Americans don’t give a lot of thought to what they’re celebrating. The popular narrative goes something like this: on July 4, 1776, the United States of America was born. The Founding Fathers signed the declaration of Independence and George Washington defeated the mighty British Empire with American wile and the grace of God.

A more appropriate birthday might be September 3, 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed. Or even Jan. 14, 1784, when it was ratified. The treaty marked the formal end of the Revolutionary War and Britain's recognition of American Independence. It came in a large part thanks to support from the French, who depleted their coffers on our behalf. The Spanish lent a hand, too - we returned the favor a century later with a rather ludicrous war against them. The Dutch also had a minor role in our successful independence, but who’s keeping score, anyway?

The Fourth, though, is about celebrating how good it is to be American — not who got us here. Going to baseball games, throwing back a few cold beers and grilling some hamburgers and hot dogs. No matter that those delicious grilled items are of German origin, perhaps in honor of the many Hessian soldiers who fought for the British crown during the revolution. Plus, it just sounds unpatriotic to grill up some andouille sausage and wash it down with a glass of Cotes du Vendomois from the birthplace of French General Jean-Bapsite de Rochambeau, the celebrated Revolutionary War hero.

But that’s the great thing about America. We can engage our history as we please. God bless us.

The article was originally written in English.

Photos: Mariano Rodriguez, Jami Saunders, Jarrad Shipley, Jami Saunders, Alec Pugliese, Bert Happel, Jeff Hobson, Mark Florence, Simon Kossof, Ronaldo Gomez.

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