Happy 4th, Marines!

[admin]

I just wanted to tell my Marines to have a happy and safe Fourth of July.

And to our international troopers, get with the program! Hehe. j/k

You know, being that it's July 4th, I've decided to tell a short story related to the holiday.

A few days back, during a trip to Wal-mart, I was entering the store and I passed their little "wall of heroes" thing where they pin up photos of employees' family members serving in Iraq. I'm pretty sure these can be found in most Wal-Marts throughout the nation. On the wall at the store by my apartment, there was a sign that read "Wal-Mart thanks our soldiers for our independence."

Independence? Really? I thought we gained that 200 some-odd years ago?

This amuses me greatly, though I wouldn't put it past our local simpletons to make such a mistake. Freedom? Yeah, that would have been better. Liberty? Sure, why not, it's within the realm of being correct. Heck, I would have even submitted to a made-up term like, like, Americaness. But independence is too long of a word to type and not think about half way through typing it. While independence and freedom are closely related, here in America each term takes on a very special meaning. I leave it up to the individual to discern it, but damn: WAR OF INDEPENDENCE anyone? That's certainly what I think when I see the term "independence," and certainly I don't think we're still fighting it. In fact, I thought we were buddy-buddy with England now? LOL.

OOOOOooo this amuses me!

[apollo]

Haha, Wal-Mart is always good for a laugh when they're making shameless marketing campaigns. They used to have a commercial with a WWII vet talking about how great it was that we had soldiers fighting for freedom and all that and my english professor (whose father had served in Europe in WWII) got pissed off and said "My father didn't almost die so Wal-Mart could sell cheap shoes made in China!"

Happy 4th everybody

[snowflake]

Probably they should have written "Wal-Mart thanks our soldiers for keeping us independent"...

Now as a European there are many things i don't like about USA (and many more i like), mostly related on politics choice and oil wars... but anyway i always thought the 4th of July is a really important date to celebrate. It has a great meaning and as i see from Italy it is something all of you guys feel very deep in your heart and heritage.

In Italy we have had tons of wars of indipendence and on the 25th of April (when we celebrate the liberation from Nazi-Fascist oppression) not everyone celebrate it... there is always some party who tries to make it its own celebration (left and right wing, they're all the same) while I feel it should be the day of all italians... that's what i mostly appreciate about USA, on the 4th of july, you gather all togheter no matter what.

Anyway, aren't we clonetroopers? HAIL TO THE EMPIRE!!!

[Deleted]

Yeah, it is kind of nice that everyone can come together, even though it is only for a few hours...One thing, that I think a lot of people forget about (maybe not so much US citizens, but maybe them too) is that the 4th isn't just the day where we celebrate freedom and the independence from England, but, the 4th really is the anniversary of the day this country technically (in my eyes at least) was founded. Whereas Italy and pretty much all of Europe and Asia have been around for thousands of years, the US is still a very young country in many respects. That's one thing that kind of bothers me too, is that our government and many high up people in "power" consider this country to be the best country in the world. I am not saying I agree or disagree, but we haven't been around that long. Something about that just bothers me.

Anyways, happy 4th everybody.

And yes, Captain, I agree. We are pretty much buddy buddy with England.

[snowflake]

But you can't find Fish 'n Chips at walmart yet!

[Deleted]

I don't get it.

[apollo]

Shadow, I wouldn't get too hung up on politicians saying America is number 1. Really, it makes sense to always think that your personal country is the best because then you get some good friendly competition, and age isn't what makes a country good or bad. China's been around longer than anybody and I wouldn't want to live there.

I never realized all of the disconnect in other countries like how Italy has so many different independence days that no one can agree on. It is nice that we can all come together at least one day a year... especially when it involves pyrotechnics!

[snowflake]

just joking... fish and chips... the tipical UK street food... excuse my italian sense of humor LOL

[snowflake]

apollo said:

especially when it involves pyrotechnics!

That's a good point... in italy you get pyrotechincs when a soccer team wins the cup!

[Deleted]

I hear you apollo. While I have no problem with patriotism it just seems to me that this country is bordering on extreme nationalism, and that scares me. That's all I'm saying. I would like to live everywhere in the world for a few months, but I also tend to dislike routine. I want to see the world, I just don't want to join the military. At least not without the Sith backing it up...

[dtlte]

Happy Fourth Everyone!!
Lets try to keep politics out of this place. After all, isn't this why we come here is to suspend reality?

[apollo]

No problem mate. I tried to stay away from actually saying anything politically biased (except for maybe the thing about Wal-Mart), but if it bothers you then I'll leave it out entirely

[youngling]

Happy 4th have a great one

[dtlte]

No sweat apollo. There was no offense taken. Hope you had a great 4th!

[apollo]

Well it rained but I got to have a nice grilled dinner so it was all good