Comments on: HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! – I must be a scoundrel!

By: triticale

triticale — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 23:14:53 +0000

The ship which brought my father’s family to Ellis Island in 1912 wasn’t that bad looking, but I found nd it amusing that a Gruzian (Georgian) family which sailed out of a Prussian port did so on a ship called the Kursk. I would have thought that my mother came thru there also, but if so the family name I’m checking is way wrong.

As I understand it, my father was naturalized as an infant when his parents were, but reaffirmed it as an adult and those naturalization papers were among his prized possesions.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 05:00:19 +0000

Here’s my favorite clip of patriotic music. Nothing like four-part harmony…

http://www.gashousegang.com/media/rams.mpg

Believe it or not, that cheer happened before 9/11. In some parts of the country, I’m happy to say, patriotism never went out of style.

Happy Fourth to all (fifth, now, for some of us).

By: mrp

mrp — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 03:51:14 +0000

Or Slavonic dances (it’s late).

By: mrp

mrp — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 03:46:02 +0000

Note to self: Kyda – one Coke. Stay the hell out of NYC. No more Dvorak comments – Roger’ll probably want case of Red if I mention Slovakian dances.

By: Kyda Sylvester

Kyda Sylvester — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 03:27:07 +0000

Well, mrp, I guess you owe me a coke.

By: Kyda Sylvester

Kyda Sylvester — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 03:26:14 +0000

My paternal grandparents’ names are on the Ellis Island Immigrant Wall of Honor. An Irish lass from the Connemara and an English lad from Liverpool who met on the voyage over and raised a family of seven in Brooklyn. Their third son married a southern belle whose family has been in North Carolina since the early 1700′s. My American heritage.

Happy Independence Day, Roger and everyone. Thank you to all who protect us. Happy Birthday, America. God Bless.

The second of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America…It ought to be soleminzed with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward, for ever more.

John Adams in a letter to his wife July 3, 1776, on the occasion of the July 2nd Continental Congress vote for independence. He had the right idea anyway.

SVJ–listening to New World Symphony as I type. Thanks for reminding me.

By: mrp

mrp — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 03:26:10 +0000

SV Jim -

Thanks for the Dvorak post. After reading it, it occured to me that listening to his New World symphony would be just the ticket to finish out the evening.

PBS recently aired a program titled ‘Dvorak And America’ that covered his years in the US. Quite enjoyable.

By: Buddy Larsen

Buddy Larsen — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 00:58:51 +0000

If it was during the Potato Famine, no wonder–an actual killing famine of great intensity.

In the President’s July 4 speech in West Virginia, he recommended dropping in on

http://WWW.americasupportsyou.mil

By: richard mcenroe

richard mcenroe — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 00:46:48 +0000

Richard Nieporent ó I just saw a picture of the , er, ship Great Granpa came to this country aboard. My God, he must have wanted to get out of Ireland in the worst way…

By: Brown Line

Brown Line — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 23:28:07 +0000

photoncourier – Boswell commented as follows on Johnson’s assertion: “But let it be considered, that he [Johnson] did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak for self interest.” (“The Life of Samuel Johnson”, Everyman’s Library edition, page 543.) Johnson himself was a staunch patriot, though one who at times was sharply critical of his country’s leaders and their policies. I think that today’s scoundrels tend to use “equality” and “compassion” and “tolerance” instead of patriotism to cloak their self interest; but the breed is same, “in all ages and countries”.