12-28-2013, 01:21 PM
I don't claim, as a fact, that the United States of America is the best country in the world; it's subjective. I personally wouldn't choose to permanently live anywhere else and I do value the freedoms that we are afforded here. They didn't come cheap and are largely a result of the blood shed by those in the Revolutionary War.
So, that makes me a patriot, proudly. I'd likely feel the same patriotism if I lived in the UK or Australia, as well. Australians, British, Americans - we all have a good deal of personal freedoms and national independence - there's every reason to be grateful for the sacrifices of those past and present who fought to make that possible, as far as I'm concerned.
But, I'll go ahead and play your alleged "kool-aid" game, CN. My responses to your OP are in bold below.
1 - the war was between the colonists and the British - myth - it was actually a proxy war between the British and French.
HOTD: change the word "actually" to "also" and I'd agree without other qualifications.
However, I've never been taught any "myth" down playing or minimizing the French role in the Revolutionary War.
2 - Molly Pitcher cannon heroine - myth - nice story shame it was completely made up.
HOTD: Never was taught this as part of American or World History; only ever heard of it as a story.
3 - the Americans won the war with frontier savvy and guerilla tactics - myth - sounds great not true though.
HOTD: Based on my education (I'm not a war buff or expert by any means), I think that frontier savvy definitely played a role in America's victory over the British. To discount home court advantage is a ridiculous minimization of its importance strategically, IMO.
Regarding guerilla tactics, I never was taught this "myth" as part of American or World History. If it is indeed a "myth", it's not one that's widespread enough to have hit my radar or registered.
4 - except for a few loyallists most Americans fought for liberty - myth - the number of loyallists and rebels was actually almost even. In fact there were 3 sides in the war not 2.
HOTD: There are always multiple agendas and parties in every war. Always have been, always will be, IMO. I don't have reason to doubt that there were almost an equal number of loyalists as there were "rebels", and other factions in the mix as well. I've never researched nor recall coming across statistics to support the "almost equal" contention, but wouldn't surprise me if that was accurate. But, AGAIN, I've never been taught any "myth" to the contrary.
5 - the colonists defeated the mightiest army of all time - myth - the colonists massively outnumbered and outgunned the British.
HOTD: This one seems like it was written by a sore loser. War; defeat is defeat and victory is victory. It doesn't matter a wit if that victory was a result of the opposing side underestimating the size of its opponent, their allies, or their artillery power. The British having made a lot of strategic and tactical errors in their bid for control of the colonies is a recognized fact; a fact which in no way diminishes Americas victory in securing its independence.
I've never been taught that the British army is "the mightiest army of all time". I won't argue that it isn't. Let's just agree that it is/was; the fact that American forces and our allies were able to massively outnumber and outgun such a worthy opponent is all the more reason to feel patriotic and thankful for those who fought for our independence against the worthiest of all opponents.
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I can't speak for others and what they were taught/read in regards to the Revolutionary War.
But, just based on my own public education here in the US, I suspect that the "kool-aid drinkers" are actually those who insist that all Americans believe some watered down piece of fiction as history because they read such an implication on Cracked.com.
All history contains some myths and it's not always possible to differentiate them from the facts. But, the myths in your article were never presented as facts to me. Maybe someone else here was taught differently though and will weigh in.
So, that makes me a patriot, proudly. I'd likely feel the same patriotism if I lived in the UK or Australia, as well. Australians, British, Americans - we all have a good deal of personal freedoms and national independence - there's every reason to be grateful for the sacrifices of those past and present who fought to make that possible, as far as I'm concerned.
But, I'll go ahead and play your alleged "kool-aid" game, CN. My responses to your OP are in bold below.
1 - the war was between the colonists and the British - myth - it was actually a proxy war between the British and French.
HOTD: change the word "actually" to "also" and I'd agree without other qualifications.
However, I've never been taught any "myth" down playing or minimizing the French role in the Revolutionary War.
2 - Molly Pitcher cannon heroine - myth - nice story shame it was completely made up.
HOTD: Never was taught this as part of American or World History; only ever heard of it as a story.
3 - the Americans won the war with frontier savvy and guerilla tactics - myth - sounds great not true though.
HOTD: Based on my education (I'm not a war buff or expert by any means), I think that frontier savvy definitely played a role in America's victory over the British. To discount home court advantage is a ridiculous minimization of its importance strategically, IMO.
Regarding guerilla tactics, I never was taught this "myth" as part of American or World History. If it is indeed a "myth", it's not one that's widespread enough to have hit my radar or registered.
4 - except for a few loyallists most Americans fought for liberty - myth - the number of loyallists and rebels was actually almost even. In fact there were 3 sides in the war not 2.
HOTD: There are always multiple agendas and parties in every war. Always have been, always will be, IMO. I don't have reason to doubt that there were almost an equal number of loyalists as there were "rebels", and other factions in the mix as well. I've never researched nor recall coming across statistics to support the "almost equal" contention, but wouldn't surprise me if that was accurate. But, AGAIN, I've never been taught any "myth" to the contrary.
5 - the colonists defeated the mightiest army of all time - myth - the colonists massively outnumbered and outgunned the British.
HOTD: This one seems like it was written by a sore loser. War; defeat is defeat and victory is victory. It doesn't matter a wit if that victory was a result of the opposing side underestimating the size of its opponent, their allies, or their artillery power. The British having made a lot of strategic and tactical errors in their bid for control of the colonies is a recognized fact; a fact which in no way diminishes Americas victory in securing its independence.
I've never been taught that the British army is "the mightiest army of all time". I won't argue that it isn't. Let's just agree that it is/was; the fact that American forces and our allies were able to massively outnumber and outgun such a worthy opponent is all the more reason to feel patriotic and thankful for those who fought for our independence against the worthiest of all opponents.
--------------------------------------------------------
I can't speak for others and what they were taught/read in regards to the Revolutionary War.
But, just based on my own public education here in the US, I suspect that the "kool-aid drinkers" are actually those who insist that all Americans believe some watered down piece of fiction as history because they read such an implication on Cracked.com.
All history contains some myths and it's not always possible to differentiate them from the facts. But, the myths in your article were never presented as facts to me. Maybe someone else here was taught differently though and will weigh in.
![[Image: Zy3rKpW.png]](https://i.imgur.com/Zy3rKpW.png)
