Happy Birthday America!!

War Eagle · 07-04-2017, 11:16 AM

We're hoping our neighbors across the road set off some fireworks tonight. For being out in the country in the middle of nowhere, they put on a pretty good show, and we just sit on our side of the road, watch, and honk the car horn in appreciation when they're done. Our dogs aren't all that thrilled, but they get excited that we get excited.

Rossue · 07-04-2017, 11:28 AM

Ha! You beat me by three minutes! Was waiting for someone to start this conversation. My 23 year old surprised me by saying we should get a 25-30' flagpole. Had one years ago while renting a nice old house a Swedish immigrant built overlooking Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, CA. Loved running up the flag!

War Eagle · 07-04-2017, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossue

... My 23 year old surprised me by saying we should get a 25-30' flagpole....

We raised a telescoping flagpole in our front yard right after 911 and have been flying 'Ole Glory in our front yard plus a small flag on our mailbox ever since. Those were part of the directions I gave to Reace to find our place. God Bless America! Land that I love....

**rbryan4** · 07-04-2017, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by War Eagle

We raised a telescoping flagpole in our front yard right after 911 and have been flying 'Ole Glory in our front yard plus a small flag on our mailbox ever since. Those were part of the directions I gave to Reace to find our place. God Bless America! Land that I love....

For all of it's warts and problems (and we do have a few), I'm optimistic. America is still a great nation.

Santiago · 07-04-2017, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbryan4

For all of it's warts and problems (and we do have a few), I'm optimistic. America is still a great nation.

Robert, couldn't have said it better. Thank you.

**Donna D.** · 07-04-2017, 07:14 PM

My goal today is to spend time "watching" Independence Day (the movie, 1996) over-and over. It started on E! at 6am this morning and will continue in a loop until 6am tomorrow morning...the 5th. Some great one liners (applicable today in our current political climate) .. I catch a few more as it's playing in the loop. No MATTER how you spend today, July 4, 2017, I wish you well.

Ron in BC · 07-04-2017, 09:58 PM

I spent the day driving through part of Wisconsin, across Minnesota into North Dakota.

When I go to Washington State, driving in residential areas, holidays or not I usually see many houses flying the flag. So I expected to see a sea of red, white and flags today until my eyes glazed over. We're on secondary roads and drove through dozens of towns. Flags on houses were virtually non-existent. What the heck? Are folks on the West Coast just more patriotic?

Ron

MyronL · 07-04-2017, 10:13 PM

Nah. If you've ever listened to A prairie home companion on the radio you'd have your answer. Some folks, like in Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, are not demonstrative by nature - like me. Prefer keeping a sedately low profile devoid of surface symbolism. I won't wear a flag pin on any of my lapels. A wise man once said show me a guy who wraps themselves with the flag and I'll show you a man not to be trusted.

Santiago · 07-04-2017, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyronL

A wise man once said show me a guy who wraps themselves with the flag and I'll show you a man not to be trusted.

Sorry Myron, a man who says that is not wise.
I can think of other ways to describe that wise man.

gbaglo · 07-04-2017, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Santiago

Sorry Myron, a man who says that is not wise.

Actually, if you read the quote, and suspend the gut reaction, you might find that it is true.

**rbryan4** · 07-04-2017, 10:44 PM

It's a matter of degree. I fly the flag, and I sometimes wear a lapel pin (depending on the occasion), but I consider that to be part of my heritage as a Veteran of the US Armed Services. I don't consider it 'wrapping' myself in the flag.

Rossue · 07-04-2017, 10:50 PM

Agree with you Robert- I wish we were as patriotic a nation as the Canadians seem to be.

Santiago · 07-04-2017, 11:23 PM

Well ... by many accounts I am considered to be a wise fellow.
Also considered to be extremely trustworthy as are most all of my fellow Americans.
There goes that theory.

I proudly fly my country's flag because its a symbol of freedom and liberty, something not found in many parts of the globe. I know this first hand thanks to other "wise men". Our forefathers got it right.

Yes like many of my fellow Americans, I love my flag for what it represents.

Greg A · 07-04-2017, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyronL

A wise man once said show me a guy who wraps themselves with the flag and I'll show you a man not to be trusted.

I have googled that phrase and it doesn't come up attributed to anyone, let alone a wise man. In fact, you mostly get relationship related quotes in the results. The closest is by Molly Ivins, but that wouldn't count as a wise man and the quote is a bit different.

MyronL · 07-04-2017, 11:57 PM

I thought it was Mencken, or Will Rogers, or Mark Twain, but the closest source I can find is a quote by Ben Johnson (17th or 18th century England I think), who said essentually, "...patriotism is the last vestage of a scoundrel..."

Mike Lewis · 07-05-2017, 12:02 AM

Here's what I did on our fine national holiday-- I photographed the American landscape, in eastern Oregon.

Mike Lewis · 07-05-2017, 12:31 AM

The result should look like this image from my wimpy digital camera, except better and much, much bigger.

float5 · 07-05-2017, 12:49 AM

Very nice, Mike.

gbaglo · 07-05-2017, 01:06 AM

Film forces you to look and to consider, before pushing the shutter.

Fox hunt · 07-05-2017, 03:30 AM

Enough is enough fire works still going at 1:30Am my dogs are terrified I need to sleep have to work in the am! I know it's fun for kids but it's illegal in my town I'm ok with some harmless fun but be respectful! So happy birthday American now go to sleep,

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