I was just curious to hear what people do for this holiday. Do you go downtown to see the fireworks? Do you shoot off your own? Do you go to picnics? Will you get together with family? Will you not celebrate in any way?


I couldn't think of a way to turn this into a poll, or else I would have.

I hate George W. Bush. Therefore, I will not celebrate this holiday because there can't be anything good about "A-mur-i-ca" with that criminal in office.

Most years, our family has purchased fireworks (usually at that tent they set up in Grassland) and shot them off at home, after an afternoon of grilling out.

Another thing I have done on the 4th is to go to the Summit at Percy Warner Park. Just bring a blanket and you can watch several different fireworks displays, including the one downtown. It can be crowded some years, though. It's okay, though - you and your boo can always just drive around on those winding roads in the park, drinking vodka and gatorade until you find a secluded spot, then park and make your own fireworks.

Speaking of crowded, I have never been to the downtown 4th of July celebration. It's always seemed kind of like Dancin' in the District on Steroids, so I don't think I'm missing anything.

Last year was the best Independence Day ever. We had this big cookout on the deck at the Blightman's condo. He smoked a Boston Butt, Miss Freezetag made some of those awesome baked beans of hers, and I made the homemade ice cream. Later that night the Swansons showed up with some fireworks, some folks went swimming late night at the pool, and some of us just stayed up talking and smoking cigs until the wee hours. What a hell of a day->night. In fact, I do believe it made my top ten for 2003.

This year is also shaping up to be pretty epic. The cast of characters will be roughly the same, but we will have a new location. This year it's at a certain someone's (out-of-town) parents' house. I am certain that the facilities will not disappoint. I am concerned, however, about the weather...

I'll be seeing Fahrenheit 9/11, in honor of TF's sentiments. Then enjoying the fireworks on the beach, something living in Florida is good for.

I shoot of fire works on the 5th so I am not technically celebrating the 4th of july. But I do enjoy fireworks so I use the holiday firework sales to my full advantage.

I usually just spend the day with my family and we throw some food on the grill and all get together and eat. I have a big family so its crazy. Then me and my sisters usually have a few drinks together and chit chat an stuff. Later we all meet up at someones house and the all of the kids do fireworks and stuff.. then we calll it a night. that's the typical 4th in my family. But this year they are meeting up at municipal park at home I think grilling over thee or something, I won't be going home I don't believe..

The Fourth of July is not a holiday for George W. Bush.

The Fourth of July is a holiday for America.

I'm having a hard time understanding your logic. A lot of people died for this country to be what it is. I know it sounds cliche, and you hear it all the time, but its true. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not sure I could have made the sacrifices out founding fathers made. They put their lives, their fortunes, and more importantly, their sacred honor on the line to establish the single greatest experiment in self rule to exist on this earth. For over two hundred years now, the citizens of this country have taken part in a grand debate on which direction to take our country.

I'm sick and tired of seeing these people run around with their "Not my president," shirts and bumper stickers. That isn't the point. Just because you didn't bless a certain candidate with your vote, doesn't undermine their authority or position. Sooner or later, you're going to have to accept the fact that your vote counts just as much as your neighbors. As important as you believe your opinion to be (and believe me, I know how you feel), you have to understand that you don't rule this country, you rule this country with your peers. In fact, that's what makes this country so great. Sooner or later, someone you don't like is going to get into power. Either you can be immature and bitter about their success and call them names, or you can rally the troops and to quote a certain governor from Vermont "take back the White House." In November, you'll be able to make your feelings heard, and make sure you do.

On the Fourth of July this year, don't be a Republican, don't be a Democrat, try being an American. Don't disrespect two hundred years of work toward a greater good because you didn't get your way.

Well said, herman. I agree with you 100%.

For the record, I think TF was being sarcastic. As for Lauren and obscuredrain, I don't know.

What about when another candidate recieves more votes than the one that is in power? Does that undermine their authority or position?

Perhaps this is the perfect time to be protesting the current administration. The 4th of July is a celebration of America, specifically the fouders of this country. Granted I'm just playing devil's advocate in this paragraph, but it could be argued that the leaders of America's infancy are to blame for President Bush being in office. After all they were the ones that decided the electoral college should have the final say in Presidential elections.

More importantly, consider this: America was founded as a result of civil disobedience by a relatively small group of disenchanted, disenfranchised, seditious rabble-rousers. What better way to celebrate their sacrifices than to voice your own displeasure with the policies and actions of the ruling class?

(Edited by Ceeze at 5:35 pm on Jul. 3, 2004)

First of all, if you do have a problem with the electoral college, why should any anger be directed at the Bush administration about that? I only ask because you mention "protesting the current administration" because they received less votes, yet they still won. But I also question whether you really have a problem with the electoral college. Could it be that you just have a problem with the results that it yielded in the last election? Put the shoe on the other foot. If Gore had won the election, despite getting less popular votes than Bush, would you be sitting here bitching? Are you sure?

Point taken on your last paragraph. But for me personally, Independence Day is not at all about the present tense. It's about celebrating the events that led to the founding of our country.

I'm from a state where purchasing fireworks is illegal and they always have these huge campaigns about how people will die if you shoot off fireworks (or guns) in your backyard, and we have no mosquitoes, so I will probably be hiding in the safety of my apartment from the random public with explosive objects and the bloodsucking bugs. The idea of sparklers and stuff around me is new to me, or at least it's been almost a decade since I lived anywhere it was allowed.

Otherwise, I'm going to the zoo! Because, apparently, I'm not smart enough to be as afraid of many small, screaming children as I am of explosives and insects....

couldn't of put it better myself. Well said, JC.

I could. Ceeze didn't really connect his anger towards Bush to his anger towards the electoral system. It was two separate angers. I, too, think the electoral system is dumb in this day and age, what with the internet, and amazing technology and all. I can instantly chat with people in Japan through this little magic box, but I still have to have a representative of my state ultimately cast my vote? Come on.

Do I blame Bush? Not really. I mean, he has the power to bring about change if he really wanted to, but no I don't blame him. Would I have been less upset if the electoral college allowed Gore to win if he was in Bush's position? Damn straight. BUT, I still think the electoral college is outdated, if not stupid.

But happy 4th of July. I'm glad I live in a country where I can even have this conversation without being killed for slander or something. And fireworks are cool.

But the paragraph that's about the electoral college being faulty begins with the sentence: Perhaps this is the perfect time to be protesting the current administration.

I wasn't being particularly serious with the first part of my diatribe. That's why I qualified it with "playing devil's advocate". However since you asked, I've had a problem with the electoral college since I've understood what it is.

I love the electoral college. Here's an article by Will Hively that does a good job of explaining why.

Looks right now as if we'll be celebrating indoors. It'll still be a good time to be with my family.

The downtown fireworks weren't half bad. And people watching down there is always fun. Did anyone else head to Riverfront Park?

Well, my July 4th was pretty uneventful. My family is in Florida and I'm housesitting. I went to my best friend's boyfriend's party. We went swimming and this guy named Chris was shooting fireworks, but that is pretty boring to watch while the sun is still up. So I came home early and watched Signs and Mystic River. (Pretty boring, eh?) Maybe Columbus Day or Labor Day will be better...

I didn't know you lived in Florida, Lauren. I'm in Naples right now on family vacation and we spent the most amazing 4th of July on the beach. Seeing fireworks reflect off of gently rolling ocean water is something to do before you die.

This is easy to say when someone you like is in power at the present moment.

I have a lot more to say about the president, but I'll save it for the news/politics section, where it should be. But right here, right now, I can say with more confidence than ever that I'm proud to be an American, no matter who our president is. Spending 2 weeks in Europe will make you love America like nobody's business.

i've never given the fourth of july enough credit.
cookouts, fireworks, and beer. i finally understand.

Amen.

Exactly. That's what the 4th of July, and America for that matter, is all about...carnivorous gluttony, the evolutionary fear/fascination of bright lights in conjuction with loud noises, and binge drinking.

My love for America was lots of people's business after I went to England a few weeks ago.

I don't know. Travels through Europe have always made me wish I could stay there longer and soak up more culture. Some of their public toilets are deplorable, though. I remember having to pee into, literally, a hole in the ground somewhere in France a few years back.

The prices in England, however, did make me happy to return to the U.S. Cigarrettes were like $8 a pack.

(Edited by Token at 7:21 pm on Jul. 5, 2004)

I have spent 18 of my 19 fourth of Julys at our cabin on the Tennesse River in Loudon, TN. It involves lots of water activities (skiing, boats, swimming in nasty green water), the purchasing of a buttload of fireworks from sketchy firework stands and gas stations, and we then finish the day with fireworks that may or may not attack the people shooting them off.

That's how it is supposed to go, but it was kinda messed up this year. It was still somewhat eventful. Do they televise fireworks on the local stations in Nashville? I just found out last night that they do in Knoxville and I've never been in Nashville on the 4th to find out...

(Edited by DigsySlattery at 7:44 pm on Jul. 5, 2004)

Would you care to elaborate on that statement? Most people that I know have the opposite experience. (Ask Lauren about her trip to Cuba sometime.) I'm just curious about what you experienced that made you appreciate your country.

it was more a collection of little things than a huge lot of big differences. the attitude of the people, the way nobody seems to care about one another (in the public sense) were two main ones. people recognized that we were american, and i felt that we were treated a little differently in some cases. there were also some "i hate bush/america" rallies, but do you ever see "i hate italy" protests in america?

i guess if you overlooked all that, what i really meant was that spending two weeks away from your own home and culture will make you appreciate that culture even more. it just so happens that my home is america.