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In 1906, my great grandfather emigrated from Scotland to Canada with his family; at the time, my grandmother was 6 years old. I don't know that she ever officially took an oath to become a Canadian citizen; as I recall, there may have been a piece of legislation passed that made landed immigrants citizens in bulk. So.. my father was a first generation Canadian by birth.
As a child, we were taught general disdain for Americans; they weren't like us... therefore, they couldn't be trusted.
In 1999, I emigrated from Canada to the United States to take a job. I soon realized the disdain I had been taught was largely in error... American's may have some different values, but they were mostly just people trying to support their families. A number of years later, I married an American and we have a daughter who is an American.
So what does the 4th of July mean to me? It means the freedom to pursue my dreams, to work within the confines of the law to better myself, to provide for my family, to freely worship if I so choose.
For most of my time in the U.S., I have worked with children during the week. When we say the pledge of allegiance, and I do say the pledge, I tell them: if you live here, that flag represents the freedoms you enjoy, paid for in lives by those that came before you. While you live here, respect the flag. At a later day, if you choose to move elsewhere, I hope you do well, but, for now... respect the flag.
Today, we celebrate those hard fought freedoms. And I, a non-American, salute those who came before.
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Tim Carmichael wrote: So what does the 4th of July mean to me? It means the freedom to pursue my dreams, to work within the confines of the law to better myself, to provide for my family, to freely worship if I so choose
All of which you could have done before the 4th july, or in the UK.
Tim Carmichael wrote: I soon realized the disdain I had been taught was largely in error
Seems like you need to take a fresh look at what you have been told again. 
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Tim Carmichael wrote: As a child, we were taught general disdain for Americans; they weren't like us... therefore, they couldn't be trusted.
Don't know who this "we" is supposed to represent, but this is the first I've ever heard of such a thing.
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Tim Carmichael wrote: As a child, we were taught general disdain for Americans; they weren't like us... therefore, they couldn't be trusted.
Really ?
From a Canadian point of view, I find that weird; We often say "There is a a difference between the US politics and the US people".
Most american I've met are nice people.
Even in Europe, the US people are seen as nice people.
I'd rather be phishing!
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The US army bases near the Canadian border, the plans, drawn up between the wars, to invade Canada?
It was the ill will from the war of independence and the 1810 war of complete humiliation (for the US )
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As I said, as I child we were taught that... doesn't make it right, but it is what I was taught.
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Much better than the Indian version.
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I love americans, when I travelled to Mexico my favourite part was sitting in the airport bar in Atlanta or Houston chatting to the yanks for 6 hours whilst waiting for my flight; they are so interesting and friedly
You could even chat to lone women without them thinking that you're cracking on to them, something you can't do in England
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Shane the revoloution didn't spread back across the pond is all I can say.
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Munchies_Matt wrote: Shane the revoloution
Yeah, I remember him, bolshie little oik.
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Minor correction. You're thinking of his grandfather (George II). George III was English. Yes, he was from Hanoverian stock, but he was born in London. His father was German, but he never took the throne, having died before George II.
This space for rent
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He is still a despotic German king, whichever way you play it. Heck, even queen Victoria had a german accent!
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Video, or it didn't happen. ![Badger | [badger,badger,badger,badger...]](https://codeproject.freetls.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/badger.gif)
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"Yearn to be at the top of the Church, perhaps"?
(6)
modified 4-Jul-17 4:37am.
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Correct - you are a winner!
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Duncan Edwards Jones wrote: "Yearn to be at the top of the Church, perhaps"?
No, thanks. They start sprinkling water and shouting things in Latin as soon as they see me coming.
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Correct but @LabViewStuff got there just a smidge ahead of you...
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Bishopric
"Yearn to be at the top" = prick
"of the Church" = bishop
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I found THIS ONE quite hilarious! (SFW) 
I'm no grammar nazi of course. But I hate it when my autocorrect changes my texts - As far as I'm concerned, it can go straight to he'll 
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
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The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
Winston Churchill, 1944
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I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
Me, all the time
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You're senseless. Posts annoy me.
 => JOKING! <=
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Johnny J. wrote: autocorrect
Duck that shut! I gate it!
* CALL APOGEE, SAY AARDWOLF
* GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
* Never pay more than 20 bucks for a computer game.
* I'm a puny punmaker.
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