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    Independence Day 2022

    Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2, but it was not declared until July 4.

    Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.

    Background

    During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain's rule. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it two days later on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

    The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

    Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

    Historians have long disputed whether members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.

    Coincidentally, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, James Monroe, another Founding Father who was elected as President, also died on July 4, 1831. He was the third President who died on the anniversary of independence. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872; so far he is the only U.S. President to have been born on Independence Day.

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    Another re post and a Happy 4th of July all!!!

    I am older today and see efforts now to erase history or rewrite it. We can only learn from history if it exists.

    - Pete

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    #2
    Thanks Pete. We need the lessons of history more than ever to guide us through these divisive times.
    Barry

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      #3
      “History is written by the victors.”

      -- old proverb

      Comment


        #4
        "History is Written By Victors" is a Foolish Phrase

        Dec 01, 2018
        shubhamjain dot co


        Some quotes are clever; some only superficially so. Often, we are so awed by a statement that we don’t ever question its veracity. Take, Betteridge’s law of headlines, for example. The maxim assets that every headline ending with a question mark can be answered with a “no.” A straightforward analysis points that the law only applies 25% of the times. Probably, the originator didn’t consider genuine uses of having a question as a headline.

        “History is Written by Victors.” The quote gets attributed to Winston Churchill, but its origins are unknown. It implies that history is not grounded in facts, rather it’s the winners’ interpretation of them that prevails. The victors can force their narrative down on the people. (Actually, there could be multiple interpretations. The term ‘winner’ itself is ambiguous. So, I have made certain assumptions.)

        To an extent, this happens. Mercedes had to apologize for tweeting a quote of Dalai Lama after receiving a backlash form the Chinese. Why? Because he’s considered a terrorist in the mainland. Debate on Tibet’s sovereignty aside, it’s obvious that PRC has tried to disseminate a twisted version of the history.

        However, there are so many things wrong with the phrase that it can’t be taken seriously (unless you were to severely limit its scope.)

        First, history isn’t set in stone. When new facts emerge, it gets revisited. The Wright Brothers, who were celebrities in their heyday, believed so strongly in their innovation that they never considered that they are crossing the line in enforcing patents. Such was their stature that they won every major lawsuit. Today, those actions are rightfully considered patent trolling. Of course, the public view is still in their favor today. But, that’s only because what they did was truly revolutionary.

        You might win history for a certain time period, but that doesn’t imply no one will question you actions in the future.

        Second, it’s difficult to assume that a person or a regime can force an interpretation unless they were to be highly oppressive. Promoting and mantaining a false image of the past would mean to oppress all the facts and mediums of free speech. After all, it only takes one dissenter to take down the whole narrative. Some regimes, like North Korea’s, have been exceptionally successful at this. Amid deep surveillance, and strict control on access to information, the public is fed with patently false information: “South Korea is poverty-stricken,” “North Korea ended WWII,” and “Koreans are a pure and superior race.”

        But, how far can one go when there’s a little bit of democracy and free speech? China is known suppress all accounts of Tiananmen Square Massacre, but that hasn’t erased the knowledge of the event from the nation.

        The counterexamples to the phrase are numerous.

        Japan carried out a brutal attack on China and its citizens during the WWII. But, except maybe by their own people, the attacks were never seen in favorable light.

        Robert Moses, one of the most successful public official in terms of projects executed, had mastered the art of having media and public opinion on his side. Nevertheless, his dirty, manipulative tactics did come in light later (particularly after Robert Caro wrote his biography.)

        Genghis Khan, one of the great victors in all history, is generally viewed quite unfavorably in practically all sources because his conquests tended to harm the literary classes.

        The Reality

        Sometimes, historical facts do get twisted for petty gains. Sometimes, people are made to buy a blatant lie. I can recall a book that proudly claimed that plastic surgery, nuclear weapons, aeroplanes and big bang theory were already discovered in ancient India.

        But, that doesn’t have to do anything with who’s the winner or the loser. The driving factor here is who stands to gain the most. It’s fairly simple to bolster citizens’ self-image by harping about the glorious past. Hence, the Indian politicians’ sustained efforts to do.



        History is written by everyone.

        The more accurate quote would be,

        “History is temporarily twisted by people who’re going to profit from it in the short term.”



        - Pete

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          #5
          So please explain to me from your quote:

          "I am older today and see efforts now to erase history or rewrite it. We can only learn from history if it exists."

          Please specify examples of where history is being erased.

          So according to your other quote: "“History is temporarily twisted by people who’re going to profit from it in the short term.”
          Which would mean it has to be revised / rewritten in order to correct the temporarily twisted. Which contradicts your concern of history being rewritten???

          Comment


            #6


            1 - Removal of statues all over the country that offend.

            Many examples (literally thousands in just the last couple of years).

            Dozens of Christopher Columbus statues have been removed since June

            BY CHRISTOPHER BRITO
            SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 / 6:00 AM / CBS NEWS

            At least 33 Christopher Columbus statues have been taken down or in the process of being removed since the renewed Black Lives Matter protests began in late spring, according to a count of local reports.


            2 - public education or re-education.

            3 - private and public University education


            It was just a Google search for " "History is Written By Victors"

            First hit was the above quote and provided by a person living in India.

            Personally have always been in to history ...sort of a hobby of mine.

            Studying history, religion and philosophy was how I relaxed while studying the sciences (Physics, Biochemistry, Biology, Medicine and engineering).



            - Pete

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              #7
              Originally posted by Pete View Post

              1 - Removal of statues all over the country that offend.

              Many examples (literally thousands in just the last couple of years).

              Dozens of Christopher Columbus statues have been removed since June

              BY CHRISTOPHER BRITO
              SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 / 6:00 AM / CBS NEWS

              At least 33 Christopher Columbus statues have been taken down or in the process of being removed since the renewed Black Lives Matter protests began in late spring, according to a count of local reports.


              2 - public education or re-education.

              3 - private and public University education


              It was just a Google search for " "History is Written By Victors"

              First hit was the above quote and provided by a person living in India.

              Personally have always been in to history ...sort of a hobby of mine.

              Studying history, religion and philosophy was how I relaxed while studying the sciences (Physics, Biochemistry, Biology, Medicine and engineering).


              Those statutes that you refer to... my guess is that the majority are civil war related, tributes to the losing side. Not sure why one would have public displays of people that tried to secede from the nation and want to keep enslaving people. Removing public tributes is NOT rewriting history, one can easily find the information in history books. Having Civil War statues in public is like saying that symbols of former Nazi Germany need to be on display since it was part of the country's history.

              And yeah, further research by historians reveal that Colombus wasn't this saint previously created by previous historians who chose to ignore the brutality towards the original occupants of the Americas.

              You pretty much confirmed my suspicions as to what your true thoughts are, thank you for that.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by AlexaThor

                Just right now made me think, if History is written by the victors, then does that mean history books are a predominantly a one sided story of the human race? 🤔
                I've always maintained that there are three sides to every story; the victors, the losers, and the truth.
                Len


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