Politically Incorrect Fourth of July Talking Points
Here is a Talking Point Guide for use during your Fourth of July gathering that will help stimulate a “higher level” of group conversation.
However, this Guide is only to be used after your group has finished gossiping about any absent family members or friends.
The person in your gathering who happened to stumble upon this piece is obviously the wisest among you and, therefore, should be designated group leader.
The group leader should start off by asking the following question:
What are we celebrating today?
Do not be surprised if the answer is summer vacation, fireworks or barbeques.
The group leader must be patient if any family or friends honestly do not know the real meaning of the day.
If you decide to mention Independence Day you must follow it up with the obvious question of independence from what for whom. Again, do not be surprised if those listening do not know the answer, especially if they are recent products of public secondary schools or universities.
Forging ahead, here is the next question for the group.
Are you proud to be an American?
If the answers are “yes” then follow up with:
Why are you proud to be an American?
This should elicit some interesting conversation.
However, if the answer to “are you proud to be an American” was “no” and the name of George W. Bush is evoked, I recommend you stop right here and drink heavily the rest of the day.
If you dare to continue, this extremely politically incorrect discussion point should be next.
First, mention an almost forgotten document that is the reason for the day and then slowly read its most famous passage, deliberately omitting the three most important words just like President Obama did.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
After your dramatic reading look up and see if anyone noticed that something was missing. If someone did, promise that person an extra hot dog and then task him/her to correctly read the passage. Then you both should explain to your group why the words by their Creator (instead of by their king) were so powerful that a bunch of gentlemen farmers were willing to start a violent revolution against the greatest military on earth.
On the other hand, if no one noticed the omission then inform anyone left listening that three important words were missing and correctly read the passage.
After this, explain to your group that our Founding Fathers were the first leaders on the planet to believe that humans were entitled to certain unalienable rights like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that these rights were endowed by God and not a king. That is what made the formation of their new nation so special and, many would say, exceptional to this day.
This concept could lead to a number of different discussions, but if this were my family someone would storm off reminding me that we were never to discuss politics or religion at any family gathering.
So Happy Fourth of July and I am sorry if I have offended anyone.
Do they have a Fourth of July in France?
Yes they do. There is one in Germany and Russia, and England and Israel. The difference is we celebrate it as a holiday.
Yeah the whole world has a 4th of July, but in America is it is a holiday nominally dedicated to independance. France does have such a day – Bastile Day which is July 14th and celebrates the storming of the Bastile in 1789 and thought to be the symboic launch of the French revolution which was dedicated to (in English) Brotherhood, Equality and Liberty… Which except for the liberty one is very differnet from the ‘Live Liberty and Persuit of Happiness’ of the US.
Additionally I’m not sure that the French recognize these as ‘from the Creator’ or just ‘from the Gov’t’ given the history of 200+ yeas since the French revolution, I’m inclined to think their definition of source of the rights is earthly, not heavenly.
Of course they do!
Only it comes ten days later.
When asked the same question about Great Briton, a Londoner friend responded:
“Yes, but we don’t like to talk about it”.
And the cynic right here at home advised, “Don’t start something you can’t finish!”
However, if the answer to “are you proud to be an American” was “no” and the name of George W. Bush is evoked, I recommend you stop right here and drink heavily the rest of the day.
Ha!
If they say yes because Americans elected the first Black “Stoner” President, then hit yourself over the head followed by heavy drinking (or maybe “choom” something to get the same effect).
FIRST get outta there, THEN hit yourself over the head . . .
As I recall, it was that infamous British Townsend Act (excise tax) on tea and other commodities that led to the Boston Tea Party (where people dressed up as Indians and dumped a load of British tea into the harbor). Apparently they wanted the Indians to get the blame. That Tea Party led to the American revolution over taxation without representation. We’ve come along ways in two hundred years. The Indians can vote. Slavery is illegal. The Supreme Court just ruled that not only can you be taxed on the activity of purchasing tea, but the congress can now tax you for not purchasing the tea, for doing absolutely nothing. Of course, if you’re Elizabeth–Two Tongue Tepee–Warren and claim membership in an Indian Tribe, you’re exempt from that doing nothing mandate tax. Of course, nowhere in the constitution is there an authorized inactivity excise tax that even slaves didn’t have to pay in there day.