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#107013 07/04/03 08:18 AM
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A sincere, kindly wish, from this side of the Atlantic, that all you USns will have a happy day.



#107014 07/04/03 08:21 AM
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dxb Offline
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Yes, indeed, you independent lot!


#107015 07/04/03 09:42 AM
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Wot, 'ave they been allowed to go their own way? Well, I never did! Why didn't anyone tell me?

Have a good day, you useless USn bludgers!


#107016 07/04/03 05:36 PM
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A-hrm. I think I'll post something that happened to me on my trip. Before I left, I made up and printed out signs to tape onto the windows of my hire car (still trying to use terminology appropriate to the location). They had a small picture of our flag, and large, bold letters that proclaimed: "Warning--U.S. Driver". Yes, it was as embarrassing as I'd figured it would be, but I still think it was worth the embarrassment. Several times, people would let me over when I discovered belatedly that I needed to change lanes, and who knows how many accidents were avoided because native drivers were on the alert that my car might do something weird.
Anyway--I'd stopped at the Post Office in Upper Greaves, England, to buy some post card stamps. When the clerk told me that the two for Great Britain would be delivered the next day, I said I'd go out to the car, write them, and bring them back to him. When I went back in, another customer was at the window, a local man. I was waiting behind him when he turned to me and said that I might want to change the signs on my car to USA. At that point, he looked at the clerk and both men burst out laughing. I thought for a minute, then said, "Do I want to know why?" Whereupon the man said, "Over here, US means useless".

Thanks for the felicitations, you-all. Family picnic and fireworks tonight!


#107017 07/04/03 08:12 PM
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Aw, gee whiz, thanks for the good wishes. I celebrated with a swim at the pool - I'm not courageous enough to chance our cold north Atlantic waters. Doesn't seem to bother the children though!!
It's sunny and warm here and the beach is crowded with happy families swimming, sunning and enjoying picnics. It will be fireworks and ice cream at the beach for many tonight.
I plan to plant myself at the TV to watch, in comfort, the Boston Pops at the traditional Fourth of July concert and fireworks display on the Esplanade in Boston.
They have announced that - for the first time - the Pops will be broadcast live nationwide - 8p.m. on East coast If I heard it right! Check your local listing as it's a great time! The 1812 Overture with real cannon shot off at the appropriate time.
See you there !


#107018 07/05/03 08:45 PM
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One wonders what would have happened, had not George III been bonkers and had not a few hot-heads in the Parliament been stupid. There were a great many who disfavoured war between the Colonies and the Mother Country. There were those on both sides of the Pond who were intent on a solution which neither shed blood nor rent the relationship between the two places. Canada managed to "grow up" quite nicely without rebelling. One wonders.




#107019 07/05/03 11:50 PM
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maybe the North family would be living yet in Wroxton Abby at Banbery Cross.

and maybe Washington, and Jefferson, et al, would have been hung for treason.. and war would have come anyway in 1836 when England outlawed slavery.


#107020 07/05/03 11:54 PM
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It IS interesting to contemplate what would have happened in many of those instances were folks took up arms rather than taking down barriers. My earlier point was that war between England and the Colonies was not inevitable; it only appears inevitable from the way it is described in the textbooks.


#107021 07/06/03 03:15 AM
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Andrew Marr's history lesson

I'm with Andrew Marr on that - both the Patriot and Braveheart are truly awful films in terms of historical accuracy (google Braveheart innacuracies for a range of views). Stick with The Madness of George III if you want to see some realistic warts n' all history (that's the one that comes after The Madness of George and The Madness of George II.


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