Colin's Last Stand, Episode 26: The Contradictions and Complexities of Being American

Thanks James!! Sounds crazy fascinating!

Christopher Lee

Sorry man, havnt been able to find the exact one i wanted but youtube has a few you can get a good story from, search "the gunpowder plot" and you should find it. Oh and to start you off, it's called such because its thought to be the first time gunpowder was used for a terrorism attempt. Enjoy

James Schubert

James if you find that documentary I'd love to watch it. Very cool to learn about a tradition I didn't even know existed.

Christopher Lee

Yeah that's not a bad representation to the history of the night. I would say though this piece doesnt point out nearly enough that the original bombfires were a celebration of the failed attempt. Every year supporters of the king would celebrate his standing rule and demonise Guy Fauwks. As I understand it from my chilhood learning, it later became a celebration of questioning authority. Hence the Fauks mask being a currently used depiction of anarchism. If i can find one of the documentaries i've watched in the past about the subject I'll send you the link.

James Schubert

<a href="http://www.historytoday.com/david-prior/remember-remember-fifth-november" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.historytoday.com/david-prior/remember-remember-fifth-november</a> Is this the origin of "bomb-fire night" on November 5th? Also I am alive and well, illegal fireworks from myrtle beach... turns out they're perfectly legal in PA when your neighbor (who is a policeman) invites you over to set off ALL OF THEM in his yard! 😁👍

Christopher Lee

Gotcha, thanks Colin. Appreciate the response!

Luke Drake

Hope you're still alive after all that blowing up you did. =)

Colin Moriarty

Very well said. Bravo.

Colin Moriarty

It does. Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

Hey Luke. Remember that you can always mail me privately if you have any questions on Patreon-related stuff, which will (likely) net you a faster answer. That said, remember that pledges at the $25+/month level are latent a month. So, if you pledged sometime in July, your name will appear in the credits sometime in August. =) Thank you for your support!

Colin Moriarty

Indeed. I don't think I've read Meacham's Jefferson bio (though I think he did write one on Hamilton I read, though I could be making that up). I'll look into it!

Colin Moriarty

Awww❤️❤️🤘🤘

Bryan Silva

Well we have bomb-fire night (5th november) but its not so much a celebration as it is a get together.

James Schubert

Haha!! Do you have any "holidays" that are dedicated to drinking and blowing up fireworks? 😉

Christopher Lee

I also found myself focusing on your message in a different way this time - but as always, I miss 'seeing' you. You know how that goes . 😉💞

BettyAnn Moriarty

I'm British, we don't have an independence day, we created quite a few though ha

James Schubert

Decided to save this for today, the 4th of July and laughed my ass off at the little 🌲. Glad you didn't scrap you're favorite take! Now I'm off to drink and blow shit up to "America" today, cheers! (To the other countries here in CLS do any of you blow stuff up to celebrate your countries independence or is this a purely "American" thing?)

Christopher Lee

Another great topic and excellent delivery. I connected with your views in this video, and as an American I found it very uplifting and inspiring as I listen to fireworks off my back porch. Inspiring both to be more appreciative for what our great country brings the world, but also to do more and to be better. It is my belief that we are as a country like a new parent. We hope we are doing the right thing and we are proud of what we have created, but we also mess up a lot. I think that is something that bothers a lot of other countries just like having your kid act up at the store bothers other people. Just like a new parent we work tirelessly to make thing better, we rally every time we screw up, and we fiercely protect our creation. The fact that we all created this thing together results in that familial similarity. I don't that bond can be appreciated outside of our borders. Just like no one can appreciate your family as much as its members. We have backward thinking members of our family just like any other family, we in-fight just like any other family, but we are also not going to put up with anyone talking shit about our family. That may come off as cavalier to the rest of the world, but I can't imagine wanting to live in another place where the people didn't feel so passionate about their country.

Brian Fuller

Aaaaaaand I've just found the pinned youtube comment. Hope the feedback still helps though brother.

James Schubert

Sorry man, don't usually do this but up until now everything has been perfect. I'm happy to follow almost any direction you go, but the slideshow style video seems too close to the type of youtube content I really dislike. One persons opinion piece while they hide behind stills instead of engaging with the audience. I appreciate this may one be a one off and if I've missed the memo saying as such, I apologise. In any case, the content is great as usual, as a firm believer in the "special relationship" I always try to remind myself that the media in the UK like to portray USA as backward. If this truly were the case, would 4 million brits have travelled to the US in 2014 (most recent figures I could find). Anyway, enjoy your holiday America! Much love.

James Schubert

Really nice piece Colin! Being English I've always appreciated the American culture, a lot of the time in a "grass is always greener" sense but love the general patriotism that exudes from people like yourself. Also just on a side note I upped my pledge to Producer for July and didn't see my name, any chance I can get in the next video credits? No biggie, still supporting 👊

Luke Drake

Loved the video, man. I'm currently reading Jefferson's biography (by the same author who wrote American Lion) and it's fascinating to get into the minds of the founders. People don't fully understand how the world was before the revolution. I think America's critics take for granted the importance of self-government and just how significant and novel that idea was in the 18th century

MrHollawood

Interesting thought!

Colin Moriarty

Thanks. =)

Colin Moriarty

Glad to hear it!

Colin Moriarty

Indeed. =)

Colin Moriarty

Thanks for the link! I'll have to give it a read.

Colin Moriarty

Yes! An explanation is in the pinned comment on the video.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you! Glad you liked the video.

Colin Moriarty

Loved this. I think not seeing you but hearing really allowed the audience to focus on your message. 🤘🇺🇸.

Bryan Silva

This was a good one.

Exceptionally well said! I will endeavor to take the spirit of your comments into this July 4th, and the days beyond.

Stephen J Seidler

Such a Colin video lol. Makes great points. A point often made by foreigners about the US having so many great universities is that it doesn’t prove Americans are smart. The US has a bit of everything, smart and not so smart. But these highly regarded universities are filled with smart Americans and are constantly bringing in new people every year and churning out graduates at the same time.

Nicholas Swanson

On a related note, wanted to recommend this write-up from Sunday's Washington Post on reconciling our political differences using a helpful model from Lincoln. While I wish the writer had used some more examples to illustrate, and I'd like to see that explored further, I think it's a worthwhile read for any American feeling vexed about our own national identity: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/patiotism-once-united-us-now-it-divides-us/2017/06/30/8def2888-5c0a-11e7-a9f6-7c3296387341_story.html?utm_term=.45c54c08d924" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/patiotism-once-united-us-now-it-divides-us/2017/06/30/8def2888-5c0a-11e7-a9f6-7c3296387341_story.html?utm_term=.45c54c08d924</a>

Josiah Lambert

Did you want it to say "An Appeal to Heaven" the entire video? Happy 4th Colin!

Richard Jyles

Great video Colin. Really enjoyed it. Hope you have an excellent 4th of July celebrating all these freedoms

Josh in Tampa