Time to ban the 4th of July?

[SlipperySlope]

According to the report, published by Harvard University, July 4th-themed festivities (defined by the study as fireworks, parades, political speeches, and barbecues) not only energize primarily Republicans, but also turn children into Republicans and increase GOP voter turnout.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20076125-503544.html

[greytdemocrat]

1. For christ sake, this is just stupid. n/t

[Beavker]

36. Nobody knows what it's about anyway anymore

Just like all holidays we celebrate in this country...most are an excuse to drink beer. I don't need an excuse. Also I hear fireworks every night for about a week before and after the 4th, so people are not really celebrating the 4th of July now are they, they are blowing shit up and lighting things on fire. They aren't thinking of the meaning or explaining to their kids why they are celebrating. People celebrate cinco de mayo then go bash mexicans or vote for a teabagger who will deport them. Mothers Day, Fathers Day...can't we just appreciate the good things on a daily basis? If we knew what was good for us we'd be partying once corporations and the wealthy started earning their keep and this place became the "United" States of America again.

[AndyTiedye]

2. I Wanted to Fly the Flag on the 4th of July

But all the Republicans have wrapped themselves in the flag,
and they really don't look so good when they're naked. :puke:

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. So you're proposing the 5th of July immediately follow the 3rd of July? What a stupid idea...

and what a stupid fucking study.

I've never voted for an R in a statewide or national election in my entire fucking life, but you can best believe that after attending the local 4th of July Parade we'll be barbequing at my house, then going down to the marina to watch the fireworks show over the lake. Been that way pretty much all my life.

Fireworks... fuck yeah!

[SlipperySlope]

5. Yes! Then we can have a 32nd at the end of the month to get everything back on track.

BTW, my OP was a wee :sarcasm:

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. I got the sarcasm... thought I'd add some of my own. Forgot the tag! Like the 32nd idea though! nt

[Baclava]

26. REAL Cherry Bombs and M-80's have been illegal in the U.S. since 1966.

I remember the goode olde days, what a blast! (ha)

I still have all my fingers too.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. I heard a local radio talk show discussing this.

The Reps were saying that since Dems are not as enthusiastic about parades and fireworks, they are not patriotic. I guess that came from this statement:

"Survey evidence also confirms that Republicans consider themselves more patriotic than Democrats. According to this interpretation, there is a political congruence between the patriotism promoted on Fourth of July and the values associated with the Republican party."


I suppose it all comes down to how you define "patriotism".

[Spider Jerusalem]

9. As synonymous with "nationalism", obviously

but then most Americans think they're the same thing.

[Curmudgeoness]

21. Don't you love it! They have a protest, and they are patriots.

We have a protest, and we hate America. I truly believe that they would hate the founding fathers that they think they love.

[WillowTree]

6. You go to work on Monday if you want. I'm sleeping in and going to the parade.

[Enrique]

7. yes, and then ban the Bible

:eyes:

[piedmont]

8. Maybe time to ask why Dems don't like fireworks and barbecue.

Or whether the study is full of horse shit.

[pinboy3niner]

10. Well, that does it--I'm canceling all my festivities this year

I sure don't want to wake up on the fifth as a (*GASP*) Republican! :eyes:

[sarge43]

11. Teh Stupid: It's a supernova. n/t

[lib2DaBone]

13. I don't see much to be proud of on the 4th....

... saw the special report on PBS about our returning war injured.. and how they are treated....

CRIMINAL!

[Serve The Servants]

14. Ugh

BS articles like that are only designed so dumbass conservatives can vent their vitriol in the comment section.

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. No, BS studies like this one by Harvard eggheads give the conservatives a reason to vent

From the study's abstract:

"We find that days without rain on Fourth of July in childhood have lifelong effects. In particular, they shift adult views and behavior in favor of the Republicans and increase later-life political participation. Our estimates are significant: one Fourth of July without rain before age 18 raises the likelihood of identifying as a Republican by 2 percent and voting for the Republican candidate by 4 percent."

Days without rain on the Fourth of July? I wonder what the shrimp on the treadmill would say about this study...

[Serve The Servants]

22. How are they even able to accurately track that?

What, by asking the people affiliated with a political ideology also known to have the most selective memory on Earth, what they remember their childhood being like?

Hey the hottest, sunniest days I can ever remember have been on the 4th of July; no rain, no overcast, nada. I sure as Hell do not vote Republican.

That's like saying watching WW2 movies makes you vote Republican.

Once again, I am right and Harvard is wrong :)

[cherokeeprogressive]

25. I just finished skimming through it, and ya gotta see/read it for yourself.

I'm still giggling.

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/dyanagi/Research/FourthOfJuly.pdf

[AsahinaKimi]

16. If you think Bill O'Reilly was crazy about the War On Christmas..

His head would probably spin around like a top before flying off..if he heard about banning the 4th of July..I can hear him now.."What do these Democrats wanna do? Celebrate Bastille day instead??"




**pssst. Actually..I did once celebrate Bastille Day, while vacationing in Tahiti..that was a lot of fun...

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. Dumb post

[alphafemale]

32. for fucks sake yes

I love the fourth of July and I was raised a Democrat and will be a whizzBANG shooting, flag-flying Liberal until the day I die.

Posts like this remind me of people who demand that store clerks say "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to them.

Whatever the fuck happened to just letting people be the fuck be?

[spin]

18. Why is that some in our party want to ban everything ...

Ban smoking, ban salt, ban fast food restaurants, ban guns, ban fireworks, ban the Bible, ban Fox News, ban gas guzzlers, ban incandescent light bulbs, ban violent video games, ban the Fourth of July, ban Christmas, ban any mention of God, ban, ban, ban, ban.

Banning stuff never works. We tried banning alcohol and we tried banning drugs and both efforts were complete failures.

I personally love living in a free nation. If I want to go to Burger King once a month and enjoy a hamburger and fries, smoke a cigar when someone has a baby or enjoy watching a parade on the Fourth of July I should be allowed to.

If we continue down this road we will lose a lot more voters than we will attract.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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[lib2DaBone]

20. $4.2 TRILLION wasted on the WOT so far...

I'm sure we can all rally behind the 4th as the floods in N.Dakota wash homes away, as people cry in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for lack of shelter, as our roads and bridges crumble and as American farmers are unable to plant crops because of natural disaster. And, whats more.. no one is coming to help. All our money is tied up building schools in Iraq and Tribal Afghanistan.

Yipee.. Yipee... Yipee..

[JonLP24]

23. I say yes

Only because the fireworks people set off in my complex make the dogs go crazy.

On edit--BTW, I'm not serious though I really wish people would stop setting off fireworks in my complex.

[krispos42]

24. I would think it would make the endless flag-worship of the Repubelicans tiresome...

...the other 360 days of the year. I know it does for me!

[alarimer]

27. I hate all jingoistic bullshit like the 4th of July.

All those stupid super-patriotic holidays like Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, etc. I refuse to wave a flag, to stand when the anthem is played, to say the Pledge. The hell with all that.

[GeorgeGist]

28. What a way to celebrate independence.

[saras]

29. Not enough detail in the study

Watching fireworks being set off by authorities makes you more fascist.
Setting off fireworks yourself makes you more independent.

Watching officials and organizations in a parade makes you more fascist.
Making your own parade float (especially without a guiding organization) makes you more independent.

Sitting around all day eating junk food makes you more fascist.
Packing a healthy picnic and going out into the boonies makes you more independent.

As for political speeches, the Winkies cover a Bob Seger song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kCmm45pczg

The effect on the Dem/Repub distinction may vary.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tiggeroshii]

31. That's a bad study with an obvious misconception.

Correlation is not causation. While it's true that the Republican party has become a more nationalistic party, and July 4th inspires such nationalistic feelings; it is not necessarily the case that Independence Day is the cause for more Republicans.

[uppityperson]

33. ban July 4th? What an idiotic idea, go from 3 to 5 because....kids get turned into repubs?

hahahahahahahahaha

[TheManInTheMac]

34. Do it, man! Fuck yeah...

Burn a flag while you're at it. And wipe your ass with the remains.

Why in the hell do you think those festivities "not only energize primarily Republicans, but also turn children into Republicans and increase GOP voter turnout."

Stupidity like this is why. You know, you can love your country without loving everything about it. And you can celebrate America's independence, wave the flag, grill up some burgers, some brats, toss back a PBR or two, and watch some fireworks.

You want to ban the 4th of July. My vote is to ban you instead.

[surrealAmerican]

35. That study is either a parody or just plain pathetic.

I can't believe anybody would take it seriously. It's based on a set of assumptions which are almost certainly false.