tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895867.post115185653653361607..comments2024-02-27T04:20:08.770-05:00Comments on A Big Fat Slob: Happy Birthday America -- July 2 Marks 230 Years of IndependenceA Big Fat Slobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12643815117960627121noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895867.post-1152039976570903732006-07-04T14:06:00.000-05:002006-07-04T14:06:00.000-05:00Thanks Slobby. If I remember right the final peace...Thanks Slobby. If I remember right the final peace treay was signed in Holland. At the risk of sounding unpatriotic I still prefer British beers. Happy 4th.Gorthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18353409316468830796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895867.post-1151964769312602942006-07-03T17:12:00.000-05:002006-07-03T17:12:00.000-05:00John Adams gets less than his due from History. A...John Adams gets less than his due from History. As with many others of the Founders, we would not have survived as a Nation without him.<BR/><BR/>There are many instances in which his talents and insight meaningfully served the American cause at a crucial time. One such time was when the colonies were broke and contemplating the necessity of abandoning the cause of independence.<BR/><BR/>After the war began, Adams was dispatched to England to attempt to negotiate a Peace Treaty with the British. He was well-respected there -- he was the lawyer who sucessfully defended the British troops unfairly accused in the Boston Massacre episode.<BR/><BR/>In any event, he was not successful and was reassigned as Ambassador to Holland. <BR/><BR/>The unitied Colonies were nearly bankrupt. Adams' charge was to negotiate the Dutch endorsing American independence. <BR/><BR/>However, the Dutch had a very profitable black market shipping business going, and didn't want to imperil the trade by openly aligning with the Americans.<BR/><BR/>Adams switched course and negotiated a very very substantial loan from the Dutch, which came literally in the nick of time, another month and the American army would have had to pack up and go home -- no money, no bullets, no food, no army.<BR/><BR/>Adams convinced the Dutch to take a very big chance on American success. If the colonies were unsuccessful, Holland would have an uncollectable debt. The Dutch for their part demonstrated a great deal of faith in the colonies and were very generous with their support despite the risk they took if the British got wind of it.<BR/><BR/>So hoist a Heineken, Amstel, or my personal favorite, a Grolsch this fourth of July.A Big Fat Slobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12643815117960627121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895867.post-1151943980304324412006-07-03T11:26:00.000-05:002006-07-03T11:26:00.000-05:00I've never heard that one. Please share.I've never heard that one. Please share.Gorthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18353409316468830796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895867.post-1151928572760702402006-07-03T07:09:00.000-05:002006-07-03T07:09:00.000-05:00Thanks. My kids, however, wouldn't want you encou...Thanks. My kids, however, wouldn't want you encouraging me -- there's also the speech about why drinking a Dutch beer on the 4th is patriotic.A Big Fat Slobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12643815117960627121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25895867.post-1151878263950556992006-07-02T17:11:00.000-05:002006-07-02T17:11:00.000-05:00Great post!Great post!Gorthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18353409316468830796noreply@blogger.com