Okay, a question to you all regarding July 4th

[Hazy992]

The former British empire is offended by us celebrating our independence? *Rolls eyes* sorry you were "offended".... Tell me, do you feel the same way on August 15th [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28India%29]?

What? That's news to me. Most of us don't care

Then why does the OP care that we celebrate July 4? I get not liking comments on YouTube, but when the OP types "It's also the day the rest of the world (England especially) rolls its collective eyes and says under its breath "it's just one day and then we are clear for the next year", I have to ask why its a big deal that we are happy that we are not part of the UK. Do fireworks irritate the OP or something?

I dunno why he personally has hang ups about it. Like I said before most of us simply don't care

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Correct me if my research has led me wrong, but the French played a very strong role in helping the (what was then) rebellious British people win their independence to become America, and thus Americans. Britain has never had good ties with the French, especially not back then; it seems from what I have looked up (nothing in depth, just basic facts, figures, dates), that the French only did this really to spite us. And in the final battle that many see as the "defeat of the British" (the siege of Yorktown), some 8600 French soldiers bolstered the ranks of the rebel forces (numbering 8000), forcing a capitulation of the 9000 strong British forces, not to mention moving one of their larger fleets (22,000 sailors in all) to intercept British reinforcements, outnumbering the British fleet by 9 ships. Would it be fair to say that the French played a very large role in the victory? Not only that, but they were only doing it to divide our forces between the homeland and the colonies to try and strengthen their position against us in Europe? Please come in with comments if any of this is off.

Secondly, I saw a lot of back and forth between people, and the general attitude was one of attributing the general worth of somebody today based on the actions of people hundreds of years ago. Sorry if that didn't read well, I have a hard time articulating this thought. It was like an American saying to a British person "yeah we kicked your ass, and because of what was done hundreds of years ago, that makes me superior despite doing nothing to prove such a thing in today's modern times". I was thinking "wow, you're really going to degrade an entire country because of a civil war they had on their home turf that turned out to create someone like you?".

So my general concluding thoughts were, no, Americans did not "kick our ass" because they didn't exist at that point. British rebels kicked British loyalist ass with strong help from the French, who only seemed to be doing it for their own gain against us in Europe.

Americans in particular, you know your history better than I do, how do you guys know it?

Also, captcha is wanting to know what all your blood types are. Don't ask.

First off, I want to respond to a very specific part of your post, which I have conveniently put in bold: While still a stupid thing to do, it's better then degrading an entire country based on some FUCKING YOUTUBE COMMENTS.

Secondly, your research is correct. The French played a bigger role in American independence then Americans did. I know this because that's what my American education system taught me. What, were you expecting something like "American schools teach us all about Mecha Washington, who personally hurled the nation of Britain into the sun!" Although that would be undeniably awesome no matter where you're from, they actually teach us the truth. As as side note, they also tell us all about how imperialistic and frankly dickish our nation was for quite a long time after that. There's no "alternate history brainwashing" here.

Thirdly, we aren't exactly the only ones with an independence day. Canada calls theirs "Canada Day" for fuck's sake. Look up "independence holidays" on Wikipedia, tons of other countries have them. I would assume that each one is accompanied by flag waving and country-loving as well. Are you rolling your collective eyes at them, too?

And fourthly, arguing about what the people were CALLED when they won the Revolutionary war (i.e., "Americans" or the somewhat misleading "Revolting British People") is....many magnitudes of pointless. You could argue that as they were fighting for the right to call themselves whatever the fuck they wanted and won, that they should be called Americans. I think you could only call them "Revolting British People" if they lost. But again, it's just meaningless semantics.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

I dunno why he personally has hang ups about it. Like I said before most of us simply don't care

Well that's good to hear, still odd that the OP cares what we celebrate on this side of the pond.

 

[Dalisclock]

And Washington was lucky that the opportunities he did grab made up for all of his numerous defeats.

It's one of the things most people don't realize about Washington. It wasn't that he was particularly good at winning, but it's that he was rather adept at not losing. The fact he managed to keep an army together at all despite shortages of everything and being constantly outgunned and out-manned by a professional army and occasionally win a victory to or two was noteworthy.

And even that wouldn't have mattered without french aid, particularly the french fleet cutting off the British retreat at Yorktown.

 

[Hazy992]

I dunno why he personally has hang ups about it. Like I said before most of us simply don't care

Well that's good to hear, still odd that the OP cares what we celebrate on this side of the pond.

Well you're always going to get people like that wherever you go. I hear that a minority of people in the US still hate us over the revolution

 

[DRes82]

I see ignorance of world history is pretty prevalent here. Although, there are a few accurate posts. Original poster is a troll. Also, I can say with pretty much 99% certainty that most Americans are not thinking of the UK on the Fourth. I mean, unless they have family there or something. You see, in the 20th century, the US and the UK were good friends. They always had each other's backs. There was none of this animosity. I know that, as a person with family in southern England, I harbor no ill will towards my British brothers.

As for the revolution...England did suffer several unexpected and demoralizing defeats in battle against the Continental Army. Washington fought with unconventional tactics, and so the odds were usually in his favor. Also, they were assisted greatly by their allies. That makes it no less of an accomplishment. See both World Wars.

Anyways...I think my main point is that the OP is a troll. Its just the 'in thing' now to hate America. If you saw some redneck on youtube talking about 'kicking english ass', I'm sorry. That's really not a great representation of how the 4th of July is celebrated here. By coming here posting caustic, trolling drivel, and grossly over-generalizing a huge demographic, you prove that you are just as ignorant as the people in those videos.


Edit: If it makes the OP feel any better, we got pretty fucked up in 1812 before we managed to win.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

I dunno why he personally has hang ups about it. Like I said before most of us simply don't care

Well that's good to hear, still odd that the OP cares what we celebrate on this side of the pond.

Well you're always going to get people like that wherever you go. I hear that a minority of people in the US still hate us over the revolution

True. I've never heard that, but maybe some uneducated people feel that way.

 

[Hazy992]

I dunno why he personally has hang ups about it. Like I said before most of us simply don't care

Well that's good to hear, still odd that the OP cares what we celebrate on this side of the pond.

Well you're always going to get people like that wherever you go. I hear that a minority of people in the US still hate us over the revolution

True. I've never heard that, but maybe some uneducated people feel that way.

Obviously it's a minority but that sort of thing happens everywhere

 

[Macgyvercas]

Snip

What you say is all true. Without France, we probably would have lost the Revolutionary War. The War of 1812 is one where Americans would have a better right to claim we "kicked England's ass", but that war pretty much ended up in stalemate anyway, so the statement would be kinda invalidated by that fact.

As an Erie resident, however, I must say that the Battle of Lake Erie was probably one of the American's most impressive battles in the war, since it marked the first time an entire British navel squad had surrendered.

As for me, yeah, I'm American, but I prefer not to degrade England by calling them n00bs, or that they suck at war (since they once owned half the damn planet). I just want to watch my fireworks, really.

 

[RicoGrey]

How about you stop trying to tear down George Washington, and we won't bring up Winston Churchill's many many faults. Such as being insane and an alcoholic.

It's well known through out the USA that the statue of liberty was a joint effort with the french, to symbolize the freedom and also "UNITY" of our two nations.

Why america has a case of francophobia I do not know, the best I can come up with, from my very brief research is that we hate them because we think they hate us. The french probably feel the same way.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

I dunno why he personally has hang ups about it. Like I said before most of us simply don't care

Well that's good to hear, still odd that the OP cares what we celebrate on this side of the pond.

Well you're always going to get people like that wherever you go. I hear that a minority of people in the US still hate us over the revolution

True. I've never heard that, but maybe some uneducated people feel that way.

Obviously it's a minority but that sort of thing happens everywhere

Very true, we have rednecks and you guys have chavs.

 

[Hazy992]

I dunno why he personally has hang ups about it. Like I said before most of us simply don't care

Well that's good to hear, still odd that the OP cares what we celebrate on this side of the pond.

Well you're always going to get people like that wherever you go. I hear that a minority of people in the US still hate us over the revolution

True. I've never heard that, but maybe some uneducated people feel that way.

Obviously it's a minority but that sort of thing happens everywhere

Very true, we have rednecks and you guys have chavs.

Haha indeed! Goddamn chavs... bunch of arseholes

 

[DRes82]

I dunno why he personally has hang ups about it. Like I said before most of us simply don't care

Well that's good to hear, still odd that the OP cares what we celebrate on this side of the pond.

Well you're always going to get people like that wherever you go. I hear that a minority of people in the US still hate us over the revolution

True. I've never heard that, but maybe some uneducated people feel that way.

Obviously it's a minority but that sort of thing happens everywhere

Heh, I think thats a rumor. I've never heard about anyone hating England for the revolutionary war. I mean, that would be like christians taking shit for the crusades...or egyptians getting flak for jewish slaves...or Italians paying reparations for subjugation of tribal groups in europe...or native americans being relegated to reservations.

No, but seriously, no one really cares here. I promise.

 

[Hazy992]

I dunno why he personally has hang ups about it. Like I said before most of us simply don't care

Well that's good to hear, still odd that the OP cares what we celebrate on this side of the pond.

Well you're always going to get people like that wherever you go. I hear that a minority of people in the US still hate us over the revolution

True. I've never heard that, but maybe some uneducated people feel that way.

Obviously it's a minority but that sort of thing happens everywhere

Heh, I think thats a rumor. I've never heard about anyone hating England for the revolutionary war. I mean, that would be like christians taking shit for the crusades...or egyptians getting flak for jewish slaves...or Italians paying reparations for subjugation of tribal groups in europe...or native americans being relegated to reservations.

No, but seriously, no one really cares here. I promise.

There's over 300 million people in America, there's gonna be a couple of people who are really nationalistic

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Think of it this way.

Britain was the metaphorical Super Saiyan of the world, fighting several guys at the same time, kicking arse, but still getting beaten up pretty badly.

America got in there, threw a punch then ran away claiming victory.

Now, Britain the Super Saiyan needed every bit of stamina he still had, so instead of chasing the little bugger down, he decided the other guys were more of a threat.

He then went on to win the Euro Belt and remain Supreme Champion of the World.


Daystar Clarion, trivialising historic events near you!

[sub][sub]All a joke, by the way [/sub][/sub]

I feel like if you were American you would be super patriotic >_>

OT: In a war nobody wins. That's my philosophy regarding pretty much anything.

You mean apart from the point where I said it was all a joke?

The American colonies won no war, they were merely at the bottom of a list of priorities.

If they had rebelled during a period where Britain weren't fighting wars on several fronts, then they wouldn't have stood a chance.

Not that I'm holding that against them, of course. They were damn clever to revolt when they did.

 

[zumbledum]

As an Englishman with many or at least several american friends i enjoy the friendly aggro we get at this time of year. my favourite rejoinders are to point out that they were infact english to (almost as much fun as pointing out to christians jesus himself was a jew) and then just pretend indifference and then point out its a bit sad they have to go back that far to find a war they won.

besides we have thanksgiving to take the piss out them right back.

 

[sunsetspawn]

 

[DJ_DEnM]

Think of it this way.

Britain was the metaphorical Super Saiyan of the world, fighting several guys at the same time, kicking arse, but still getting beaten up pretty badly.

America got in there, threw a punch then ran away claiming victory.

Now, Britain the Super Saiyan needed every bit of stamina he still had, so instead of chasing the little bugger down, he decided the other guys were more of a threat.

He then went on to win the Euro Belt and remain Supreme Champion of the World.


Daystar Clarion, trivialising historic events near you!

[sub][sub]All a joke, by the way [/sub][/sub]

I feel like if you were American you would be super patriotic >_>

OT: In a war nobody wins. That's my philosophy regarding pretty much anything.

You mean apart from the point where I said it was all a joke?

The American colonies won no war, they were merely at the bottom of a list of priorities.

If they had rebelled during a period where Britain weren't fighting wars on several fronts, then they wouldn't have stood a chance.

Not that I'm holding that against them, of course. They were damn clever to revolt when they did.

Yes Daystar, apart from that point lol.

 

[T0BB0]

As a British person, I put on a red coat, hum "Rule Britannia" and remind all my American friends that their time is short, and we will take back what is our God given right...

No, I wish my American friends a happy holiday and hope they have a good time. America has been our ally for ages now, I don't see why I would take any personal offense if some of their ancestors killed some of mine. Hell, they may have fought as Loyalists, or they may have been Native Americans living in a seperate area of North America minding their own business, or they may have migrated to America at a later date.

My country celebrates a day when a Spaniard tried and failed to blow up our Monarch with a whole bunch of dynamite. Our patron saint is a Turk who got executed for being a Christian. Our national motto is in French. Most national holidays revolve around a faith I don't belong to. Tradition doesn't mean much, really.