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Topic: Happy 4th of July America!
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Charles
Administrator
Member # 7
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posted
I had a very unique and memorable July 4th, driving through backroads and countryside in the heartland of the US, while brilliant fireworks displays were going off in the distance along the horizon, everywhere I looked in every direction. I've never experienced anything like it.
America, America, God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.
I've always felt this song should be our national anthem.
Here's Ray Charles in concert in California from 1991:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ghz4_kikLkE&feature=related
The studio version, along with stills that inspire:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N7Wt4XlXUrc
In a tribute to the scenic glory of our nation, a YouTube video that was edited to Elvis singing "America the Beautiful":
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yyoLpJ6J_4Y&feature=related
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OFFBEAT
IE # 39
Member # 873
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posted
This 4th of July was pretty lame.. kinda reflects the 78% disapproval rating of the president.
It's not just in California... I had friends who went to Vegas to celebrate.. and they swore they got the dates mixed up.. they didn't see any fireworks.
I think you could symbolize this 4th of July, and the way the country is with one of those firework snakes.. those things you light on fire.. and it looks like what would happen if you gave a constipated person a colonic...
 ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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"Get Rich, or Die Drawing!"
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CavePainter
IE # 297
Member # 2568
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posted
I went to DC to see a friend. I saw the space suit worn by Apollo 11 astronauts, the Watergate tape recorder and the painting of Washington that was used as reference for the 1 dollar bill. I went to an art exhibit of an African-American artist I had never ever heard of before, saw a live concert and looked at the fastest airplane in the world. We ate hot dogs, saw the Wright Brothers flyer, checked out a parade, touched a piece of the Moon and stared at the room right next door from my friend's room that is none other than Dennis Kucinich's apartment. We saw the Supreme Court chairs, looked at the White House through a fence and sat in the front row in the House Chambers on a private tour of the Capitol. I toured a museum built with a 60 million dollar grant donated by an immigrant who came to this country with nothing. I stared up close at one of my favorite paintings, toured a spy museum, watched a chef make noodles in Chinatown and we found a lost 3-year-old girl that didn't speak a word of english and helped her find her mommy. We saw the Declaration of Independence on its birthday, paid our respects at the Vietnam Memorial and that evening watched a beautiful fireworks display from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with Honest Abe looking over my shoulder.
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The Mod
Administrator
Member # 854
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posted
I went down to San Diego to party and BBQ with friends and family and had an amazing time. Over 150K lined the beaches around Mission Bay and watched the multiple fireworks displays. It was a great 4th all around, one of the best I've had in awhile.
I'm sure if you were looking for a bad 4th you probably could find it.
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OFFBEAT
IE # 39
Member # 873
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posted
You're either with the fireworks.. or you're with the terrorists??
I'm just speaking from my observations!
There's still 22% of the country that supports our president.. i'm sure in those areas they had a hoot!
I like the 4th of July! Just not feeling patriotic.. these past 8 years.
I'm sure if our forefathers saw the country the way it is today, they wouldn't have felt like celebrating either.
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"Get Rich, or Die Drawing!"
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Charles
Administrator
Member # 7
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posted
Americans are at their best when we're challenged. The 4th of July is a celebration of each other, that's how I feel about it. I think many people are patriotic in spite of everything because of the enduring greatness of our country and people. A two front war, gas prices, the sub-prime mortgage mess, the weak dollar, we shall overcome baby.
Also, there's change in the air. Next July 4th we'll have a new president, a new government, there's lots to be excited about and look forward to. If we can endure the Bush-Cheney years, we can endure anything.
There's alot to celebrate in America and many reasons to be proud this July 4th. Toping the list is we the people.
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KevinO
IE # 36
Member # 56
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posted
I spent the 3rd in Grant Park in Chicago at the Taste of Chicago. Got to eat some of my favorite (albeit fattening) foods. We walked up and down Michigan Ave and all around. More new downtown parks I've never seen. Then we watched the fireworks over the lake from the lawn of the bandshell. The Chicago Symphony played earlier but unfortunately for some stupid reason, the city thought it better to have some local radio station host the fireworks display with their lame pop music selection. But the fireworks were great. Millions of people and only one shooting reported (hey, it's Chicago. . .) but we got out and got going on the expressway easily considering. My 4th I spent traveling & 5th was spent at a great family reunion in Pennsylvania. I got to see relatives, cousins, aunts and uncles I've not seen in ages. Did get to see a lot of scattered firework displays all through Ohio and Pennsylvania while driving.
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CavePainter
IE # 297
Member # 2568
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posted
Yup. In 2012 it will be Jeb Bush vs Chelsea Clinton.
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Thomas
IE # 19
Member # 101
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posted
Wow, Offbeat. I've seen you post bad things before, but your lastest takes the cake in amount of bad form you've just demonstrated.
Really, really, bad taste in using pictures of dead soldiers, during a time of war, to make a political statement.
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-Tom
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OFFBEAT
IE # 39
Member # 873
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posted
quote:
Wasn't it Barbara Bush that said, "We might not be done with Bush Family members in the the White House"
Yeah.. George W. failed to bring upon the Apocalypse... but the year is young. I don't think they'll be happy until they do.
quote:
Really, really, bad taste in using pictures of dead soldiers, during a time of war, to make a political statement.
Why? Dead soldiers.. smiling politicians.. makes my point perfectly? Illustrates America PERFECTLY. ..I was worried more about being cliche.
I don't know a better time to celebrate war than when we celebrate our country. Our country likes a fight'n as much as apple pie.
War and America go hand in hand.
History of US wars..
1775-1782 we had the American Revolution
1812-1815 The War of 1812
1846-1848 Mexican-American War
1898 The Spanish-American War
1914-1918 World War 1
1930's-1945 World War 2
1950-1953 The Korean War
1959-1975 Vietnam
1990-1991 Desert Storm
2001-ongoing Operation Enduring Freedom
2003-ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom
Those are just the big ones.. here's a
History of US Military Operations
1798-1800 -- Undeclared Naval War with France
1801-05 -- Tripoli. The First Barbary War
1806 -- Mexico (Spanish territory)
1806-10 -- Gulf of Mexico
1810 -- West Florida (Spanish territory)
1812 -- Amelia Island
1813 -- West Florida (Spanish territory)
1813-14 -- Marguesas Islands
1814 -- Spanish Florida
1814-25 -- Caribbean
1815 -- Algiers
1815 -- Tripoli
1816 -- Spanish Florida
1816-18 -- Spanish Florida
1817 -- Amelia Island
1818 -- Oregon
1820-23 -- Africa
1822 -- Cuba.
1823 -- Cuba
1824 -- Cuba
1824 -- Puerto Rico
1825 -- Cuba
1827 -- Greece
1831-32 -- Falkland Islands
1832 -- Sumatra
1833 -- Argentina
1835-36 -- Peru
1836 -- Mexico
1838-39 -- Sumatra
1840 -- Fiji Islands
1841 -- Drummond Island, Kingsmill Group
1841 -- Samoa
1842 -- Mexico
1843 -- China
1843 -- Africa
1844 -- Mexico
1846-48 -- Mexican War
1849 -- Smyrna
1851 -- Turkey
1851 -- Johanns Island
1852-53 -- Argentina
1853 -- Nicaragua
1853-54 -- Japan
1853-54 -- Ryukyu and Bonin Islands
1854 -- China
1854 -- Nicaragua
1855 -- China
1855 -- Fiji Islands
1855 -- Uruguay
1856 -- Panama, Republic of New Grenada
1856 -- China
1857 -- Nicaragua
1858 -- Uruguay
1858 -- Fiji Islands
1858-59 -- Turkey
1859 -- Paraguay
1859 -- Mexico
1859 -- China
1860 -- Angola, Portuguese West Africa
1860 -- Colombia, Bay of Panama
1863 -- Japan
1864 -- Japan
1865 -- Panama
1866 -- Mexico
1867 -- Formosa
1867 -- Nicaragua
1868 -- Japan
1868 -- Uruguay
1868 -- Colombia
1870 -- Mexico
1870 -- Hawaiian Islands
1871 -- Korea
1873 -- Colombia (Bay of Panama)
1873-96 -- Mexico
1874 -- Hawaiian Islands
1876 -- Mexico
1882 -- Egypt
1885 -- Panama
1888 -- Korea
1888 -- Haiti
1888-89 -- Samoa
1889 -- Hawaiian Islands
1890 -- Argentina
1891 -- Haiti
1891 -- Bering Strait
1891 -- Chile
1893 -- Hawaii
1894 -- Brazil
1894 -- Nicaragua
1894-95 -- China
1894-96 -- Korea
1895 -- Colombia
1896 -- Nicaragua
1898 -- Nicaragua
1898-99 -- China
1899 -- Nicaragua
1899 -- Samoa
1899-1901 -- Philippine Islands
1900 -- China
1901 -- Colombia (State of Panama)
1902 -- Colombia
1903 -- Honduras
1903 -- Dominican Republic
1903 -- Syria
1903-04 -- Abyssinia
1903-14 -- Panama
1904 -- Dominican Republic
1904 -- Tangier, Morocco
1904 -- Panama
1904-05 -- Korea
1906-09 -- Cuba
1907 -- Honduras
1910 -- Nicaragua
1911 -- Honduras
1911 -- China
1912 -- Honduras
1912 -- Panama
1912 -- Cuba
1912 -- China
1912 -- Turkey
1912-25 -- Nicaragua
1912-41 -- China
1913 -- Mexico
1914 -- Haiti
1914 -- Dominican Republic
1914-17 -- Mexico
1915-34 -- Haiti.
1916 -- China
1916-24 -- Dominican Republic
1917 -- China
1917-22 -- Cuba
1918-19 -- Mexico
1918-20 -- Panama
1918-20 -- Soviet Russia
1919 -- Dalmatia
1919 -- Turkey
1919 -- Honduras
1920 -- China
1920 -- Guatemala
1920-22 -- Russia
1921 -- Panama - Costa Rica
1922 -- Turkey
1922-23 -- China
1924 -- Honduras
1924 -- China
1925 -- China
1925 -- Honduras
1925 -- Panama
1926-33 -- Nicaragua
1926 -- China
1927 -- China
1932 -- China
1933 -- Cuba
1934 -- China
1940 -- Newfoundland, Bermuda, St. Lucia, - Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Trinidad, and British Guiana
1941 -- Greenland
1941 -- Netherlands (Dutch Guiana)
1941 -- Iceland
1941 -- Germany
1945 -- China
1946 -- Trieste
1948 -- Palestine
1948 -- Berlin
1948-49 -- China
1950-53 -- Korean War
1950-55 -- Formosa (Taiwan)
1954-55 -- China
1956 -- Egypt
1958 -- Lebanon
1959-60 -- The Caribbean
1962 -- Thailand
1962 -- Cuba
1962-75 -- Laos
1964 -- Congo
1964-73 Vietnam War
1965 -- Dominican Republic
1967 -- Congo
1970 -- Cambodia
1974 -- Evacuation from Cyprus
1975 -- Evacuation from Vietnam
1975 -- Evacuation from Cambodia
1975 -- South Vietnam
1975 -- Mayaguez incident
1976 -- Lebanon
1976 -- Korea
1978 -- Zaire
1980 -- Iran
1981 -- El Salvador
1981 -- Libya
1982 -- Sinai
1982-1983 -- Lebanon
1983-89 -- Honduras
1983 -- Chad
1983 -- Grenada
1984 -- Persian Gulf
1985 -- Italy
1986 -- Libya
1986 -- Bolivia
1987-88 -- Persian Gulf
1988 -- Panama
1989 -- Libya
1989 -- Panama
1989 -- Andean Initiative in War on Drugs
1989 -- Philippines
1989-90 -- Panama
1990 -- Liberia
1990 -- Saudi Arabia
1991 -- Iraq
1991 -- Zaire
1992 -- Sierra Leone
1992 -- Kuwait
1992 -- Iraq
1992 -- Somalia
1993 -- Iraq
1993 -- Bosnia
1993 -- Somalia
1993 -- Macedonia
1993 -- Haiti
1994 -- Bosnia
1994 -- Rwanda
1994 -- Macedonia
1995 -- Somalia
1995 -- Haiti
1995 -- Bosnia
1996 -- Liberi
1996 -- Central African Republic
1996 -- Bosnia
1996 -- Rwanda and Zaire
1997 -- Albania
1997 -- Congo and Gabon
1997 -- Sierra Leone
1997 -- Bosnia
1997 -- Cambodia
1998 -- Guinea-Bissau
1998 -- Bosnia
1998 -- Kenya and Tanzania
1998 -- Albania
1998 -- Liberia
1998 -- Iraq
1998 -1999 Iraq
1999 -- Bosnia
1999 -- Kenya
1999 -- Yugoslavia/Albania
1999 -- Yugoslavia/Kosovo
1999 -- East Timor
1999-2000 -- Iraq
2000 -- Bosnia
2000 -- East Timor
2000 -- Sierra Leone
2000 -- Yugoslavia/Kosovo
2000 -- East Timor
2000 -- Yemen
2000 -- Yugoslavia/Kosovo
2001 -- East Timor
2001 -- Yugoslavia/Kosov
2001 -- Bosnia
2001 -- Iraq
2001 -- East Timor
2001 -- Afghanistan
2001 -- Yugoslavia/Kosovo
2002 -- Bosnia
2002 -- East Timor
2002 -- Yugoslavia/Kosovo
2002 -- Bosnia
2002 -- Cote d'Ivoire
2002 -- Yugoslavia/Kosovo
2003 -- Bosnia
2003 -- Iraq War
2003 -- Yugoslavia/Kosovo
2003 -- Liberia
2003 -- Bosnia
2004 -- Bosnia and Haiti
etc... etc.. and THAT'S just the Library of Congress's count.
I've known ex-soldiers who spoke of operations in places that aren't on that list. I think members of this forum could talk about anti-drug operations in central and south America that receive no press... but will respect their anonymity.
The point being... When is America NOT at war with someone, somewhere?? We're like Klingons.
No wonder we like blowing stuff up on the 4th of July. We are a violent people. It's in our art.. our music. You name it.
Truth hurts.. denial is a river in egypt.. etc..
Either continue to ignor it or embrace it.
I say embrace it! How cool would it look to see darth vader on the "I want you to join!" army recruitment posters?? Bitch'n!! if you ask me!!
Change the mascot from a bald eagle.. to a dead soldier... but like looking like that zombie from the Iron Maiden album covers.. or Yosemite Sam with guns blarin'... and the stars on our flag to tiny skulls.
That would be so metal!! (explosions) ![[guitar]](graemlins/guitar.gif) (explosions!)
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"Get Rich, or Die Drawing!"
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