4th of July

[woki1986 1]

I'm wondering exactly what to do on the 4th of July when it rolls around. It's a light hearted question. People will be celebrating and as an Englishman I don't feel that I will be able to celebrate the true meaning of the 4th of July.

The holiday day, fair enough, but the actual reasoning, I can't. (They kicked us out, after all.)

To other immigrants from the UK, how have you dealt with it and how have you 'celebrated'?

Me, I might display the English flag and expect to get some stick.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I'm wondering exactly what to do on the 4th of July when it rolls around. It's a light hearted question. People will be celebrating and as an Englishman I don't feel that I will be able to celebrate the true meaning of the 4th of July.

The holiday day, fair enough, but the actual reasoning, I can't. (They kicked us out, after all.)

To other immigrants from the UK, how have you dealt with it and how have you 'celebrated'?

Me, I might display the English flag and expect to get some stick.

Nothing celebrates the 4th of July then by blowing up a chunk of it with fireworks....

(if you want to stick it to yanks - use british fireworks.... )

that will teach em....

[woki1986 1]

Good plan! (Although I won't be able to get them into the country... Imagine that.)

'Sir, what are these?'

'Those? They are fireworks for 4th of July.'

'Uh.... huh...'

However, I bought an english flag today to proudly display

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Good plan! (Although I won't be able to get them into the country... Imagine that.)

'Sir, what are these?'

'Those? They are fireworks for 4th of July.'

'Uh.... huh...'

However, I bought an english flag today to proudly display

Police "so what are you doing with those sticks of dynamite?"

You "I'm going to celebrate King Georges Birthday!!"

Police "But it's not his birthday!"

You "Ohhhhhhhhh my bad, I will be on my way governor!...."

[justashooter 430]

Me, I might display the English flag and expect to get some stick.

as long as you fly an American flag over it, no problem.

ask me about the time i hung an American flag out my window from an apartment overlooking a major city park in central china...

[ziia 9]

I'm wondering exactly what to do on the 4th of July when it rolls around. It's a light hearted question. People will be celebrating and as an Englishman I don't feel that I will be able to celebrate the true meaning of the 4th of July.

The holiday day, fair enough, but the actual reasoning, I can't. (They kicked us out, after all.)

To other immigrants from the UK, how have you dealt with it and how have you 'celebrated'?

Me, I might display the English flag and expect to get some stick.

If you can't celebrate the true meaning of the holly day, then just enjoy the holly day....meaning have some food, have some beer, enjoy the company you have, have some lighthearted laughs and let all your troubles go . Being upset on what the ancestors did does not do anybody any good....we don't live in the past, we always live in the present celebrating the future. If US is going to be your new home, it's up to you how you decide to lay your bed.

Edited March 26, 2010 by ziia

[woki1986 1]

as long as you fly an American flag over it, no problem.

ask me about the time i hung an American flag out my window from an apartment overlooking a major city park in central china...

*Is captivated by the repeating icon*

Ah, see, that might be a problem I was going to leave that off. But... well. Ok, it might be a good idea to fly that too, just in case.

Hmm. Did you suddenly find a brick on your floor with Chinese scribbled onto an attached note?

[Sc0tt28 26]

I'm wondering exactly what to do on the 4th of July when it rolls around. It's a light hearted question. People will be celebrating and as an Englishman I don't feel that I will be able to celebrate the true meaning of the 4th of July.

The holiday day, fair enough, but the actual reasoning, I can't. (They kicked us out, after all.)

To other immigrants from the UK, how have you dealt with it and how have you 'celebrated'?

Me, I might display the English flag and expect to get some stick.

A lighthearted question in return then...

If you can't understand the reasoning, perhaps you have not read the Declaration of Independence?

Or perhaps you skimmed over the part about "a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states"?

Or maybe tyranny is ok with you?

[woki1986 1]

A lighthearted question in return then...

If you can't understand the reasoning, perhaps you have not read the Declaration of Independence?

Or perhaps you skimmed over the part about "a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states"?

Or maybe tyranny is ok with you?

I know that in the past the English did some bad things, but then so has everyone else. I haven't read it yet. As far as I understood it the colonies didn't want to be controlled by the King, and wanted to be able to do things their own way.

Tyranny isn't ok with me, but it still happens today.

[justashooter 430]

*Is captivated by the repeating icon*

Hmm. Did you suddenly find a brick on your floor with Chinese scribbled onto an attached note?

no, but i did get a visit from the local public security bureau, who politely asked me to bring the flag inside. it was, coincidently, the 4th of july, 2006.

[woki1986 1]

no, but i did get a visit from the local public security bureau, who politely asked me to bring the flag inside. it was, coincidently, the 4th of july, 2006.

Ah. Hmm. Well, at least they did it politely.

[Laura & Kyle 16]

Love this topic.

I don't know what my husband will do this year.. I think he'll be thinking the same as you. Last 4th of July I was over in the UK with him and his family, and I made them hamburgers (not beefburger), potato chips (not crisps), and Pepsi!! It felt very much like home and we even ate outside at a picnic table. Only thing that was missing was the evening fireworks and perhaps a baseball game.

They went along with it even if we were in the UK and I was celebrating my independence.

[ziia 9]

Last 4th of July I was over in the UK with him and his family, and I made them hamburgers (not beefburger), potato chips (not crisps), and Pepsi!! It felt very much like home and we even ate outside at a picnic table. Only thing that was missing was the evening fireworks and perhaps a baseball game.

Now that's a lighthearted person . I didn't understand the 4th of July in its "true" meaning until later on. I knew it was independence day but that's about it .I just had fun with it, focused on the grill, the beer and the awesome fireworks display at night. Later on I learned more about the history of US but that still didn't change the way I ate my steak and drank my beer. OP, relaxing your mind a bit will make your time here much more enjoyable

[Christi and Ian 24]

Well, personally, I doubt things would be a whole heck of a lot different if we didn't kick out the Brits - except we would have Universal Health Care a long time ago, and we might all have really cool accents...

My husband just rolls his eyes and gets irked by the people watching the fireworks. Of course, he does the same on Guy Fawkes day in England...

I agree, have a beer, some barbecue, hang out with friends, and be happy for the bank holiday on Monday.

Oh yeah, and try to ignore anyone who tries to sing "The Battle of New Orleans" to you...although I enjoy torturing my husband with it...

Edited March 28, 2010 by Christi and Ian

[Magic424 1]

I was stationed at R.A.F. Lakenheath in the U.K. the base always put on a great fourth of July picnic with carnival rides and a fairly large firework display to finish it off. The picnic was open to all. Many of these in attendance was the local Brits. If they knew the "true" meaning of the holiday I dont know all i know that everyone was having a great time and enjoying the hot dogs and beer.