar year when the USA became a Nation unto itself and broke free from Great Britain ...and that's really the end of the story.

But honestly, that's all very nice that America broke free from King George III of Great Britain back in the day, but many other countries around the world went through the same thing with Great Britain and many countries today are still breaking away from Great Britain.

Those achievements of independence from Great Britain involving other Nations have never been presented on the world stage as being the big deal that the USA has always made of Independence Day for itself, but those other Nations do celebrate their own Independence Day on the calendar date that it happened for each country involved. And that's all we're really talking about with the USA as well, as being the date America became it's own Nation after it divorced it's ties with Great Britain.