Pet peeve of the day
I agree with reader Bruce who writes to the SFChronicle today about an annoying pet peeve of mine:
Reflections on the Fourth
Editor – A modest request: Would it be too much to ask to honor the most-important day in the history of our country by calling it by its proper name, “Independence Day,” instead of the “Fourth of July”? After all, we don’t refer to Christmas Day as “December 25th,” do we? Thank you.
BRUCE JANKE
Los Gatos
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No matter what it is called, if it is a patriotic day of observance or celebration, you can bet Google ignores it…
Not yet, anyway.
Yep. Which is why I use Goodsearch instead.
That’s why I absolutely abhor ‘9/11′.
It’s a bloody media catchphrase that belittles a day that should never be forgotten. I always say the entire phrase ‘September, 11, 2001.’
The same can be said for Thanksgiving… I’m sick of hearing “Turkey Day”.
And for imagery, Easter seems to be all about bunnies and eggs.
O! Christmas TreeO! Botanical growth with special meaning attributed to December 25.Yes, why exactly do we celebrate the Fourth of July?!? Inquiring minds what to know. idiots.
Whoo hoo, Los Gatos!
Why? They didn’t ignore last year.
Ahem! Don’t you mean “winter holidays”?
I agree, wighttrasch. Give the day and the people who were injured and died, their respectful due.
Yes independence day. Independence from the elitist rule & oppressive taxes of the crown… we could use another one of those right about now.
When Obama is elected, they’re going to rename it “Co-dependence Day.”
Instead of parades and fireworks, they’ll have free sensitivity training in the park, and a late night movie festival of Michael Moore and Oliver Stone flicks.
And, BTW, I have no issue with Independence Day being called the Fourth of July. No big deal, at least to me, but everyone’s entitled to their Pet Peeves…
#6- I guess too many patriotic Americans took notice.
They’ll note obscure European writers and artists, and Sputnik launches, but as a rule, Memorial Day and Veterans Day and Independence Day are ignored.
On a different subject, “July 4th” is pretty widely recognized, so I’m not super peeved. Except, IIRC, July 2nd was the actual date the Declaration of Independence was signed.
#7:
Ed isn’t one to let facts get in the way.
I’ve always said “Independence Day” for that very reason.
On July 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm, wighttrasch said:
That’s why I absolutely abhor ‘9/11′.
It’s a bloody media catchphrase that belittles a day that should never be forgotten. I always say the entire phrase ‘September, 11, 2001.’
I also say “Sept. 11″, too. It seems the country has forgotten April 19. Thus, we need to try to remember Sept. 11.
“Saturday… in the park… I think it was Independence Day” yuck!
tre,
April 19th is my birthday… I’ll never forget.
Uh, no. They’ve had Independence Day logos since they started the holiday designs in 2000.
I have bigger peeves than what the day is called, such
as, history “teachers” that aren’t teaching American
history. Call the day what you want to, but celebrate
our Independence on that day instead of just thinking,
“Ah, another day off work!”
And while we are at it… How about they call people that sneak into our country “illegal aliens” instead of “undocumented workers?
Not only that, but they had this for Uncle Sam searches:
uncle sam
and they have this now: link
Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. Independence Day will do for me, although I am not personally peeved hearing the 4th of July.
The National Weather Service is pretty good at properly naming our holidays. Check your local f’cst. for the upcoming days.
http://www.weather.gov/
–Ken
Rob,
Harry Reid calls them “undocumented Americans”. How’s that for an outrage?
I like “illegal invaders” better but your point is well taken. I can stand when they call them immigrants too.
Sadly we forget also.
My pet peeve is the gall that liberals have in calling their politics “progressive”.
That’s Can’t stand. Oops.
Hee-hee! Our President continues the tradition of mocking the Brits ! Take that, monarchy! Now, if we could only free ourselves from the monarchs of Saudi Arabia And Dubai……
It doesn’t peeve me. I get p*ssed off because the malls use that day, Veteran’s Day, etc for sales. WTF do those days have to do with discounted prices.
If the socialist teachers don’t diminish those days, the malls will.
Patriot Day??? really???
I was in North Wales July 4, 1995. EVERY shop I entered or place I ran into people, EVERY single person said “Happy Independance Day!” as soon as they heard my American accent.
They LOVED that we “kicked the English arse” (those lovely words from a 12 year old). The remember, we should TOO!
What bothers me more than the Independence Day/4th of July thing is that in this area (Boston, one of the capitals of Independence Day!) many retail stores are open regular hours. Now there are always people that would like to work for the overtime, but at least 2 friends have no choice about working.
bradley – progressive is a much more accurate term for today’s socialists than liberal. The policies that they support are much more authoritarian and would put much more power in the hands of government than those of a traditional “liberal”. People need to become aware of what progressivism really means – a progression toward more government control.
Great point Michelle (and Bruce).
Even my wife, who isn’t a citizen, refers to it as Independence day. (Which is more then I do I’m sad to say)
I am now reseting my seaking systems and will henceforth refer to Independence Day by it’s proper name.
#32:
They have a choice; they can either choose to work for that employer or they can choose not to. I have no sympathy for their “plight”.
My pet peeve is that the IRS calls the income tax “voluntary”. Some years back, I heard a radio interview in which a regional (Dallas) IRS director was asked about the voluntary nature of the income tax. The IRS guy said that the income tax was indeed voluntary, and that “if you don’t volunteer to pay it, we’re going to come and get you!”
Who needs amendments to the Constitution when changing word definitions will do?
I remember hearing a DJ explain that “el Cinco de Mayo” is the “Mexican 4th of July.” It must have been almost 20 years ago, and it still cracks me up to think about.
It will be “Independence Day” once again in this house. I’ll bet, like Memorial Day, I’ll be the only one flying the Flag out front. We certainly could use another one these days, what with the absurb taxes and a tyrannical, corrupt government, pandering to special interest groups and lobbyists. Ah, for the sound of a car going by in the middle of the night, with the shout, “The politicians are out!”, as I grab my gun over the fireplace mantel.
My wife and I always marvel that the rest of the country joins us in appreciation of our anniversary on July 4th with all the fireworks and picnics! Oh! Is it important in some other way, too? Gee, who woulda thunk it!
/sarc off
Yes, our anniversary is Independance Day! On another note, June 27 is my birthday so I always tell her that she was my birthday present!
Guilty. From now on, I’ll call it “Independance Day”.
Now it’s my pet peeve also.
Note to America - If you wish to continue celebrating Independence Day on the 4th of July you had better start removing the illegal invaders.
raybury I hope we don’t celebrate the 4th of July like Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo!!! 5th of May is a local celebration in the city of Puebla and not through out Mexico.
God helps us if we localize Independence Day to Philadelphia!!!
To me, Harry Reid is a documented UNAmerican! Our
oldest son was born July 2nd. One of his best friends
was born July 4th. They both thought the entire
country always celebrated their birthdays. Mine knew
what July 2nd actually was in American History.
Hey Vntnrse! How funny!! Our anniversary is on July 4th as well. While we really were planning to get married on the 3rd, we couldn’t find a place for the reception, so it ended up on the 4th. My hubby and I love that we get the day off every year, and there’s always a party!!
As for the Google comments, yes, they do recognize Independence Day. However, they systematically ignore Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day (although I think they did do Veterans’ Day once). But they make sure to recognize the Persian New Year every year. What the hell is that all about anyway?
TXRose, curious, did you ever get your question answered?
On July 1st, 2008 at 12:35 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:
tre,
April 19th is my birthday… I’ll never forget.
That’s strange. My birthday is March 30, the same day Ronald Reagan was shot.
And my wifes birthday is Febuary 18, the same day the late, great Dale Earnhardt, who was my favorite NASCAR driver, died in the Daytona 500.
tre
April 19th has meaning to me too … our family has a relatives chair on the lawn beside the reflecting pool at the memorial in OKC …
All sorts of weird things happen on or near my birthday. The list is very long.
Considering some of his unintelligible gibberish, I think we need to start refering to Harry Reid as a documented alien.
April 19th? Oh yeah, that’s right, OKC. Jeez, why doesn’t that stick. That day should be revisited for the muslim connection for that attack. Damn! I’m horrible at dates. My 25th wedding anniversary is coming up. I’d better write it down.
In honor of
the Fourth of JulyIndependence Day, I give to you my conservative friends… a gift.Whoops! Dem Congressman Sends Out Mailer Featuring Pic Of Soviet Soldier!
Let the mockery and derision begin.
Chap — link doesn’t work…
Sorry. Try this.
#51:
Or Waco, which is behind the significance of that date. Sadly, I suspect there would be quite a few here who support the actions of the federal government that day.
Here you go.
NO! Patriots’ Day honors the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the start of the Revolution!
That’s more like it.
April 19th? Hmm, yeah, so many things happened on that particular day. Shall we count them:
1775: Battle of Lexington and Concord
1933: FDR announces that we’d no longer use the gold standard
1951: General MacArthur retires
1961: Bay of Pigs fails (good job, JFK)
1971: Vietnam Veterans Against the War marches on Washington, D.C. (Enter John Kerry…)
1987: The Simpsons makes debut
1993: Janet Reno’s Barbeque in Waco
1995: Oklahoma City Bombing
2005: Catholic Church gets new “German Shepherd”
I’m sorry to hear that DesertLover.
I had no loved ones in the Murrah Building, but it still hurts when I think of it.
A woman in my Church group lost a niece in the bombing. You can see the anger, even hatred, in her eyes at the mention of Tim McVeigh’s name.
“Independence Day” or “Fourth of July”…I always figured them as being synonymous with one another, since there are not other holidays on the 4th day of July. I remember what happened on July 4, 1776 and never gave it a second thought over the years.
Now, the April 19th date would not have been something that I could have cited out of thin air.
By the way, happy very belated-birthday, 30! Our sons birthday is a few days before that and our anniversary several days before his birthday.
I’m with Barry F. I’m as patriotic as it gets, but I think it’s being picky to get irritated over calling the day the Fourth of July over Independence Day. In my mind it’s interchangeable, as I’ve always thought it was a special day regardless.
Happy Independence Day/Fourth of July to everybody.
My bday is oct 13 the navy bday. Go navy.
les..what question?
I had a dear friend in the Murrah Building. My b’day
and my husband’s b’day are March 2. Tx Independence Day is March 2. Sam Houston’s b’day
was March 2. So is a friend’s youngest son and a guy
that waited on me in the Apple Store in Southlake, TX.
I’ve always thought my birthday was special until
recently. Now I let husband have both the birthdays!
My 9/11 peeve? When people call it nine-one-one. Several in the media do this – Charlie Rangel always does this.
911 Emergency is nine-one-one.
September 11, 2001 should be referred to as nine-eleven, not nine-one-one. If the attacks had happened on the 12th, would people call that day nine-one-two? Nope.
I’ll never forget those -past and present- who allow us to celebrate FREEDOM!
http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/Impish_Dragon/?action=view¤t=Untitled.flv
tre … if it had happened 20 minutes earlier we would have lost 4 instead of 1 … my cousins son, daughter and son-in-law had been there before the explosion …
I’m fine with either 4th of July or Independence Day. What worries me is that the PC crowd will someday find offense and start demanding International Independence Day or some other crap that recognizes the independence, interconnectedness and and equality of all nations and peoples while maintaining their inherent right to live in dignity and without fear of cultural oppression that is a threat to their traditional way of life in a manner that also does not offend the sensibilities af all sub-groups, religious affiliations, genders, sexual orientations that exist within the dominant culural entity so that every individual is free and empowered to reach his/her full potential.
Not really. That was the date that the Lee Resolution, declaring independence from Great Britain, was adopted. After the resolution was passed the Continental Congress turned to the debate over the language in the Committee of Five’s formal Declaration of Independence. Time was short and Congress adjourned until Wednesday the 3rd. The debates of July 3rd and 4th altered the manuscript and with these changes the Declaration of Independence was approved. John Hancock signed first, on the Fourth of July. The last signer signed on August 2nd. So July 2nd was the date of the Lee Resolution but the Declaration itself, in it’s present form, was formally signed on the 4th. Of course they don’t teach that in school because it might offend the fans of MayDay.
However… Let’s not forget to consider the influence by George Cohen with Yankee Doodle Boy:
My Winn-Dixie ad this week makes note of Independence Day – for Venezuela
I’m a little peeved how they blatantly used the name of a federal holiday as the title of that, (now), worn out movie with Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum that cable stations keep showing over and over and over and….
TXRose, sorry, got my roses mixed up. The question was for Irish Rose.
If you are asking a liberal – why, yes, it would.
2nd photo reminds me of “March of the Penguins” I hope we have a similar commitment to Iraqis
Barry F,
Thanks! It’s funny, my husband has siblings who are twins and their b-day is April 17th. My father-in-law’s birthday is April 18th. It’s like a mini Christmas time in April.
Happy belated Anniversary!
Considering this was in the liberal SF Chronicle, and submitted by someone from liberal Los Gatos, CA…maybe not. Nice projection anyway.
I dunno, I always called it “The 4th of July”, growing up.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t know what it stands for. It was the time of year my dad told me stories about Paul Revere, Washington, Benedict Arnold, Cornwalis, and King George, and showed me amazing oil paintings of men in blue coats in line just yards from men in red coats. . .
The 4th of July automatically means Independence Day to me and has as long as I can remember. I’m also worried the PC crowd will do what they can in the very near future to try to take this time to celebrate and remember the price paid for the great country we live in like they have against many other national holidays especially the war on Christmas.
It’s going to be a very interesting Independence Day in
North Central Texas. People aren’t going to be traveling as usual because of gasoline prices. They are
staying home and will discover…you can’t get close to
any lake because they are free. You can’t get close to
any parks or picnic tables because they are always
taken EVERY weekend. You can’t get close to the zoo
(even if it isn’t free) because all of these places are very good hunting places for ICE every weekend, every
holiday and most evenings during the summer. Should be some very interesting letters to the editor in the coming newspapers.
Should read…to the zoo (even if it isn’t free). They are always taken EVERY
weekend , every holiday and most evenings during the summer and should be
very good hunting places for ICE officers.
Gotta preview!
You mean it’s not hot dog & cookout day? Bank holiday, government offices closed and congress off. Now that last one is Independence!
God Bless the USA, He has and will with over 200 years of freedom and boundless opportunity! Pray the leftoids not mess it up any more than they already have.
I always called the 4th ‘my boomstick day’. Gunpower and flames…sweeeet!!!
I don’t see how it’s a political correctness issue. When Jefferson died he asked if it was “the fourth yet”, Elisha Hunt Rhodes called it the fourth in all of his letters (featured in the Civil War documentary) and John Wayne called it the fourth. No offense but pet peeves are my pet peeve, they’re usually over silly things like this.
On July 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm, wighttrasch said:
“That’s why I absolutely abhor ‘9/11′.”
It drives me crazy, too. I usually say September 11th or “the day of the terrorist attacks”.
I’d never really thought about this, but always thought 4th of July = Independence Day. But from now on I will say Independence day, now that I HAVE thought about it.
There’s a lot of talk about not forgetting Patriot Day. I’d say its more like we need to keep on teaching about Patriot Day. I teach children who weren’t even alive when the terrorist attacks happened, and others who were too young then to really get it. Now that they’re older, they’ve just been indoctrinated by the liberal media. Its not that they don’t remember, they don’t know what it was like to live on 9/10, and then wake up and watch the towers fall, Pentagon get hit, etc. They aren’t taught this in school. But thats just another reason to homeschool.
Cinco de Mayo
Just as I think TX Independence Day Mar 2nd, I always
think Independence Day July 4th.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the
same July 4th, each thinking the other had outlived
him.
Everyone have a wonderful Independence Day, July 4th
and stay safe.
Every day at my house is Independence Day as well as Memorial Day. I fly a 6 x 10 American Flag and a 5 x 8 POW/MIA Flag 365 days a year with a spotlight on it. If My neighbors forget what stand for freedom all they need to do is look up.