43 Comments
User's avatar
Brigitte's avatar

Hey—is anyone here old enough to remember the Bicentennial? I am just old enough to have very vague memories of bad 1970s “colonial” home decor, such as “ye olde taverne” signs printed on flame-retardant sofas, purchased in bicentennial fervor

Expand full comment
Irunthis1's avatar

I was 8 and remember it well. We celebrated at my grandmothers 100 year old farmhouse with the ten children she raised there and all my cousins in the world. What a glorious time.

Expand full comment
Renee Morris's avatar

🙋🏼‍♀️ Was 5 years old and saw my first cotton “Betsy Ross” 13-starred flag that year. It was an amazing celebratory time, and shaped the patriot I am today. Fell in love with that flag and still love my country, no matter what the politicos say or do to dissuade & marginalize. Waving it now & forever. Cheers & Happy 249th Birthday, America! 🇺🇸 ❤️

Expand full comment
Brigitte's avatar

I know—remember how festive and fun everything was for a couple years leading up to it? (I really don’t; the Bicentennial itself would really be at the edge of earliest memories)

Expand full comment
Wade's avatar

I was 8. I remember red, white and blue toilet seats!!

Expand full comment
DefCon-Dan's avatar

I prefer the old 'Civil peace' flag, that hardly anyone knows about.

https://www.amazon.com/Civil-Peace-Flag-3x5ft-Poly/dp/B07HS55QHY

https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/us-civil-flag

When people see mine, they don't even notice how different it is. Funny that!

uscivilflags.org

Expand full comment
Franklin T. Fiedler's avatar

That's very informative. It has been my (likely erroneous) understanding that it was prior to the civil war deemed inappropriate to display or hang the national flag (white stars on blue field) indoors with the stripes horizontal during peace time, but appropriate if there existed a declared state of war. IMO by the Union determining that succession (14th Amendment) amounted to insurrection, the republic suffered substantial injury to the principle of consent of the governed, from which it has yet to recover. The Union was not solely to blame, as Fort Sumter was not a threat to the sovereignty or peace of South Carolina since it was built as a defensive fort for the port of Charleston. Firing upon it and the supply ship sent in December, 1860 were by any standard, Acts Of War by the Governor of South Carolina upon the Union.

Expand full comment
DefCon-Dan's avatar

That is what I found out about it too. The traditional horizontal stripe flag with white stars on a blue field is a war time flag. Whereas the vertical stripes and blue stars on a white field flag is the opposite peace time flag.

Similar to the flags with gold fringe around them signifying admiralty law.

And yes, admiralty law is a real thing, and not a conspiracy.

Expand full comment
J Hill's avatar

I remember going with my Dad and Grandfather to see the Bicentennial Train. I remember the fireworks shows that the cities put on and the red, white, and blue themed everything. I hope the memories don't fade, they're a refreshing antidote to the cynicism our current society engenders.

Expand full comment
Brigitte's avatar

I love this!

Expand full comment
Cookie momster's avatar

The American Freedom Train. Stopped in my hometown. I still have a mug with its faded image.

Expand full comment
Swabbie Robbie's avatar

. . . and green kitchen appliances. I was born in 1951 so, thankfully, I remember a lot. Hopefully I, and we all will be here to see the 250th anniversary in 2026.

Expand full comment
bestuvall's avatar

that’s not green. it avocado and that was before i even knew what an avocado was

Expand full comment
Brigitte's avatar

Ours were Harvest Gold.

Expand full comment
Patti F's avatar

I remember my town had a big bicentennial parade. My mother made period dresses for my my sister and her friends (they were teens) and they all marched in it.

Expand full comment
Brigitte's avatar

Boy... I miss the moms and grandmas who sewed costumes (very few still do this), and made their own facsimiles of the Betsy Ross flag.

Expand full comment
Franklin T. Fiedler's avatar

I was 28 on Independence Day 1776 and keenly aware of an American culture demoralized by the defeat suffered by the U.S. State Department and military in Vietnam, the POWs abandoned in Southeast Asia, the atrocities of the Pol Pot killing fields in Cambodia, the humiliating resignation of Richard M. Nixon, the Big Thompson flood disaster in the Centennial State (Colorado), the centennial of Custer's ignominious defeat at the Little Bighorn River, the competitively apologetic effeminate presidential campaigns of Ford and Carter, the fake Swine Flu epidemic all combining to make a sadly shallow, commercial, and lackluster celebration nationally. It was a year that made Las Vegas, NV look dignified and relevant compared to Washington, D.C.

Expand full comment
Based in Paris's avatar

Not old enough but I get the reference. My folks are in their 70s ;)

Expand full comment
Richard's avatar

“The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

― Thomas Jefferson

Expand full comment
W.D. James's avatar

Baby Yulia’s rendition rocked!

Expand full comment
Shirlee's avatar

“That’s America!” Happy 4th to Baby Yulia and her parents. And, at 95yo Dr. Sowell sure has gotten saucey. 😂

Expand full comment
jabster's avatar

Have you seen the "Thomas Swole" memes going around?

He's definitely swole between the ears.

Expand full comment
INGRID C DURDEN's avatar

Leave it to Carlin. That man was a genius. Happy 4th Yuri. Keep the good work going. Careful with the fireworks.

Expand full comment
Roger Beal's avatar

Shared. Thank you and blessings to you!

Expand full comment
Mark Marshall's avatar

Wonderful post! And yay for Baby Yulia!

Expand full comment
Vance Gatlin's avatar

Thank you fake Thomas Sowell from rescuing me from the temptress AOC.

Expand full comment
DefCon-Dan's avatar

Yep, that line was as fake as AOC's titties!

Expand full comment
Mel's avatar

Great stuff, Yuri! Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

Expand full comment
Peregrinus's avatar

Bowdoin man then: Joshua Chamberlain. Bowdoin man today: Man-boy Mamdani. School song then: "Rise sons of Bowdoin . . . nurturer of men.". School song now: " Rise sun of Bowdoin . . . nurturer of them. "

Best of luck New York. Thanks for the bagels.

Expand full comment
Mongo's avatar

..happy 4th of July to all of u, not because of the drunk idiots poppin' off firecrackers/cherry bombs for attention, but for the historic legitimacy of what the 4th of July represents..

Expand full comment
Anthony Dunn's avatar

Top work, Mr. Bezmenov.

Your list of quotes both superb and apposite

Expand full comment
Sam Alaimo's avatar

To America.

Happy 4th, Yuri.

Expand full comment
Swabbie Robbie's avatar

Thank you for this! Oh, and the 7 year old sang better!

Expand full comment
Amusings's avatar

Excellent, Yuri!! Happy Independence Day and celebration.

Expand full comment
JN64's avatar

Yuri,

Happy Independence Day to you and your family!

Have a beer, a hotdog and watch some fireworks with friends, family and neighbors...

Expand full comment