So as a permanent resident of the U.S.A. but as yet, still a British citizen, I look forward to the Independence Day holiday weekend with a great deal of interest. Now, throughout history, every country can probably point to periods when we haven’t really been too proud of our hierarchy and the UK in the 18th century was no exception. I’ve been in the States for nearly nine years and without fail every year someone, somewhere has reminded me that, “Yeah, this is the day we kicked the Brits out!!!!”
Freedom and our health are probably the two greatest possessions ITHOE. Because of this I will be celebrating the 4th of July weekend too.
I urge y’all to consider this. Back in 1776 a huge portion of the U.S. population was immigrants from across the pond, and if they weren’t probably their parents or grandparents were.
To the person this year who inevitably wants to tell me that, “This was the day we kicked the Brits out,” should I calmly respond by informing them that in fact, “this was the day that the Brits kicked the Brits out!!”???? The ones that got kicked out were the tyrannical Lords and Barons of the government of the day. Whereas the ones who prevailed were just normal people with their own history fighting for their freedom against oppression. Ordinary people – just like me!!
Tags: Brits, Free, Freedom, Independence Day, July 4th, U.S.A.
Richard,
I absolutely agree with you on this. While we celebrate our freedom it came at a great cost to both sides, and many of those citizens were fighting against their own countrymen and relatives. While we celebrate the victory and claim it; if I have my history correct, had it not been for the French, the surrender at Yorktown would have not happened. So while the British did in fact surrender at Yorktown, the Continental Army had a big helping hand from the French as it was on the verge of loosing the war.
To say we kicked them out would be a significant overstatement and a miss portrayal of the intent of the war to begin with. It is also a demonstration of the same tyranny that we were fighting against to begin with.
The 4th of July represents the independence of a nation but not the expulsion of the British.