Please inform Toby Young that the Fourth of July does not celebrate the anniversary of the colonists' defeat of his "tiny little island." It commemorates the signing of a document that declared those colonists' independence from one of the largest empires the world has ever known. The ensuing war was an idea the British came up with on their own, and we do not celebrate any federal holidays that are associated with it.

-- Thomas Valois

As a Canadian living in the United States, I find Toby Young's article downright ridiculous. He has come to the United States of his own accord. If he doesn't like his situation, he should leave. The United States doesn't owe the vote to every visiting businessman. The Fourth of July is a national holiday that Americans have earned the right to celebrate, and frankly not many (if any) Americans use it as an opportunity to vent hatred at the British. The English still lick wounds as old as 1066, so they shouldn't begrudge an American holiday that is fairly young by comparison.

-- Brad Clawsie

Toby Young hit on a the source of many social problems in America. The fact that most Americans don't acknowledge how much luck is responsible for their success or failure really does impact our society in many negative ways. It's our democratic dream that everyone has the same opportunity to succeed based on hard work and natural ability, but that dream is more of a fantasy that justifies racism, classism, sexism and lots of other "isms." The fact that the British do have that whole class thing out in the open, and that they can acknowledge the existence of the "lucky sperm club," probably makes dealing with inequities within their culture a little easier. Maybe a British invasion wouldn't be so bad.

-- Angela Richard

Before any of your American readers start reaching for their handkerchiefs, I suggest they try living in England for a while (as I have) and enjoy the stinging, highly bigoted anti-American commentary that pervades the media and indeed, social and work situations here on a daily basis. And if you think Brits are polite and understated, then you'll be surprised the first time a Brit insults you right to your Yankee, colonial face -- but you'll get used to it. You'll also enjoy finding how much "lucky sperm" and lineage really does matter here -- gender, too, for that matter. After all, the past is one of the few things the Brits do well, so they hate to let it go.

-- Kim Walma
London

Toby, I agree. We need some royals to keep the media busy with scandals so that our politicians can screw around with less fear of reprisal. But fireworks are pretty mild in comparison to burning effigies, right? Oh, and if you want to see what the states would've been like if we hadn't revolted, check out Canada.

-- John Snook
New York

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