King George III Never Called It ‘Nothing of Importance’

As the story goes, on the day that his soon-t0-be-ex subjects were ratifying their Declaration of Independence, England’s King George III wrote in his diary, “Nothing of importance happened today.” But if it sounds like a historical irony too good to be true, that’s because it is: NPR discovered five years ago that George never even kept a diary and the myth stemmed from an actual diary entry of King Louis XVI of France from 1789. So much for a retroactive “I told you so.”

The Philippines were never given to the US. They were taken under false premises. The Filipino rebels, assisted by the US, fought for independence from the Spanish. They were under the false agreement that they would be free once the Spanish were driven out.

Contrary to popular US belief, almost all Filipinos don't speak Spanish Most speak some English. But the traditions are more Spanish than American.

It's not a big deal in the Philippines. They don't obsess about such old events, and are quite fond of General McArthur. But it's a good idea for Americans to limit the BS when it come to understand the rest of the wold.

Only until 1962. We now observe it during June 12 in commemoration of Philippine independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.

Here's an explanation from Wikipedia:

On 12 May 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Presidential Proclamation No. 28, which declared Tuesday, 12 June a special public holiday throughout the Philippines, "... in commemoration of our people's declaration of their inherent and inalienable right to freedom and independence." On 4 August 1964, Republic Act No. 4166 renamed the 4 July holiday as "Philippine Republic Day", proclaimed 12 June as "Philippine Independence Day", and enjoined all citizens of the Philippines to observe the latter with befitting rites.

Prior to 1964, 12 June had been observed as Flag Day, which was moved to 28 May (the date the Philippine Flag was first flown in battle).

As far as John Adams going to his grave refusing to participate in the 4th celebrations, that's only slightly true. He and Jefferson were both invited to

Washington DC for the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on

July 4, 1826 but both declined due to poor health. As it happened, both died that

day only hours apart.

John Adams actually wrote a 'notorious' letter to Abigail after the Continental Congress approved the Declaration and stated that ... "It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."

C.Congress approved the D of I on July 2, it hit the newspapers on July 4 and wasn't completely signed until August.

There are a whole lot of things Americans don't know about Independence Day - in particular, that we gained independence from a tyrannical, overbearing, nanny-state government. Thank our unionized history teachers for that.

Some people simply long to have a king to prostrate themselves to. They wanted it with Kennedy, they want it with Obama.Those people don't belong here.