- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Messages
- 226
Happy Independence Day to the other colonials out there, even though not much really happened on 4 July 1776.
I found slight irony in riding an English bike to work this morning with a union jack on my helmet on the day Americans celebrate their independence from England. One of my early ancestors was killed by Redcoats at Lexington in April 1775, but no hard feelings. My first ancestor fought the Indians and French for England.
We revere the Statue of Liberty that was a gift from France, but we were too cheap to build a platform for it for 20 years.
Later we will have fireworks displays (probably from China). I have my American flag up (made in the USA; hard to find one nowadays). We Yanks joined up with England for WW1 (for reasons nobody can explain to me but my Grandfather joined up for the U.S. Navy anyway) then we went to bat for England in WW2 (and my father volunteered for the U. S. Army as soon as he was old enough).
For my generation, Britain gave us the youth culture, mini skirts and a lot of the great music of the '60s and '70s, cool sports cars and great motorcycles. No hard feelings. Even for burning down Washington in 1812. Even for Lucas electrics.
Now after doing yardwork in 95 degree heat, I think I'll take a nap. Later, grill some dead cow meat for the dog and me.
For my brothers in the South, my ancestors were Yankees but mostly farmers and sat out the Civil War. Peace.
I found slight irony in riding an English bike to work this morning with a union jack on my helmet on the day Americans celebrate their independence from England. One of my early ancestors was killed by Redcoats at Lexington in April 1775, but no hard feelings. My first ancestor fought the Indians and French for England.
We revere the Statue of Liberty that was a gift from France, but we were too cheap to build a platform for it for 20 years.
Later we will have fireworks displays (probably from China). I have my American flag up (made in the USA; hard to find one nowadays). We Yanks joined up with England for WW1 (for reasons nobody can explain to me but my Grandfather joined up for the U.S. Navy anyway) then we went to bat for England in WW2 (and my father volunteered for the U. S. Army as soon as he was old enough).
For my generation, Britain gave us the youth culture, mini skirts and a lot of the great music of the '60s and '70s, cool sports cars and great motorcycles. No hard feelings. Even for burning down Washington in 1812. Even for Lucas electrics.
Now after doing yardwork in 95 degree heat, I think I'll take a nap. Later, grill some dead cow meat for the dog and me.
For my brothers in the South, my ancestors were Yankees but mostly farmers and sat out the Civil War. Peace.