Happy Birthday America!

I

IronDuke

Ancient Mariner
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. - Declaration of Independance, signed July 4th, 1776.


I think the above says it all. America, you're the cradle of all that is wrong AND all that is right with this great society we call the West. To all the Americans who read these forums, I say Happy birthday!!! May the next 229 years be just as good.

[img src=\'http://www.e2cweb.com/images_art/american%20flag.jpg\' border=\'0\' alt=\'user posted image\' /]
 
I wonder how you can trace the breakup of Pangaea that took place in the Mesozoic age which took place at least 150 million years ago to the exact date of the 4th of July, but in that case, Happy Birthday America! And Eurasia, and Africa and Australia and Antarctica...

If you, however, wish to congratulate the [span style=\'color:red\']United[/span] [span style=\'color:gray\']States[/span] [span style=\'color:blue\']Of America[/span], I will rant that I don't really see the point of celebrating the day in which a dead tree was scribbled upon by some old and smelly men.

I still wish the 295 267 686 people residing in the 9 372 610 km² of land currently known under the name of "United States Of America", as well as the rest of the approximately 6 billion people on the rest of the world the very best for their future, on this day, on the next day and on all 365 days of the year.

And let's get rid of that egocentric individual residing in Washington (District of Columbia), whom I won't dignify by typing his name, who thinks of himself as the sole ruler of the universe.

/offensive mode
 
[!--QuoteBegin-Perun+Jul 4 2005, 02:53 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(Perun @ Jul 4 2005, 02:53 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]I don't really see the point of celebrating the day in which a dead tree was scribbled upon by some old and smelly men.
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"dead tree" ... The Declaration of Independence was written on parchment, which is made from animal skin (not paper, made from trees).

"men" ... Plural is incorrect; the only man who actually signed on July 4, 1776 was John Hancock. The rest added their signatures over the next few months.

"old" ... John Hancock was 39 at the time he signed the Declaration. That may be older than Perun, but it's not old.

"smelly" ... well, that may be true.
 
How come that whenever I try to be offensive by being picky, somebody manages to be even pickier than me? [!--emo&:P--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/tongue.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'tongue.gif\' /][!--endemo--]
 
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--] I wonder how you can trace the breakup of Pangaea that took place in the Mesozoic age which took place at least 150 million years ago to the exact date of the 4th of July, but in that case, Happy Birthday America! And Eurasia, and Africa and Australia and Antarctica...[/quote]

I think it's been covered somewhere on this forum a few months ago, but I'm going to reiterate the consensus: You are correct in stating that "America" refers to the entire North and South American continents. However, in common English language useage the following meanings apply:
America = United States
North America = Canada, USA, Mexico
Latin America = Guatemala, Panama, and all points in between
In other words, the use of the term has changed since Vespucci first wrote his name on those charts 400 years ago. Deal with it. America=United States.

[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]If you, however, wish to congratulate the United States Of America, I will rant that I don't really see the point of celebrating the day in which a dead tree was scribbled upon by some old and smelly men.[/quote]
What's wrong with celebrating the founding moment of your country? Just because they happen to be the most powerful country doesn't mean they don't have a right to love their homeland.
[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]I still wish the 295 267 686 people residing in the 9 372 610 km² of land currently known under the name of "United States Of America", as well as the rest of the approximately 6 billion people on the rest of the world the very best for their future, on this day, on the next day and on all 365 days of the year.[/quote]
Now that's a much better attitude to have.

[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]And let's get rid of that egocentric individual residing in Washington (District of Columbia), whom I won't dignify by typing his name, who thinks of himself as the sole ruler of the universe.
[/quote]
And let's get rid of the bleeding heart, deluded, pro-Saddam communist in Berlin while we're at it. George W. Bush is the president of the United States, and even if you don't respect the man you should respect the office (which held such men as Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt - the shapers of our era). This man was elected (under the laws agreed upon in the Constitution) by those 295,267,686 people to be their leader. Respect their choice.

It's disheartening that some people can't see beyond their prejudices and simply extend a hand of friendship and celebration to their fellow man just because they come from a country with a different world-view.
And let's not forget the debts the West owes to America. Margaret Thatcher best summed it up in 1981:[!--QuoteBegin--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--] If we are safe today, it is because America has stood with us. If we are to remain safe tomorrow, it will be because America remains powerful and self-confident. When, therefore, the Americans face difficulties, we need to say to them more clearly: "We are with you.[/quote]

This was supposed to be a positive, upbeat post for my fellow Maidenfans who happen to live south of the 49th and north of the Rio Grande and love their country.

So, Happy birthday America! May the dream on which you were founded never die.
 
[!--QuoteBegin-IronDuke+Jul 4 2005, 11:45 AM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(IronDuke @ Jul 4 2005, 11:45 AM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--] We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. - Declaration of Independance, signed July 4th, 1776.
I think the above says it all. America, you're the cradle of all that is wrong AND all that is right with this great society we call the West. To all the Americans who read these forums, I say Happy birthday!!! May the next 229 years be just as good.

[img src=\'http://www.e2cweb.com/images_art/american%20flag.jpg\' border=\'0\' alt=\'user posted image\' /]
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I`ll just simply say thanks Duke. Cheers to you [!--emo&:rock:--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/headbang.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'headbang.gif\' /][!--endemo--]
 
[!--QuoteBegin-IronDuke+Jul 4 2005, 11:53 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(IronDuke @ Jul 4 2005, 11:53 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]I think it's been covered somewhere on this forum a few months ago, but I'm going to reiterate the consensus: You are correct in stating that "America" refers to the entire North and South American continents. However, in common English language  useage the following meanings apply:
America = United States
North America = Canada, USA, Mexico
Latin America = Guatemala, Panama, and all points in between
In other words, the use of the term has changed since Vespucci first wrote his name on those charts 400 years ago. Deal with it. America=United States.
What's wrong with celebrating the founding moment of your country? Just because they happen to be the most powerful country doesn't mean they don't have a right to love their homeland.
[/quote]

Mexico is part of LATIN america, that is a HUGE mistake coming from you duke [!--emo&:D--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/biggrin.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'biggrin.gif\' /][!--endemo--]. While U.S CITIZENS think America= United States several nations (Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom) Speak English as a FIRST language and it is an OFFICIAL language in, Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belau, Bermuda, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cameroon, Cook Islands, Dominica, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, US Virgin Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Wake Island, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The number of people believed to speak English as a second language is around 375 million and The British Council put the figure at more than 750 million people that speak it as a foreign language. I HIGHLY doubt they all think America= United States.

I for one DO NOT. Don't assume for you know what happens when you do.
 
[!--QuoteBegin-IronDuke+Jul 4 2005, 05:53 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(IronDuke @ Jul 4 2005, 05:53 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]North America = Canada, USA, Mexico
Latin America = Guatemala, Panama, and all points in between
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[!--QuoteBegin-Onhell+Jul 5 2005, 03:29 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(Onhell @ Jul 5 2005, 03:29 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]Mexico is part of LATIN america
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Geographically speaking, Mexico is part of North America. The geographical area to which the Duke referred is Central America, not Latin America.

Latin America is defined by culture rather than geography, and (as Onhell said) it includes Mexico and a whole bunch of other countries.
 
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