I have a friend who made a very simple and concise point about “the fourth of July:”
- “Don’t call it “The Fourth of July!” Call it what it is: Independence Day. You don’t call Christmas the twenty-fifth of December!”
He makes a good yet subtle point: by calling it “The Fourth of July,” we neuter the holiday by removing its meaning. Without knowledge of American history, terms like “The Fourth of July” are without significance. “The Fourth of July” can become another mere hamburger holiday in America not all that different from New Year’s.
Because of this reasoning, I have decided to quit saying the empty term “Fourth of July” and instead use the fully-loaded “Independence Day.” The latter reminds us that the early Americans fought to be free from what had become a foreign tyranny, and is a great point of pride for Americans. Therefore, consider using the un-neutered “Independence Day” instead of “The Fourth of July.”