Well the 4th of July is upon us and the most eagerly awaited of holidays in some circles is here . As a Brit now here in the US and with family here , the Caribbean and back in the UK. I'm having to explain to my nieces an nephews as such what it's all about .
So to you all have a great and safe 4th of July and above all stay safe !
Having done so I think that they get the gist as to what this holiday means to the majority of Americans . And indeed it does mean a lot in more ways than I could really explain. Suffice to say the significance of the day isn't lost on the populace at all as they go about celebrating the country's independence from Britian, it's old adversary and perhaps now its closest ally.
To the male members within the forum , have a great 4th of July !
So to those of you near and far , my wishes for you all is to have a great 4th of July and my sincerest regards to you all and to your immediate family members ! To the male contingency within this forum as usual I'll think of you as only I can with the above. And to the ladies , I ask that you not judge me solely on this.
J/k I know the sacrifices our Forefathers made to free our country from Britan and will always appreciate the ultimate sacrifice of the soldiers who passed during that time and also the sacrifices the soldiers of today make to help keep this country free..
JOKERSWILD To you and your's also in terms of the holiday festivities. I only hope that the troops out in the field will be able to enjoy the fesitivities as well !
hanahan
There'll be times that the two countries'll agree to disagree. But it normally happens out of either a misunderstanding or taking opposite views on a matter. But above all there's still undying mutual respect there between the two countries.
Have yourself an enjoyable 4th of July alongside your family.
volfan 69
With the sporting weekend ahead and the fact that I've not got to work for the next few days. I intend to have a great deal of fun.
I'll watch some of Wimbledon and in particular the Williams sisters. Then I'll be looking to see of Federer can win unprecedented sixth straight Wimbledon against Nadal. And then if I'm not out of breath I'll try to take in the finality of the track & field Olympic trials.
Either way have a great 4th of July and my regard to the immediate family.
Al; For some reason on the 4th my thoughts go immediatly to George Washington crossing the Delaware River into Trenton on Christmas Eve. It was ( in my opinion ) the most important moment in this countries history.
As far as our realationship with Mother England now, i think we can thank two men, maybe the two men ( Again, in my opinion) who may have just saved the whole world from tyrany, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt.
Funny the way it worked out, Tyrany drove us apart and then brought us back together
blue&orange
That may well be true but I certainly didn't think that way whilst I was serving in the military in Ireland during the troubles there in the eighties.
Whilst that was going on the IRA as a terrorist organization had myself and my comrades within the scope sights . When they weren't killing innocent victims with their bombs or assassinating local politicians or committing the most heinous of atrocities . But yet the US allowed the likes of Jerry Adams and Martin McGinnis known sympathizers and who were either para military members of that group or just fundraisers to come here raise money for the IRA and at the same time meet members of Congress.
Whats wrong is you changed gears on me and went to a religious conflict. I thought we were talkin about Indepedence day. I dont even try to understand how religious beliefs can cause so much damage as we saw in Ireland and now in the Middle East. And the way politicians line themselves up in these conflicts is even more perplexing to me.
Last edited by blue@orange on July 5th at 5:27 PM.
Regards to you in return, justan'. I see the holiday has stirred up some debate across some blogs. This is healthy; I can only imagine what you are telling the young people in your life...
blue&orange
I'm not going religious on you. It's that the country uses it as a crux to make an argument on its stances. We're seeing it now with regard to certain conflicts that it has become engulfed in. And if you think that the point raised with regard to Adams and McGinnis isn't warranted. Then I can only assume you've not read or know enough about what's happened in Ireland over the years at the behest of some here.
The holiday itself is primarily seen as a chance to rejoice as to the country gaining its independence from its former master. That being said the advancements made have been a beacon of light for many and a voice for many who wish for the same in their own country.
MCLioness
I can only prescribe or make a suggestion to those youngsters. As you know it's really hard to force an ideal upon someone if they're not prepared to listen.
Al; I dont know where to go with this? But...As far as Gerry Adams and Martin Mcginnis, all i know is, they both held or still hold high positions in the Sinn Fein and IRA. Adams seems to be more the politisian and McGinnis, you might say actavist, you could say terrorist. Had i been born in Northern Ireland as a Roman Catholic, i'd probably be their supporters. But i wasnt! But i was born to a father who's Prodestant family arrived in America, from Whales in the early 1700s and from what ive been handed down, were supporters of the revolution. So i can understand anyones struggle to out an unwanted Empire and take their country for their own. Now as for planting Nail Bombs on city streets which may take innocent lives, in the name of the cause? That's a seperate issue. And then you have Religion, My Mother raised us Roman Catholic, does my Religion put me in a position, to were i must choose a side? I dont believe so.. Any time you mix rebelion with religion you get a very volital situation, and a very complex one..
Last edited by blue@orange on July 6th at 6:29 AM.
blue & orange
So does that give 'em the right to take the stance and at the same time the US lauds their acts by paying their cause a legal act of fighting for their freedom ? 'cause if anything the actions of the administrations over the years and that of the so called polictians has emboldened and suborn those terrorist acts. And as far as the Falkland Islands go. The land itself was won from the Argentinians over one hundred years before in war wich they lost. It's primarily resided on by a mixture of Argentines and British subjects. The vast majority of the island was owned by the Falkland Island Farm Co., . It was a commercial enterprise more than anything else at the time of the war in the eighties.
The only reason why President Menem went to war with Britain over it, was because of his falling popularity within Argentina at the time. He underestimated the temerity of the islanders there and that of the British people and its military..
And because of it they lost a very costly war in terms of lives lost and all for nought !
blue & orange
And with regard to McGinnis and Adams before stating what you deem to think wa the obvious. Look into the very fact of the acts of those two before trying appease their take. I see nothing valiant or heroic about blowing u innocent women and children in the pursuit of freedom, Do you ?
'cause that was what Adams was part and parcel of before he allegedly chose to become an activist for the IRA. In the case of McGinnis I don't for second believe the fact that he stated the casualities lost wa regrettable. He crowed over it with the speeches he gave in Dublin as well as Belfast.
You make it sound like i condone what the man did. I think i referred to him (mcginnis) as a terrorist didnt i? I know his record and who he was in the past. I didnt glorify him did i. But again, i cant argue the cause of the IRA as a whole.
The fact that you so readily use the term "subjects" speeks volumes here. For thats what the American, Scottish, Irish and other rebellions against the thrown have always been about. The term is subservient and the antithisis of independent.
But please, do not twist my comments in a way to make me sound like someone who would ever defend or condone the killing of innocent women and children, by terrorist acts or any other...
blue & orange
If the voice of the majority of those in the North who wanted to remain a part of the UK. Then why isn't it acceptable to the minority in this matter ? They did offcours vote on it. It can be alleged that what's now happening in Iraq is similar in a number of ways. But in the case there what allegedly was a vote was nothing more than something akin to charade.
If I miscontrude what you'rer trying to get across then I take this opportunity to apologize. Having served there through much of the troubles of the eighties. I saw some of the horrors they unleashed on the populace as well as the military. And having lost several comrades there at the time. I've no sympathy whatsoever for their actions. Even more reprehensible was the fact that the politicians in the US lauded the likes of these two individuals knowing full well what the aid that was being raised went to.
justan' aka tophatal .........
Last edited by justanotherfan on July 6th at 11:16 PM.
Al; i concider myself lucky to have had this converce with you. Most of my knowledge on this topic came from , what ive read, what the American Media fed me in the 80s, and what a few Irish friends, who came here in the 80s told me. These guy's, needless to say, hadnt one good word for the U.K. I'm always happy to learn especialy when it comes to matters such as this. Now , thanks to you, i have another perspective. From someone on the other side who was also there.
But as to the American polaticians? We now send Billions in aid to the former Soviet Union, who we spent trillions on in my life time defending ourselves against. We have a president who is more than happy to let us pay 5 dollars a gallon for gas because Oil is the Bush families money tree. We have polaticions who make up "No Show" jobs for their cronies. We tried to send Millions in Aid to Burma, a country we have no use for and has even less use for us. Were in Bagdad, not for oil or Weapons of mass destruction, but because our current president was embarrased that his father didnt finish the job when we (were) over there fighting over oil. If you can figure out why our polaticions do what they do, and get away with it let me know, and i'l run for president.
And as for the polaticions you speek of in congress at the time, why? the only answers i have are A. We sometimes back both side if were not sure of the outcome.
B. Money, you might not be able to see it, but what are the chances that our congressmen got a kick back at some point or skimmed money off the top before it got to Ireland
Last edited by blue@orange on July 7th at 3:15 PM.
b&o
Did you know that this country is now debtor nation when it comes to Russia ? The US government now borrows hundreds of millions of dollars to fund the infrastructure of the country. And to fight the war on terror amongst other efforts. At the same time the debt being accumulated will be past on to future generations. But yet the ingorance that comes out in terms of opinions as to taxes and other isuses are senseless.
How is the country going to repay its debt if its revenues in rea terms continues to decrease ? Just and MBA graduate making it known that the Treasury and others within Congress just don't have a damn clue at all ! The country is now bereft of innovative ideas and knowledgeable individuals to place it on a competent footing. And at the same time the respect and goodwill that it'd built up is now on the wane. One can see it for one's self by the lack of undue respect that we show for others and what's reciprocated in return.
An avid sports fan and martial artist. Born in the UK of Caribbean parentage. Bi-lingual and college grad. MBA attainee and I've an eclectic taste in music. Great film buff who likes anything by Eastwood, De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington.
In terms of sports , anything that's competitive in nature and calls for athleticism from start to finish.
justan' aka tophatal ..........
