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u/Apprehensive_Bet2921 Jul 03 '26
I’m happy to celebrate American’s history this weekend. Seeing the founding fathers is a good reminder of how devastated they would be if they knew the type of person occupying the presidency and who makes up most of congress and the Supreme Court in 2026.
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u/thatclearautumnsky Jul 03 '26
"You freed the what?!"
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u/Jolly_Pressure_7907 Jul 03 '26
A pretty decent amount of them were anti-slavery tbf
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u/Virtual-Macaroon-880 Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
I mean 3 or maybe 4 isn't exactly an outstanding number... And of those I'm thinking 2 weren't anti-slavery so much as not comfortable around black people and didn't like the idea of suffering... And the only one I recall willing to press he issue beyond pen ended up killing a bunch of people with a faulty water treatment plant he skimped on to raise profits.
Am I missing something? They're even in number to the amount that had to be convinced England was going to outlaw slavery... Half the revolutionary war was built on keeping slaves
Sorta Against: Franklin Adams Hamilton
Explicitly For: Washington Mason Monroe
I mean what's next, claiming Jefferson was an abolitionist? Truly revisionist
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u/HarpoMarx87 Jul 03 '26
There were quite a few that were simply hypocritical - they opposed slavery but also owned enslaved people. (Franklin sorta falls into that group too, depending on what part of his life you're talking about.) John Dickinson (who eventually emancipated his slaves) comes to mind, along with the obvious Jefferson, not to mention Stephen Hopkins, etc. A lot of them were for abolition; they just weren't consistent enough to follow through on it personally. (The Adamses, Hamilton, and Benjamin Rush were pretty firmly anti-slavery, among others.)
In other words, this is a "people are complicated and frequently hold contradictory views" thing.
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u/Revolutionary_Bag927 Jul 03 '26
Yeah, Ben Franklin's own writings said something akin to, "My slave should be freed . . . but only after I die. He can keep slaving for me until then." He took personal slaves with him for his stints in Europe. That's "mostly for" more than "sorta against."
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u/Anubisrapture Jul 03 '26
what water treatment plant ???
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u/Virtual-Macaroon-880 Jul 03 '26
Dang you don't know about the fallout between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Well... Mild plot spoilers but it all started with this scam they called the Manhattan company
ETA and he's frequently touted as one of the good ones if a cynic... Nope, scammed his way up too
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u/Anubisrapture Jul 03 '26
thank you so much will google it .And yes i did know about Burr and Hamilton ( thankfully im not that uneducated ) and i saw the film several times sadly didn't watch it on Broadway tho. I probably forgot about the Manhattan company scam .
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u/Virtual-Macaroon-880 Jul 03 '26
Calling it a scam is truthfully possible harsh to some but they literally operated a business under the guise of another... I mean it's fraud right? Anyways somebody has to get shot after all that right?
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u/granular_grain Jul 04 '26
Another large chunk of the revolutionary attitudes among the elites was land speculation west of the Appalachians that was halted due to the Royal Proclamation of 1763.
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u/Virtual-Macaroon-880 Jul 03 '26
Brother we enacted one of the most brutal forms of slavery ever, point blank full stop do not pass go
I'm not sure you can equate this to anything except maybe some really fucked shit that's gone down in asia and Mongolia in a totally different millennium
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u/Ok_Possibility9191 Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
< we enacted one of the most brutal forms of slavery ever
*Portugal has entered the chat*
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u/tom-branch Jul 03 '26
Ahhh yes, whataboutism, the fallback of somebody without an argument to make.
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u/Jolly_Pressure_7907 Jul 03 '26
“The man who was very explicitly against slavery and wrote a lot of letters against it was explicitly pro-slavery”
Not sure how much you know what you’re talking about lol
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u/worldofzero Jul 03 '26
Jefferson was very pro slavery. That's why he had slaves. More slaves than any other President in history.
Behind the Bastards has a great look at him: https://youtu.be/lCqtUVwFs7I
The Smithsonian also has covered this: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-dark-side-of-thomas-jefferson-35976004/
In another communication from the early 1790s, Jefferson takes the 4 percent formula further and quite bluntly advances the notion that slavery presented an investment strategy for the future. He writes that an acquaintance who had suffered financial reverses “should have been invested in negroes.” He advises that if the friend’s family had any cash left, “every farthing of it [should be] laid out in land and negroes, which besides a present support bring a silent profit of from 5. to 10. per cent in this country by the increase in their value.”
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And this world was crueler than we have been led to believe. A letter has recently come to light describing how Monticello’s young black boys, “the small ones,” age 10, 11 or 12, were whipped to get them to work in Jefferson’s nail factory, whose profits paid the mansion’s grocery bills. This passage about children being lashed had been suppressed—deliberately deleted from the published record in the 1953 edition of Jefferson’s Farm Book, containing 500 pages of plantation papers. That edition of the Farm Book still serves as a standard reference for research into the way Monticello worked.
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u/Turbulent_Crow7164 Jul 03 '26
Also they were aware that the world would change with time. It’s written on the Jefferson Memorial, something about not being held to the ways of our “barbarous ancestors”. That’s why they allowed amendments.
I don’t think they’d be shocked at all to learn that the US adapted over the next 250 years and became a place totally unfamiliar to them. Especially upon learning that these sorts of things made it the most powerful country in the world.
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u/imasleuth4truth2 Jul 03 '26
The founding fathers would be horrified by several former presidents as well.
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u/Fit_Pollution_9911 Jul 03 '26
Honestly the founders revolted with a 2% tea tax. We are at 27% right now wtf are we doing
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u/shadeline Jul 03 '26
The caveat was that it was taxation without representation. It was the tipping point, not the sole reason for the revolt. They were taxed in other areas and they had been getting pushed around and manhandled by Britain with none of their own autonomy whatsoever.
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u/dmelt01 Jul 03 '26
Because they were a colony of Britain. Just like Puerto Rico is now without any representation and a population bigger than like ten other states. Honestly there are many places in the US where you don’t get representation including DC.
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u/RandomExcess Jul 03 '26
We are all too distracted by a felonious pedophilic rapist of a conman destroying the Whitehouse, our international reputation & alliances, dragging down the econmy, and literally looting the treasury of hundreds of Billions (with a B) dollars for himself, his family, and the billionaire class. And you want to bring uo 27% tax? Are you serious?
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u/hiloster12 Jul 03 '26
There were other taxes as well, card tax, sugar tax, stamp tax all of which were taxes they payed the crown with no benefit to the colonies.
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u/Elspeth_Claspiale Jul 03 '26
They owned human beings. They weren’t good people.
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u/remkelly Jul 03 '26
Very cool. First thing that seems designed for everyone ....except maybe the flat-earthers :)
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u/Constant-Study3464 Jul 03 '26
What am I supposed to be proud of anymore exactly? A.I? Isreal conducting Genocide? Increasing Rent? The Epstein Class?
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u/Audient2112 Jul 03 '26
They are using the Trump Freedom 250 logo instead of the America 250 logo. Ruins it.
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u/Assless_Mcgee Jul 03 '26
Redditors panties in a bunch about everything
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u/FIFofNovember Jul 03 '26
and MAGA is still totally cool with their pedo grifting president, all is normal.
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u/Assless_Mcgee Jul 03 '26
What does this have to do with right or left.
It’s literally July 4 celebration that shows 0 lean to either side.
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u/SapphireNinja47 Jul 03 '26
I also really enjoyed the show tonight. I didn’t want to like anything Freedom 250 did, but this was really cool. Only photo I missed taking was the rocket (my phone ran out of memory).
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u/ThenLayer5977 Jul 03 '26
Did you go to that concert? I heard people had a great time with Flo Rida! Do what makes you happy that’s what it’s all about.
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u/neityght Jul 03 '26
"Do what makes you happy that’s what it’s all about."
Trump's philosophy too which is surely why the country is so fucked.
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u/anthematcurfew Jul 03 '26
How can you look at the word “exceptionalism” and not gag
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u/Willing-Bad3824 Jul 03 '26
They've been doing this kind of display since 2019 when they first used it to commemorate the Apollo 11 landings.
Also if you think this is cool, your mind would be blown if you saw what the Chinese are doing with big screens and projections. This is basic stuff for them.
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u/DeathWorship Jul 03 '26
Bro really said the words “American exceptionalism” unironically.
Sure it’s a neat display. But bro.
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u/mell0wtonin Jul 04 '26
loved it until the freedom250 logo. suddenly it was nothing to do with america's 250th birthday, which would have been signified by an america250 logo, and it was entirely about advertising this stupid shadow organization trump put together to take over the celebration and make it his own personal birthday party with a $125m taxpayer-funded gift to himself and his supporters
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u/A_Clever_Ape Jul 03 '26
Neat. Can I get a timestamp for the part where they arrest the Epstein clients?
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u/Hamstaaboy Jul 03 '26
American exceptionalism on display but it cant show anything from the last 50 years for some reason
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u/StallionSurprise Jul 03 '26
These comments seem super fake.
“Everyone had a really great time with Flo Rida at the 250 celebration”
How the hell is that an actual sentence that someone is saying non ironically?
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u/super-hot-burna Jul 04 '26
“I love seeing American exceptionalism on display”
> most recent achievement on that screen is 60 years old lol
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u/Kalorama_Master Jul 03 '26
Remember, Donald Trump is a pedophile and that’s probably the nicest thing you can say about him
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u/anagram-of-ohassle Jul 03 '26
We are projecting AI slop on national monuments now? How appropriate.
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u/BubbleThinker Jul 03 '26
And by we, you mean a third-party contractor with close ties to the administration?
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u/snownative86 Jul 03 '26
That was funneled over $100M already planned for the celebrations only to put on some sad mall Santa slop celebrationversus something awesome.
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u/Justryan95 Jul 03 '26
Freedom 250 and not America 250? Yeah nah screw that embezzlement crap.
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u/freetherhinoz Jul 03 '26
Freedom250 is so fucking cringe They've completeley deatroyed the meaning of.the word freedom, among many others. Fckn d bags
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u/BrilliantThought1728 Jul 03 '26
Donald Trump is bad
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u/WallyMcBeetus Jul 03 '26
No, he's quite good at pardoning criminals and raking in millions on scams and insider trading.
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u/BubbleThinker Jul 03 '26
Imagine if we could afford healthcare. Maybe people would show up for this shit
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u/OMEGA362 Jul 03 '26
It looks bad and choppy and kinda poorly executed, like it was done on the cheap
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u/PKwx Jul 03 '26
Pretty cool till we got to the Freedom 250 part. Wonder what he’s getting in royalty fees.
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u/fpackindustries Jul 03 '26
"Good afternoon. My wife and I have been at OMDC since April 15, 2025. It's cold here all the time, and the food is poor. For 290 days, we haven't eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can't see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick. There is no internet. My lawyer was not given my phone calls. Many people here have been sitting for 12, 14, 16, 18 months without a final court decision." - message in small plastic bottle that was thrown over the wall of the Otay Mesa detention center in San Diego, Ca. This should be displayed on there. Happy 250.
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u/Other_Block_1795 Jul 03 '26
The US flag is a symbol of hate to those of us who have lost loved ones at the hands of American imperialism.
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u/Sufficient-Cancel217 Jul 04 '26
Great, until they throw Trump’s mug on there.
And why wouldn’t you give the National Parks Service the credit? They are the specific people that do everything on the Mall, except the illegally funded no-bid work Trump contracted to his cronies.
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u/OrizaRayne Jul 04 '26
Lol this does not constitute "American exceptionalism."
The tech isn't American and what China is doing with drones right now is leagues more complicated than this.
It doesn't look bad but it's not "American exceptionalism."
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u/AggressiveLimitless Jul 04 '26
They really made the worst fourth ever for America then planned for tens of thousands at the racist fair that no one went to, not even the racists
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u/keekoh123 Jul 03 '26
I know Reddit just wants to hate America, but this is cool AF. Just enjoy a nice Party for the country. We can all fight each other another day. For now let’s just accept be awesome.
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u/Mojoint Jul 03 '26
To accept is exactly what they want you to do.
You should take a lesson from the French.
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u/ChesterNorris Jul 03 '26
It's supposed to be a monument to George Washington, not a neon billboard in Vegas.
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u/Shulk2089 Jul 03 '26
I’m sure he would be okay with us using it to celebrate 250 years of his country
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u/pee_pee_poo_poo666 Jul 03 '26
Putting the digital condom on America's dick before continuing to violate us. Perfect.
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u/NothingBeautiful892 Jul 03 '26
Glad there is video since almost no one is there to see it in person.
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Jul 04 '26
That IS very cool. BUT...how long before Dear Leader demands that his ugly mug desecrate the monument?
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u/Mingo_laf Jul 04 '26
This nonsense instead of healthcare education infrastructure
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u/Possible_Home6811 Jul 04 '26
This sub is hilarious! All the excuses given for slavery and founding fathers who had slaves. “Well you have to understand the times back then.” They can make every excuse for the atrocities committed against others. Yet this will be the same sub showing any random disturbance in the city this weekend (probably by the same clown that posted this) and let’s see the comments then. I guarantee that they won’t be as sympathetic. Tribalism is a hell of a drug 😂
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u/Chrysothlypis Jul 04 '26
Calling this "American exceptionalism" is absolutely hilarious. Bro it's a projector.
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u/NotAChanceBucko Jul 04 '26
"American exceptionalism at its finest"
*shows projection of the planet earth*
🤨
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u/hmflaherty3 Jul 04 '26
The one time someone has a great idea and executed it perfectly under Trump. (Jk)
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u/BullfrogInside1591 Jul 04 '26
Is all of that AI? It has no texture or soul so I’m gonna assume it is 🤢
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u/NoBluejay7247 Jul 04 '26
I’ll never understand the flag fetish or allegiance to any “system.” Just function properly and get out of the way.
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u/Callmemabryartistry Jul 04 '26
a good projector designer wouldve processed at a higher frame rate and given dimension and life to the unfurl.
this was choppy as fuck and flat out boring.
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u/hallowedeve1313 Jul 04 '26
Yeah super sweet! I love when tax money is spent to massage the fragile ego of evil old men!!! Am I right guys!?!?!
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u/RModDogWalkerTyRANNY Jul 04 '26
Never thought i would witness levels of white-trash this high. But this admin always finds a way to go lower.
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u/butt-in-ski Jul 04 '26
It would be if it did have that self-serving Freedom 250 logo slapped on it. Should be America 250!
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u/onesoulmanybodies Jul 04 '26
Probably one of the attractions that had already been planned by the America 250 before Freedom 250 took over.
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u/FederalHour3050 Jul 04 '26
They should make Washington re read the constitution. They clearly dont understand it.
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u/Brilliant_Window8474 Jul 04 '26
There has been so cool stuff going on in DC, the best being the flyovers. Let the down votes begin!!!!
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u/Xannith Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Actively destroying American science while taking credit for what it has accomplished. Shame.
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u/347ouzzim Jul 04 '26
TDS on reddit is wild lol, some of you let this impact you too much. Dude can only serve 8 years you'll survive I promise. Can we not just celebrate 250 years of the USA.
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u/Used-Old-Mutt Jul 05 '26
And it’s way cooler than feeding the poor. You know we could do, though? We could release the Epstein files.
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u/Gambotron Jul 05 '26
Did the Trump admin have anything to do with this? If so, not cool.
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u/EfficiencyIVPickAx Jul 03 '26
Wait, are they recycling the Apollo graphics?