Free Republic

Gather around class. On July 4, 2008, the United States of America will celebrate its 232nd birthday. Happy Birthday, you “whippersnapper!” The word “whippersnapper” originated about 100-years, before the freedom-loving colonists told King George to go jump in the lake. To be historically accurate, this dynast’s tea is what the rebels threw into Boston Harbor. Whippersnapper originally referred to a young person, usually male, who was unimportant and insignificant – but presumptuous. That epithet certainly applied to our early thirteen colonies. They were unimportant and insignificant, relative to the mighty British Empire, but they were also presumptuous in attempting to...

Today is the 232nd Birthday of our nation. It is a good day to reflect on just how blessed we are to live in what is truly the greatest nation on earth - not only presently, but in all human history. I do not say that lightly. I know that here have been many great civilizations down through the centuries, and many empires that have come and gone. Some have achieved great wealth, and others extended their domain to vast reaches. But there has never been a nation that existed for the foundational purpose of freedom for it's citizens, and...

The Americans Who Risked Everything My father, Rush H. Limbaugh, Jr., delivered this oft-requested address locally a number of times, but it had never before appeared in print until it appeared in The Limbaugh Letter. My dad was renowned for his oratory skills and for his original mind; this speech is, I think, a superb demonstration of both. I will always be grateful to him for instilling in me a passion for the ideas and lives of America's Founders, as well as a deep appreciation for the inspirational power of words which you will see evidenced here: "Our Lives, Our...

Just for purposes of curiosity: Do you plan to travel for the July 4th weekend? and why or wny not? Pesonally, i wasn't planning on it, but that's par for the course. It's been years and years since i sought to go anywhere but to the local fireworks celebration, and I think this has saved me much grief. But, if I were one to go to big amusement parks, or going to visit relatives, I still would likely not go this year, not because of panic, or being so short of funds that I could not literally buy the gas...

In honor of the I start this thread on Thursday, since most of us will have the day off to celebrate, tomorrow. Americans with a taste for vengeance this Fourth of July can take their aggressions out with a bang. The fuse on an Exploding Bin Laden Noggin burns brightly. The fountain, a spoof of al-Qaida leader and suspected terrorist Osama Bin Laden, is among this year’s most popular fireworks. "No. No. No. No. No," said Steve Nebel as he walked through the Bob’s Fireworks tent on Highway 763 last night combing the tables for a specific fountain. The object...

Quick, what famous event do we commemorate on the Fourth of July? Not sure? A little rusty on your sixth-grade civics? Well, you're in good company. One Gallup poll revealed that one out of every four Americans doesn't know that July Fourth commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It's a poor patriotism that doesn't even know our national history and traditions. This Fourth of July, let’s ask what it means, in the light of Scripture, to be an American citizen. Patriotism used to be a simple matter. Most of America's traditions were rooted in a Christian heritage. To...

On the Fourth of July Americans will cynically celebrate the greatest setback world progress has ever endured in all of human history. The rest of humankind will, of course, be grieving over the dark day when the United States of America was born. To understand the full scope of this tragedy we must look back at the pre-7/04 world and see what it was like to live on planet Earth before 1776. ~ Prior to July 4, 1776, not a single person in the world starved, got sick, worked hard for a living, or experienced any pain and anxiety. No...

America’s second president, John Adams, wrote of the Fourth of July: “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival,” he wrote his wife, Abigail. “It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”

Click here to visit a great web site about John Philip Sousa - American Composer, Conductor & Patriot Biography - MIDI and MP3 Music Files

On July 4, 1776, America's Founders declared the country's independence from Britain, largely as a revolt against excessive and unfair taxation. So in our nation, which is much more overtaxed than it was over two centuries ago, it would be fitting if, in recognition of our Founding principles, federal, state and local governments made July Fourth a totally tax-free day. Many cities already suspend sales taxes for a few days a year on items such as clothing and school supplies, usually to garner the favor of overtaxed parents struggling to raise kids and to give mom and pop an incentive...

I LOVE AMERICA! (this will make you feel good) On this July 4, while we face enemies at home and abroad, and while it may be old-fashioned to feel patriotism, I hope you will enjoy this presentation. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

MARIETTA - City officials on Wednesday loosened a ban on war veterans handing out thousands of miniature American flags during next week's Fourth of July parade. Officials announced yesterday afternoon that the city will allow veterans and others to pass out 3-by-5 inch U.S. flags, but only before and after the parade, not during the 1.5-mile route as they walk next to their "Let Freedom Ring" float.

The government of Kim Jong-Il announced that America's attempted July 4 attack on his country was thwarted when "the supreme mental energy of Kim caused all of the American rockets to explode just hundreds of feet in the air over their launching pads in cities all across the United States." The statement went on to say that "as a show of mercy, Kim's psychic powers also caused all of the Nodong and Scud missiles in North Korea's planned retaliatory strike to crash harmlessly into the sea, sparing the Americans from their justly deserved punishment." The statement concluded that "Kim's power,...

Here’s what I want to know, and here’s why I want to know it. At what point in history, exactly, did the Pew Center decide that it knew how to measure world opinion? I ask this because almost every week I seem to read a study of how the rest of the globe thinks (or at any rate feels) about the United States. The polls in this country are unreliable enough and are often used to measure intangibles, such as “approval ratings,” which is why there is so much fluctuation within and between them. But who’s doing the random samples...

It's the Fourth of July and the DUmmies are "patriotically" urging each other to "Put Away the Flags." They are so disgusted with the USA that they frown upon such displays of patriotism. The DUmmies are supported in this belief by left wing whacko, Howard Zinn, as you can see in this THREAD titled, "Put Away the Flags - Howard Zinn." Almost half the replies have been deleted so one can only imagine what extreme anti-American rants were worthy of not even being allowed in DUmmieland. So let us now watch the DUmmies tell each other to put away...

Click here to visit a great web site about John Philip Sousa - American Composer, Conductor & Patriot Biography - MIDI and MP3 Music Files

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (CNN) -- Engineers on Monday are closely scrutinizing a small crack in insulation on space shuttle's fuel tank as NASA continues to prepare for a Tuesday launch. NASA deputy manager John Shannon said foam that cracked covers a bracket that connects the liquid oxygen feedline to shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank. When engineers went to inspect it, they pinched off a .0057-pound, 3- inch piece of foam. Even so, Shannon said, had that piece fallen off during launch it wouldn't have damaged the orbiter. The crack was discovered during an inspection Sunday evening, and is 4-...

by Edward Hudgins, The Atlas Society & Objectivist Center On July 4 we celebrate the creation of the United States of America. Our birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence, reads, "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal." It states that we're each endowed with "certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." It concludes that "to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed." Most Americans give lip service to these sentiments. But how many of us understand...

Dang that Treasonous Scumbag Traitor, As most of you must have heard. Cindy Sheehan AKA Attention Whore will be fasting at "Camp Casey AKA Bush's Crawford Ranch" on July 4th. American Independence Day. You'd think she'd take the time to rejoyce the importance of that day. but no.

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 26, 2006 Independence Day, 2006 On July 4, 1776, our Nation's Founders declared "That these United Colonies are, and of Right, ought to be free and Independent States." This declaration marked a great milestone in the history of human freedom. On the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we pay tribute to the courage and dedication of those who created this country, and we celebrate the values of liberty and equality that make our country strong. The patriots of the Revolutionary War acted on the beliefs...

It's a little known fact that George Washington and James Madison really decided to fight for our independence so that Martha and Dolly could get abortions. So little known, in fact, that John Kerry and the brainiacs who do his email updates are the only ones who knew it. What other conclusion could you draw from the text of this email sent out by John Kerry on, of all of the 364 other days it could have been sent in 2005, Independence Day?: Subject: 4th of July, 5-4, and the fight for freedom: "Dear Steve, The Fourth of July is...

Take the Independence Daze quiz and see how you score: http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/quiz/july4/july4.html

•President Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth, Vt., on July 4, 1872. He is the only president born on July 4; however, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on the Fourth of July. •One lucky Philadelphian purchased a $4 picture at a flea market. Behind the picture was an original 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence. It was sold to TV producer Norman Lear for $8.1 million. •After the war, King George III rationalized that Washington would become a dictator and make the Americans yearn for royal rule. When he was told that Washington planned to...

War protester sets flag on fire MURRIETA: Lee Henry Vollick, 19, is attacked by concertgoers, then arrested, his mother says. By SARAH BURGE / The Press-Enterprise MURRIETA - After a 19-year-old war protester set fire to an American flag at the Murrieta city birthday bash Saturday evening, angry bystanders attacked him before he could say a word, his mother said Sunday. Police said Lee Henry Vollick, of Murrieta, set an American flag ablaze around 7:55 p.m. in the middle of a crowded concert at the California Oaks Sports Park. The protester's mother, Barbara Vollick, said her son was trying to...

IT'S NOT easy being an Atlanticist these days. Turn on the BBC or read almost any newspaper and it seems all but certain that you will find some pundit quietly, if rarely openly, rejoicing in George Bush's difficulties in Iraq. Many of the thousands of protestors gathering in Edinburgh this week will not be so coy. You know the script: Bush This is curious as only the US president and Tony Blair among western leaders appear still to believe in the existence of Kipling's "white man's burden". That politically incorrect term is nonetheless an apt description of US-UK policy and...

President on now

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain and its king. The declaration came 442 days after the first volleys of the American Revolution were fired at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts and marked an ideological expansion of the conflict that would eventually encourage France's intervention on behalf of the Patriots. The first major American opposition to British policy came in 1765 after Parliament passed the Stamp Act, a taxation measure to raise revenues for a standing British army in America. Under the banner...

All times are Eastern U.S. time July 3, Sunday 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. - Deep Impact Pre-Impact Live Interviews - JPL (One-Way Media Interviews) 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Deep Impact Pre-Impact Update - JPL(Update on separation and navigation) 4 p.m. – Deep Impact Pre-Impact Update - HQ (Replay) 7 p.m. – Deep Impact Pre-Impact Update - HQ (Replay) 11:30 p.m. – 3:30 a.m. (July 4) – Deep Impact Commentary (Expected time of impact: 1:52 a.m.) July 4, Monday 4 a.m. – 5 a.m. – Deep Impact Post-Impact Press Conference - JPL (Interactive Media Briefing) 7 a.m. –...

Click here to visit a great web site about John Philip Sousa - American Composer, Conductor & Patriot Biography - MIDI and MP3 Music Files

Sunoco Philadelphia Freedom Concert The city that gave the world LiveAid, raising unparalleled global awareness and funds for the fight against hunger, is about to step into the spotlight again - this time in the critical fight against HIV/AIDS. Sir Elton John will be coming to Philadelphia to headline the SUNOCO PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM CONCERT and PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM BALL on Monday, July 4, 2005, to raise two million dollars for HIV/AIDS awareness. Proceeds will be split to support the grant making activities of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which raises international awareness and resources for HIV prevention and care services, and...

July 4th: What is Independence? by Edward Hudgins July 4th is Independence Day. But at our picnics, parties and cookouts we might well ask, “Independence from what?” In 1776 we Americans declared our political independence with Britain. Tired of high taxes and a long train of abuses, and with no democratic controls on those who governed us, we decided it was time for us to run our own affairs. Besides, bowing on our knees before kings and lords was for slaves and serfs, not free men like us. But it was not just our break with Britain but also other...

I bet you can do it for those three days at least. Let's show the manufacturers what we can do if we want to. Let's send them a message that we want USA products and jobs in the USA. Let's hear it for independence on Independence Day.

West Virginia State Capitol GroundsCharleston, West VirginiaTHE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. They got the best seat in the house. (Laughter.) Glad you all are here. Thanks for coming. Happy 4th of July. (Applause.) I am thrilled to be back in your great state to celebrate once again Independence Day -- (applause) -- this time in the capital of the Mountain State, the great city of Charleston, West Virginia. (Applause.) I appreciate the good people of this state. You work hard, you look after your neighbors, and you love your country. (Applause.) And you sure know how to make a President...

Click here to visit a great web site about John Philip Sousa - American Composer, Conductor & Patriot Biography - MIDI and MP3 Music Files

ALL IS QUIET this morning, after the first night of heavy fireworks in the area. I expect there will be much more tonight. It's been years since I enjoyed the 4th of July. For me it means loud disturbance, frightened animals, and that I have to stay home to make sure all the critters get safely through it. DogMy poor dog is hung over this morning, still sleepy from her dose of doggie-downers last night. She's the worst about fireworks, of the dogs I've had. She isn't the 'hide in the back room' type dog, she's the 'bark at it'...

I am in trenton ohio north of cincy.. and had 2 f-16s just fly over quite freaky.. anyone else see them ? NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!! maybe an air show ?

Dear FReeper, Independence Day is a time for us to reflect on what it means to be an American, to remember the sacrifices made by those who have given their lives so we would be free, and to pay tribute to those who are putting themselves in harm's way to keep our country safe. We have created a special video message to share with you this weekend. It is our way of honoring the patriots who earned our freedom and the heroes who protect it everyday. You can watch the video at www.GeorgeWBush.com. Enjoy your weekend and the company...

On Independence Day, we remember names like Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Franklin --and we honor their courage and vision. We are grateful that our Founders pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to create an independent America. And we are thankful that this Nation under God is still free, independent, and the best hope of mankind. America is a place of freedom and opportunity. We are caring toward neighbors in need and generous to the sick and struggling. We are a strong, decent, and good-hearted country. All of us are blessed to be citizens of the United States...

"That Honorable Determination" Celebrating the 228th Anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence By Christopher Flannery Posted July 4, 2004 Anything in these remarks that does not stray from the truth is indebted to the American Founders, who bequeathed these ideas to us, to Abraham Lincoln, who preserved and ennobled them in the country's greatest crisis, to Harry V. Jaffa, who has done more than anyone since Lincoln to recover them, and to the late Tom Silver, the wisest and best of those who founded the Claremont Institute for the sake of these ideas. American children are not born understanding...

For one who was born and grew up in the small towns of the Midwest, there is a special kind of nostalgia about the Fourth of July. I remember it as a day almost as long-anticipated as Christmas. This was helped along by the appearance in store windows of all kinds of fireworks and colorful posters advertising them with vivid pictures. No later than the third of July -- sometimes earlier -- Dad would bring home what he felt he could afford to see go up in smoke and flame. We'd count and recount the number of firecrackers, display pieces...

Put the "Independence" Back in Independence Day June 25, 2004 by Michael Berliner America's cities and towns will soon fill with parades, fireworks, and barbecues. They will be celebrating the Fourth of July, the 228th birthday of America. But one hopes that--on this third post-September 11 Independence Day--the speeches will contain fewer bromides and more attention to exactly what is being celebrated. The Fourth of July is Independence Day, but America's leaders and intellectuals have been trying to move us further and further away from the meaning of Independence Day, away from the philosophy that created this country. What we...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI on Thursday warned police of potential July 4 attacks by al Qaeda using tactics like assault teams, car bombs and suicide bombs, although it said it had no credible threat for the holiday. In a weekly bulletin sent to law enforcement officials across the country, the FBI repeated recent warnings the United States remained a top al Qaeda target, but said it had no specific information regarding a July 4 attack. "Al Qaeda's targets generally have been of symbolic significance as well as directed at inflicting mass casualties with the timing of attacks driven more...

Put The "Independence" Back in Independence Day By Michael S. Berliner America's cities and towns will soon fill with parades, fireworks, and barbecues. They will be celebrating the Fourth of July, the 228th birthday of America. But one hopes that—on this third post-September 11 Independence Day—the speeches will contain fewer bromides and more attention to exactly what is being celebrated. The Fourth of July is Independence Day, but America's leaders and intellectuals have been trying to move us further and further away from the meaning of Independence Day, away from the philosophy that created this country. What we hear from...

"Ok, are you ready, grab your cooler and a lawnchair, and let's get on with the show!!" Marty King A well done tribute to America on her Birthday. Enjoy!!!

This is long overdue for me. A tribute to our armed forces. Thank you, all. I do not consider your sacrifices in vain. The American Flame

Spirit of mourning reflected in Flag Day guidelines By RAY GLASS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL U.S. flags will continue to fly at half-staff today in tribute to former President Ronald Reagan, but Americans celebrating Flag Day are not required to follow those guidelines with flags flown at homes and businesses. "It's not required, but most people do anyway," said Jerry Dickson, chaplain of American Legion Post No. 575 in Lubbock. He acknowledged that many U.S. flags mounted on homes and porches are not adjustable on their staffs. It has become accepted practice in that situation to attach a black mourning ribbon or streamer...

Is Economics All There Is? Let me invite you to join a crusade to change the culture and stop the present trend of treating us, our country, the world, everything and everybody in it as mere economic units. I was reminded of the necessity of this when reading a news story in a local paper about the Fourth of July. It was, in fact, just about how businesses catering to visitors fared during the holiday weekend. They did well, but is that what the Fourth of July has become: just another business opportunity? Is it a "good" Fourth if the...

Patriotism blamed for alleged assault canada.com Wednesday, July 09, 2003 CREDIT: Global BC ADVERTISEMENT SQUAMISH -- A camping trip to B.C. by three Washington state residents turned ugly in Squamish last week when they got into a fight with a large group of partying youths. The RCMP is only now releasing details of the incident. They say the clash on July 2 began with verbal bantering between Canadians celebrating Canada Day and the Americans marking Independence Day. The Mounties say the verbal exchanges escalated to physical aggression by both sides, resulting in some injuries and damage to the Americans' vehicle...

House instituted job of whip at the start of the Civil War There wasn't much celebrating going on in the District of Columbia on the Fourth of July in 1861, except possibly for the custodians on Capitol Hill. Hundreds of temporarily bivouacked Union troops summoned to guard the city had finally moved out of the Capitol to make room for the new 37th Congress assembling for its first session.Without a declaration of war, President Lincoln had put the nation on a war footing. He called upon the state governors for volunteers, ordered the naval blockade of Southern ports and authorized...