What Do British people think about the 4th of July? (enemy, poll)
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The US wasn't highest on our agenda back then anyway (India was).
US independence was a good thing for the English speaking world including the spread of the common law system.
By removing close by temperate and fertile colonies from the necessity of support allowed more attention to be paid to places like India, less temperate colonies in Canada, and eventually far off places like Australia and China. India was at the time still mostly in the "outpost" phase, not yet controlled by Great Britain, control was gained over several decades following American independence.
I think they feel sympathetic to us now because of the whacko religious influence, the poor social support and the lack of intellectuals and out and out war-mongering.
What impacts of the "whacko religious influence" on our society do you believe would engender sympathy?
I really can't see the average Brit caring or thinking much about July 4th based on stuff that happened 200 years ago. America is not the sun you know! I don't live in the US and was out last night and heard fireworks coming from the direction of the American embassy. My companions and I were genuinely puzzled for a while wondering what the occasion was.
I speak to you as the direct descendant of King George III. He was the last Crowned Sovereign to rule in this country, and it is therefore with a particular personal interest that I view those events which took place 200 years ago.
It seems to me that Independence Day, the Fourth of July, should be celebrated as much in Britain as in America. Not in rejoicing at the separation of the American Colonies from the British Crown but in sincere gratitude to the Founding Fathers of this great Republic for having taught Britain a very valuable lesson.
We lost the American colonies because we lacked that statesmanship “to know the right time, and the manner of yielding, what is impossible to keep.”
But the lesson was learned. In the next century and a half we kept more closely to the principles of Magna Carta which have been the common heritage of both our countries.
We learned to respect the right of others to govern themselves in their own ways. This was the outcome of experience learned the hard way in 1776. Without that great act in the cause of liberty performed in Independence Hall two hundred years ago, we could never have transformed an Empire into a Commonwealth!
Ultimately peace brought a renewal of friendship which has continued and grown over the years and has played a vital part in world affairs. Together we have fought in two world wars in the defence of our common heritage of freedom. Together we have striven to keep the peace so dearly won. Together, as friends and allies, we can face the uncertainties of the future, and this is something for which we in Britain can also celebrate the Fourth of July.
This morning I saw the famous Liberty Bell. It came here over 200 years ago when Philadelphia, after London, was the largest English speaking city in the world. It was cast to commemorate the Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges, but is better known for its association with the Declaration of Independence.
Today, to mark the 200th anniversary of that declaration, it gives me the greatest pleasure, on behalf of the British people, to present a new bell to the people of the United States of America. It comes from the same foundry as the Liberty Bell, but written on the side of the Bicentennial Bell are the words “Let Freedom Ring”.
It is a message in which both our people can join and which I hope will be heard around the world for centuries to come.
They were important enough to fight a bloody eight year war over.
At the time, absolutely. We constituted half the empire at the time--much of which was taken from France at a bloody cost to the British. What I'm saying is that few Brits care about our Revolution now because they went on to conquer 1/4 of the world. Kind of like a massive consolation prize. (maybe not the greatest comparison, but oh well) When you get that much control over the world's land and resources, losing 13 colonies 50 years earlier doesn't seem like such a bad blow, like a big bump on the road to greatness.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Finn_Jarber
Losing the war in US was an embarrassing defeat to England, and to say it was not important is an outright lie.
Are you accusing me of lying? Why don't you assume I'm mistaken instead of calling people liars? Chill out.
I'm sorry but that is such a ridiculous assumption....
Ya know , the Brits have been through a few more wars since then.....they had it much worse than we can imagine...I don't think they dwell on an event that took place over 200 years ago in the US...
Assumption? What assumption did I make? I ASKED A QUESTION - and some of the Brits on the forum have been kind of enough to answer it.
What is your problem? Everytime you respond to one of my posts it seems like you are going to blow a ventricle - and this is a much less controversial topic then stuff you usually are upset at me about.
Grudge? What grudge would I have - my country won -lol?
Chill out!
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What! 
