Happy! July 4, 2001

Subject: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: Abby Sale
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 03:03 PM


2001: begins 225th year of American Independence; The Declaration of Independence was adopted & signed on July 4th, 1776

 O the cuckoo
 Is a pretty bird,
 She wabbles
 As she flies.
 She never
 Hollers 'cuckoo'
 Till the Fourth Day
 Of July.

[I don't know when the custom commonly expired, it's still used in Presidential Proclamations, but it was once standard throughout the US to date letters and documents "of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth" or "The xxxth year of American Independence," rather than using the antidisestablishmentarianistic notion of dating from the inaccurate date of the birth of Jesus.]

BTW:
 Oh, the pigeon,
 Is a city bird,
 And she poo-poos,
 As she flies.
 And she drops those,
 Birdy turdies,
 From way up,
 In the sky.

  © Stephen L. Suffet 2000

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 03:17 PM

At least we knew what we were counting from that way!

Good data -- o, the things you learn on the Mudcat!

Here is a complementary notion for ya, Abbey, in humble appreciation. Well, appreciation anyway!:>)

Regards,

A

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: Suffet
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 04:37 PM

Abby,

Thanks for posting my song, "The Pigeon." I had almost fogotten I had written it, until I saw it here and on the rec.music.folk newsgroup.

I estimate that I have written more than 200 songs in my life, the majority being quickie pieces like this. Ada Prill from Rochester, NY, has been collecting them for a couple of years now, including ones that I would just as soon forget, such as "Lady Simpson and the Handsome Serving Lad."

Anyway, one sad note regarding July 4th: Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826, exactly 175 years ago today.

And one more happy note: The Philippines became an independent republic on July 4, 1946.

---- Steve

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: Abby Sale
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 06:51 PM

And a Happy Fil-American Friendship Day to you! (An official US declared Day)

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: GUEST,Walking Eagle
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:17 PM

Jes bein' a nit picker here. The D of I was SIGNED on July 4th. July 2nd. was when colonists decided to bolt from the crown.

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: kendall
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:21 PM

Actually, the D of I was signed on July 2nd and was approved on the 4th.

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: kendall
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:22 PM

Actually, the D of I was signed on July 2nd and was approved on the 4th. Or, was it the other way 'round?

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: Burke
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:31 PM

Another nit pick, we just completed the 125th year of independence. We're beginning our 126th.

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: GUEST,walking eagle
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:44 PM

I think we should have three days off!

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: SharonA
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 06:21 PM

In honor of the 225th anniversary of the USA's birth, there was a reading of the Declaration of Independence by several well-known actors on the steps of the Philadelphia (PA) Museum of Art last night. I saw it on TV; were any Mudcatters there? What a stirring presentation, especially the one section that Graham Greene read concerning the "Indian" attacks on settlers!!! That was priceless!

We Americans so often hear the same passages quoted from the Declaration that we have forgotten that a large portion of it lists grievances against King George. I feel we should not dismiss this portion as past history, but remember it and be vigilant that our government does not descend into those same practices against the citizenry now or in the future. We should also use it as a gauge of the human-rights conduct of other nations, and raise our voices against oppressors the world over.

SharonA

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: Abby Sale
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 09:30 PM

Burke, quite so. I seem to have dropped a year somewhere. Checking the website, I find a Pres. Proc. we all regularly observe for the 3rd week of March (ie, in the immediately prior year of Amer. Independence), NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION WEEK, 2001. It is dated: "IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth. GEORGE W. BUSH"

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: Amos
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 09:36 AM

National POSION PREVENTION Week???? Holy Jumpin' Jehosphats! It's just scurrilous that these two kinds of language should even be writ to the same page!! It is to barfff!!! The bold and dignified reduced to the specious and trivial in one very fell swoop.

A

Subject: RE: Happy! July 4, 2001
From: Abby Sale
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 04:07 PM

Amos, Careful whom you're deprecating there, fellow! I've been celebrating National Poison Prevention Week for some 14 years. Since 1987, in fact. I mean, really, you got any better official holidays to celebrate on March 18th? Well, there's Aruba Flag Day and certainly Aruba is a vital center in the hemisphere and, far as I know, the first country in the hemisphere to legalize prostitution - no small thing, that. But I prefer to celebrate a good old true-blue USian National Day, myself.

Please reiterate for me - I'm not quite sure just which the "bold and dignified" part of this thread was.