I Hate the 4th of July

Sorry you don't like it, OP. For me, it's my favorite holiday. There's no religious BS to foul it up. It's summer, you get a day off work and probably 2, there's fireworks, usually food, booze and friends and/or family. You may spend the day watching the boob tube or going to a park or beach. I love it. I've got my July 4th gear ready.

I am sincerely glad for you that it brings you joy, R1. I hope you have a great 4th. Have a nice drink for me!

It used to be my favorite holiday as well and I was a Vietnam War era/ Nixon administration baby. But politics and enlightenment has eroded my enthusiasm. Now it's just a noisy night that scares the cats. But I miss the love and pride I felt during the Bicentennial as a stupid kid.

My friend likes to watch the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest. If anything would turn me off the holiday, it’s this disgusting display.

But… but we get to have that neighbor blasting Lee Greenwood singing how proud he is to be American all day.

I love the film of 1776 and sometimes watch it on the fourth. That's all I've got.

It's going to be a record setting 114℉ where I am (in a wildfire fire zone) so fireworks aren't a thing since climate change.

And yeah, 4th of July is for kids and I don't like outdoor events anyway. I do remember having fun once in my twenties scoring bottle rockets in San Francisco's Chinatown.

R1 is easily entertained.

Sitting in the heat, eating crap food - getting eaten up by mosquitoes watching the same firework show we've seen a million times. Gaudy paper american flags and the bad visual of red, blue and white together. And crowds.

I really don't understand those families that go to the beach or park all day and camp out to wait for the fireworks. Talk about hell on Earth.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday - good food, crisp fall day, no religion, no over-the-top fake patriotism, and it embraces everyone and makes us feel humble and appreciate what we have.

I love Thanksgiving too, R8

And Canada Day seems like a carbon copy of July 4th.

Although I like that Canada's Thanksgiving is in mid October. Spaces things out a bit more.

I went to Hippie Hollow near Austin one Fourth about 30 years ago. The place was crowded. Beautiful naked men everywhere. Some fraternity brothers wrote their letters on their asses. An older naked alum berated them for "disrespecting" the fraternity.

I saw someone's guest react when he saw the people were naked. He swore he wouldn't take his shorts off. An hour later, his friend saw his shorts laying on a rock. The guest was around the corner, animatedly talking to other people. He was well-hung and hairy. It was a total turn-on.

That sounds super fun, R11

I loved it as a kid. We would always have a big party followed by fireworks because it was also my dad’s birthday and his favorite holiday. He died eight years ago. I’ve never been able to get into it since then.

OP, seek help.

OP has no friends of family to spend the holiday with. That’s why he hates it.

4th of July when I was a kid (the 80s): It's Independence Day! Fireworks, ice cream social, learning all about what happened before, during, and after July 4th, 1776. George Washington & other historical figures. Cookouts & fun!

4th of July now: a LOT of military presence. Last time I went to the local fireworks extravaganza, they had a long "Tribute to the Armed Forces" section during the show where the announcer would say "And now a tribute to our armed forces! The United States Army!..." then they'd play the Army theme song with a bunch of fireworks, then: "The United States Air Force!" with their theme song etc etc. Also a fireworks tribute to our "local law enforcement officers and first responders" and a flyover tribute with Air Force jets. Now the big thing is a separate air show the day or two before with parachuters coming down with the Air force logo on the parachute. Open-air military vehicle & aircraft "exhibit" at the fireworks event location, staffed of course by the armed forces in uniform. Of course there's a mobile ROTC booth! A lot less about the actual Independence Day.

Independence Day used to be my favorite 4th of July movie (until Will Smith's behavior f-ked it up).

I guess a diff movie and food... Luckily, the fireworks are viewable from the Hudson river a block away from us - No extra travel! 🎆

CHUDs, OP? Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers?

My dog hates it.

I just walk up the street where I can see fireworks and cover my dog’s ears.

Op is Frieda Claxton

I'm not one to have favorite holidays, but July 4th was never one of them. Even as a child I bristled at patriotism. The braggadocio and barbeque always seemed a little arrogant; in the current climate I'm guessing the elements of posturing and agitation are a little close to the surface. I moved from the U.S. almost a decade ago and was rarely there for the holiday for years before that.

This one doesn't seem like it will be the happiest of birthday parties, but best of luck.

[quote] to watch some stupid fireworks and then sit in traffic for an hour to go home.

Too bad you can't watch fireworks from home.

The first two weeka of July were always fun for me. First, the Fourth of July with a big family picnic and good food and then fireworks. Then, my dad's birthday with my birthday a week later with presents and cake.

I've never been a fan since my early 20s.

Some of you people love nothing more than being miserable. Except maybe bragging about how miserable you are to other people.

MAGA has ruined the decor of July 4th for me. I do absolutely love the holiday and time of year, however. I have so many memories of being out at my grandparents' lake home eating amazing food, doing water activities, sneeking beers out of the adult cooler...all of it. Later, 7/4 became a college reunion time of year for a couple decades and just as memorable. It's not as fun these days as most things aren't but I still love Independence Day and the memories of many.

OP is Frieda Claxton.

I hate noisy random fireworks. (Love the choreographed big sky extravaganzas though)

I used to live in Taiwan and the frequent firecrackers used to drive me to PTSD-town.

SCOTUS hates it too, OP.

Well, we may be liberated from Britain, but our country is in the toilet and it seems ridiculous these days to celebrate anything about this country.

Having said that...best 4th I ever experienced was when I was living in DC, wrecked out of my mind, and lying on my back beneath the Washington Monument watching the fireworks.

I enjoy the day off and this year my company is closing at 1 pm Wednesday for an extra-long weekend. I’m not going anywhere except maybe a local garden center.

When I was a kid, 4th of July was the bomb. Each little town had their own fireworks. We used to walk to the high school and sit on a big grassy hill to watch and go home. No traffic and no massive corporate-sponsored extravaganzas. Where I live now neighbors don’t really set off too many fireworks but I like to stay home with the windows closes in case my dog and cat get scared. Watching fireworks on TV alway felt lame to me so I’ll just find a movie to watch.

Best fourth I ever attended was over the Back Bay listening to the Boston Pops simulcast. I actually teared up, it was so beautiful.

4th of July huh...'Independence Day'....what a crock of sh*t now.

R33 that was one of my favorites too. The year Cyndi Lauper performed with the Boston Pops for July 4th. We sat on a picnic blanket and watched the fireworks go off over the Charles.

The Fourth isnt like that anymore. We live in a MAGA CHUD-filled town. I dont even qant to go out

Fourth of July has become the Mexican festival of illegal fireworks.

I grew up outside Boston and seeing the Pops and those classic 1812 Overture fireworks on the Esplanade was such a happy summer memory from my childhood.

Now I live where the 4th of July celebrants are more annoying. They seem to set off fireworks EVERY NIGHT for a week and on the weekends before and after. The poor dogs and cats around here…

Honor Betsy Ross. Sew together some scraps, hang it outside and wait for the HOA to rip it down

People like to celebrate summer. Or just celebrate, just don't drive.

Just saw two guys with cowboy hats made out of PBR 12 pack boxes.