Page 40 - The South China Business Journal
P. 40
scovery
By Dr. James Eric (Jay) Black, Co-Chair, Mercer
University Department of Journalism and Media Studies
For many Americans, the first memory Celebrations of the Fourth of July became
of fireworks was cozying up to their more common as the years continued
mothers on a blanket in a city park in their in the struggling new country. Finally,
home town for the annual Independence almost a century after the Declaration of
Day celebration. Their child selves were Independence was written, and shortly after
filled with excitement as the skies darkened the Civil War, Congress first declared July
around them. Perhaps this was the first 4 to be a national holiday in 1870 as part of
time they were allowed to stay up past their a bill officially recognizing several holidays
bed times. Anticipation turned into terror including Christmas.
with the first booming explosion of light.
Suddenly, they burst into tears and hid their John Adams thought did not consider
eyes against their mothers as their older July 4 to be the day America declared its
siblings alternated making fun of them and independence. Adams wrote to his wife
Abigail that the first progress towards
being silently in awe of the spectacle. The American independence was two days earlier,
“oos” and “aws” from the crowd around and that was the day worthy of celebration by
them grew as each explosion led to future generations. The Second Continental
the final triumphant of rapidly fired Congress actually approved the Declaration
eruption of light and sound. of Independence on July 2, 1776 inside the
Pennsylvania State House (now Independence
Similar scenes have played out Hall). Only two men signed this document:
in America since July 4, 1777 when Secretary of Congress Charles Thompson and
Philadelphia marked the first Presiding officer John Hancock. This was an
anniversary of the country decision amazingly brave thing to do. Had America
to remove itself from the British lost the war, these two men would surely be
hung for treason. It’s no wonder why no one
by adjourning Congress else signed the original copy.
and celebrating with
bonfires, bells
and fireworks.
38 AmCham South China
By Dr. James Eric (Jay) Black, Co-Chair, Mercer
University Department of Journalism and Media Studies
For many Americans, the first memory Celebrations of the Fourth of July became
of fireworks was cozying up to their more common as the years continued
mothers on a blanket in a city park in their in the struggling new country. Finally,
home town for the annual Independence almost a century after the Declaration of
Day celebration. Their child selves were Independence was written, and shortly after
filled with excitement as the skies darkened the Civil War, Congress first declared July
around them. Perhaps this was the first 4 to be a national holiday in 1870 as part of
time they were allowed to stay up past their a bill officially recognizing several holidays
bed times. Anticipation turned into terror including Christmas.
with the first booming explosion of light.
Suddenly, they burst into tears and hid their John Adams thought did not consider
eyes against their mothers as their older July 4 to be the day America declared its
siblings alternated making fun of them and independence. Adams wrote to his wife
Abigail that the first progress towards
being silently in awe of the spectacle. The American independence was two days earlier,
“oos” and “aws” from the crowd around and that was the day worthy of celebration by
them grew as each explosion led to future generations. The Second Continental
the final triumphant of rapidly fired Congress actually approved the Declaration
eruption of light and sound. of Independence on July 2, 1776 inside the
Pennsylvania State House (now Independence
Similar scenes have played out Hall). Only two men signed this document:
in America since July 4, 1777 when Secretary of Congress Charles Thompson and
Philadelphia marked the first Presiding officer John Hancock. This was an
anniversary of the country decision amazingly brave thing to do. Had America
to remove itself from the British lost the war, these two men would surely be
hung for treason. It’s no wonder why no one
by adjourning Congress else signed the original copy.
and celebrating with
bonfires, bells
and fireworks.
38 AmCham South China
