Even if you, like my fine self, do not live in the grand and free United States, it does not mean that you cannot revel in the wondrousness that is their severing of ties with the kingdom of Great Britain.
Yes, indeed, you may revel until your hearts and minds are content, for on this day in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson so I am told, is approved by the Continental Congress and signed by 56 delegates from the the Thirteen British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America.
It was actually on the 2nd of July 1776 that the legal separation of America from the British Isles occurred, with the Second Continental Congress approving a resolution of independence proposed in June of the same year by Virginian man, Richard Henry Lee. It was officially on this day that America was declared independent from Great Britain.
However, July 4th continues to be one of the most largely celebrated holidays across America, and indeed perhaps even the world (don't hold that one against me though, major generalisation). After being declared an unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870, it remained as such until 1938 when it was changed to a paid holiday.
Now, as I am not from America, and do not indeed know much about their history save what the movies tell me and what you learn generally from reading and listening to what people say, I love how much this day means to the people of America.
I know that across the world, each country has their own day of celebration unique to that country. Australia Day is one of the greatest days for me, because it's the one day that being a bit of a began is acceptable. We're allowed to just run around with no shoes on and drink beer and wear board shorts and embrace that stereotypical image of what an "Australian" is. It's the one day out of 365 days that we accept the stereotype.
But to me, American Independence Day just seems eight million times more intense and more embraced. You've got the massive parades, fireworks, the designated food for the day and each state probably has their own little tradition for that day. Sure Australia's got all that, but America! Man, you people just take it to the next level.
Is it all too much?
It's almost like you have to be proud of America to be an American. I mean, what about those Americans who are just happy being alive? What if they aren't super-duper excited that it's Independence Day? What happens to them then? Are they shunned? Forgotten? Ignored?
The horror.
Anyway, I don't know what's going on, but still.
Happy Independence Day America.
Image available: http://www.inlandvalleynews.com/2012/06/27/putting-our-differences-aside-celebrate-americas-independence-day/
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