It is this time of the year again. Congrats, Sarge!

**Street Gerbil** · 4th July 2007, 08:18

Hey Sarge and all other American folks, happy 4th of July!
I'll be tarred and feathered for saying this, but your country rules!

**scumdog** · 4th July 2007, 08:37

Got my USA flag flying on the flag-pole at the moment

**eliot-ness** · 4th July 2007, 09:31

Still the third over there but you can get out the Jim Beam and polish the glasses

**ManDownUnder** · 4th July 2007, 09:41

Ditto Sarge and the US guys/gals.

Happy 4th of July.

**SARGE** · 4th July 2007, 09:52

thanks guys ..

you know ..i'm asked quite often what it is to be an 'American'.. ( meaning that in the truest form) i'll try and describe it to you

I was born in America.. Upstate NY to be exact. America was in a time of turmoil.. the " innocent 50's' were over.. we were embroiled in a "cold War' with Russia..JFK was recently murdered, The Civil rights movement was gaining ground and there was a distinct feeling of unrest.

I watched my dad ship off to VietNam in 67 and held my baby sisters hand while i cried. i didnt know where Viet Nam was or why he had to go. Mom told me that Dad was helping to stop some bad men from hurting our friends. I remember watching the news every night after that to see if i could catch a glimpse of him, but never did. I was so proud that my old man was picked to help do this ..

now, my family has a military history dating back to the American Revolution. every generation, every male of age has done thier duty and served. We dont question the politics, we just put our hands up and do our job. i remember my grandfather hefting me up on his knee as a boy and telling me stories of WW2 ( Marine at Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal) ...HIS Grandfather was Commandant of the Marine Corps during WW1. . I presently have 2 nephews in the Middle East. One is a Marine Recon in Iraq and the other and Army Ranger in Afghanistan. both have been wounded in battle. My Niece is an Airframe Mechanic stationed on a Carrier Battle Group in the Persian Gulf. We have always been proud to answer the call.

You can walk down the street in any American city on any day of the year and see the homes flying the Stars & Bars.. not just one or 2 . every single one of them..when the National Anthem plays before a game on TV.. people stand in their lounges and put their hands on their heart.. School kids recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

i catch alot of shit on here for my patriotism.. i catch alot of shit that is not directed at me but at my country.. thats fine .. i'l wear it. Let me just say this ...

America is more than a 10 second soundbite .. it is more than our leaders..it is more than Hollywood and Disneyland... it is the people ..we are proud.. we are compassionate.. go to any town in the Midwest, pop into the local bar or coffee shop and have a drink with one of us .. go to a Friday night football game at the local high school and tell me we have no culture .. go to a Hurricane ravaged town and tell me we have no heart..go to a Veteran's rest home and tell me we are soulless.

know us before you judge us

**007XX** · 4th July 2007, 10:10

Originally Posted by SARGE

thanks guys ..

you know ..i'm asked quite often what it is to be an 'American'.. ( meaning that in the truest form) i'll try and describe it to you

I was born in America.. Upstate NY to be exact. America was in a time of turmoil.. the " innocent 50's' were over.. we were embroiled in a "cold War' with Russia..JFK was recently murdered, The Civil rights movement was gaining ground and there was a distinct feeling of unrest.

I watched my dad ship off to VietNam in 67 and held my baby sisters hand while i cried. i didnt know where Viet Nam was or why he had to go. Mom told me that Dad was helping to stop some bad men from hurting our friends. I remember watching the news every night after that to see if i could catch a glimpse of him, but never did. I was so proud that my old man was picked to help do this ..

now, my family has a military history dating back to the American Revolution. every generation, every male of age has done thier duty and served. We dont question the politics, we just put our hands up and do our job. i remember my grandfather hefting me up on his knee as a boy and telling me stories of WW2 ( Marine at Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal) ...HIS Grandfather was Commandant of the Marine Corps during WW1. . I presently have 2 nephews in the Middle East. One is a Marine Recon in Iraq and the other and Army Ranger in Afghanistan. both have been wounded in battle. My Niece is an Airframe Mechanic stationed on a Carrier Battle Group in the Persian Gulf. We have always been proud to answer the call.

You can walk down the street in any American city on any day of the year and see the homes flying the Stars & Bars.. not just one or 2 . every single one of them..when the National Anthem plays before a game on TV.. people stand in their lounges and put their hands on their heart.. School kids recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning

i catch alot of shit on here for my patriotism.. i catch alot of shit that is not directed at me but at my country.. thats fine .. i'l wear it. Let me just say this ...

America is more than a 10 second soundbite .. it is more than our leaders..it is more than Hollywood and Disneyland... it is the people ..we are proud.. we are compassionate.. go to any town in the Midwest, pop into the local bar or coffee shop and have a drink with one of us .. go to a Friday night football game at the local high school and tell me we have no culture .. go to a Hurricane ravaged town and tell me we have no heart..go to a Veteran's rest home and tell me we are soulless.

know us before you judge us

respect to that...happy 4th of July Sarge...I can't say that I have such patriotism for my own country, but then, when my son (born in NZ) does the Haka with as much conviction as a little All Black, I get a lump in my throat of pride for him and for this country...

**ManDownUnder** · 4th July 2007, 10:11

Originally Posted by SARGE

America is more than a 10 second soundbite .. it is more than our leaders..it is more than Hollywood and Disneyland... it is the people ..we are proud.. we are compassionate.. go to any town in the Midwest, pop into the local bar or coffee shop and have a drink with one of us .. go to a Friday night football game at the local high school and tell me we have no culture .. go to a Hurricane ravaged town and tell me we have no heart..go to a Veteran's rest home and tell me we are soulless.

Been there - done that, the single exception being the hurricane ravaged town.

Originally Posted by SARGE

go to a Veteran's rest home and tell me we are soulless.

Wouldn't fucken dare.

NZ is a small country by comparison, and the typical kiwi (especially those never having spent time in the US) simply can not relate to "Patriotism" in the US sense of the word. I spent time at a friends place (upstate NY ironically) and yes - the US flag was flying top of the mast at almost every house in the street.

It also appears on desktops (flag on a desk) pennants, ... Jesus... it's everywhere. The sense of untiy it brings is noticeable too.

Happy 4th of July...

**007XX** · 4th July 2007, 10:12

Originally Posted by SARGE

America is more than a 10 second soundbite .. it is more than our leaders..it is more than Hollywood and Disneyland... it is the people ..we are proud.. we are compassionate.. go to any town in the Midwest, pop into the local bar or coffee shop and have a drink with one of us .. go to a Friday night football game at the local high school and tell me we have no culture .. go to a Hurricane ravaged town and tell me we have no heart..go to a Veteran's rest home and tell me we are soulless.

know us before you judge us

respect to that...happy 4th of July Sarge...I can't say that I have such patriotism for my own country, but then, when my son (born in NZ) does the Haka with as much conviction as a little All Black, I get a lump in my throat of pride for him and for this country...

I like the "know us before you judge us" the best...cos I get a lot of flack for my origins too..

**Sanx** · 4th July 2007, 10:37

Whereabouts in upstate NY, Sarge? I spent a July 4th there not that many years ago; in a little town called Barneveld a few miles north of Utica. No shops, two bars, a diner and nicknamed "Central Bumfuck, NY" by the locals.

Great little place

But the thing about patriotism got me slightly. It appeared on my travels round the US that yes, the natives were very proud of their country but also a bit blind with it. Look at the flack the Dixie Chicks got for criticising Bush. I always got the impression that to criticise the current administration (and I was there pre-Bush) or US policy was to be un-American. To me it seemed a little unheathy.

Oh, and one other thing, speaking as a half-Kiwi Pom; whilst the USA and her citizens have given selflessly in various conflicts over the past 100 years or so, it really bugged me to be told (repeatedly) that if it wasn't for the Americans, we'd all be speaking German or Japanese by now. I remember two conversations where the people I was talking to did not realise that a) the Americans arrived a lot later than a number of other countries in WW1 and WW2, b) there were actually more countries involved than just the USA and the UK, and c) Nazi / Japanese victory would have been certain without US involvement.

The people, especially those in more rural areas, were great. Open, friendly, welcoming and very proud of their town and country. And, yeah, it's a great country. It's just a pity the men at the top are such a bunch of wankers, and in turn give the country such a bad reputation across the world.

**Macktheknife** · 4th July 2007, 10:45

Happy Independence Day Sarge, and all other 'merkins on here. Have a scorcher.

**Big Dave** · 4th July 2007, 10:46

Piss off back to Canada, Sarge.

**SARGE** · 4th July 2007, 10:56

Originally Posted by Sanx

Whereabouts in upstate NY, Sarge? I spent a July 4th there not that many years ago; in a little town called Barneveld a few miles north of Utica. No shops, two bars, a diner and nicknamed "Central Bumfuck, NY" by the locals.

Great little place

i was born in Rochester ( 70 miles east of buffalo)

Originally Posted by Sanx

But the thing about patriotism got me slightly. It appeared on my travels round the US that yes, the natives were very proud of their country but also a bit blind with it. Look at the flack the Dixie Chicks got for criticising Bush. I always got the impression that to criticise the current administration (and I was there pre-Bush) or US policy was to be un-American. To me it seemed a little unheathy.

i dont think it was about the "Bush Bashing".. The DC's got done for what many Americans perceived as trying to divide a nation that was sorely in need of unification..

besides .. they are no-talent hacks anyway.. much like the NSync of "Country Music"

Originally Posted by Sanx

Oh, and one other thing, speaking as a half-Kiwi Pom; whilst the USA and her citizens have given selflessly in various conflicts over the past 100 years or so, it really bugged me to be told (repeatedly) that if it wasn't for the Americans, we'd all be speaking German or Japanese by now. I remember two conversations where the people I was talking to did not realise that a) the Americans arrived a lot later than a number of other countries in WW1 and WW2, b) there were actually more countries involved than just the USA and the UK, and c) Nazi / Japanese victory would have been certain without US involvement.

true .. the US Did try and stay *ahem* neutral for as long as possible in both wars.. but the Pacific war against the Japanese was carried for the most part on the American Military ( with heavy ANZAC contributions).. the Poms and Russians were too busy with the Germans.. but with Americas manufacturing might supplying both the poms and russians with arms and supplies at a time when they needed it ..

sometimes its not about fingers on triggers

Originally Posted by Sanx

The people, especially those in more rural areas, were great. Open, friendly, welcoming and very proud of their town and country. And, yeah, it's a great country. It's just a pity the men at the top are such a bunch of wankers, and in turn give the country such a bad reputation across the world.

you have wankers everywhere though..

**Street Gerbil** · 4th July 2007, 12:12

Originally Posted by Sanx

Oh, and one other thing, speaking as a half-Kiwi Pom; whilst the USA and her citizens have given selflessly in various conflicts over the past 100 years or so, it really bugged me to be told (repeatedly) that if it wasn't for the Americans, we'd all be speaking German or Japanese by now.

Actually it would have been Russian.
Americans stepped in when the outcome of WWII was already decided, however they stopped an uncontrolled growth of the Warsaw pact after the war.
Without the american involvement in 1945, the Cold War could have been not nearly as cold.

**Sniper** · 4th July 2007, 12:17

Happy 4th of July....

Well written SARGE.

**Indiana_Jones** · 4th July 2007, 12:24

Originally Posted by SARGE

i catch alot of shit on here for my patriotism.. i catch alot of shit that is not directed at me but at my country.. thats fine .. i'l wear it. Let me just say this ...

That's the one thing I can never understand about NZ, the lack of patriotism. Some people I know say they don't wanna offend other people

, knobs.

I for one respect the amount of patriotism the Americans and Aussies have.

I'm also very proud to be English & Kiwi.

Happy 4th of July my American cousins

*dances of to Yankee Doodle*

-Indy