Independence Day
This is my first Independence as an atheist.
I asked my girls what holiday today was and they both said “4th of July”, I explained the “4th of July” is a date not a holiday. My youngest said “Independence Day” which surprized me. I told Karen that if it had been on another day we might not refer to it as the date itself. For instance, we woulnd’t refer to “Independence Day” by it’s date had it been October 23rd or the 23rd of October. It just so happens that “4th of July” rolls off the tongue easily, that has to be the only reason we refer to ID that way.
I’ve never appreciated or understood ID more than I do now. While I don’t really have an allegance to America I do think this is a good country even with all of it’s problems. I’m not proud to be an American, I don’t understand how you can be proud of something that you never had a choice about. That’s like saying you’re proud to be short or proud to be old. Most people believe in the God that is believed by most of the people in that area, how can you be proud of that.
I’m very ignorant about other countries because I’ve never been outside the US, not even to Canada. I was born and raised here, I didn’t have a choice to be American.
What’s great about this country is that after 36 years of being a christian I did the research and realized that Gods aren’t real and I became an open atheist and no one is trying to kill me. I believe if I had been born in the UK no one would be trying to kill me either. However, had I been born in a country that believes in Allah I don’t think I could be an open atheist.
Independence Day is a great holiday but how long before it doesn’t matter anymore and no one cares? As long as people think “4th of July” is the holiday they get to shoot fireworks it may never end.
Independence was a step forward for this country but with all of the religous policy in government too many steps backwards are being taken.
Tags: Independence Day
This entry was posted on Friday, July 4th, 2008 at 11:43 am and is filed under Holidays, My First. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I’m very glad for you that your experience of atheism has been one of acceptance…it was certainly not mine! Most Independence Days I end up seeing far too much reference to god and getting depressed. Although parades are fun and so are fireworks.
Also, there are other days that are referred to as their dates: September Eleventh (or just Nine-Eleven) is the obvious one, but there’s also Cinco de Mayo, an awesome American holiday.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
xJane, I’m sorry to hear you experienced poor acceptance. I’ve heard really bad stories about how families shun and manipulate those of us who are willing to share our truths. I was concerned at first but realized I wasn’t putting my family in danger so I went for it publicly.
This morning I had a multi-hour conversation with a pastor. He’s a friend (I have several pastoral friends) and our conversation was 100% civil and neither of us was trying to prove anything to the other person. We were just talking and to a third party it would have been obvious we didn’t agree on things.
One of the keys for me is this website. It allows me to spout off, speak my mind, be an ass, offend strangers and release the pressure. Most of what is on this site that would be considered offensive never makes it into my real world, meaning I don’t to people in person the way I do here.
I appreciate your comments.