4th of July & Apple Pie

Americans are a simple people, but Americans are complex simple people. Forced to be inventive when starting a new country with little in the way of materials and in many cases skills, we have a practical bent over a philosophical bent. We always need, so to speak, something to hang our hats on. Subsequent immigrants often came penniless and full of hope just like the the colonists of the 17th century. So our our ethos is one of making do and doing well. Our holidays are then a celebration of events or sentiments. We gather and make noise on New Year's Eve. We display fireworks on the 4th of July. We have our Easter Parade. Our Mother's Day. Our Father's Day. Labor Day. Memorial Day. Presidents Birthdays. It's always specific.
Something to hang your hat on. We don't have a Thomas Edison Day or an Alexander Bell Day or even a Bill Gates Day. We could though, because they have given us something to hang our hats on. Americans, for the most part, are hard workers.
They hitch their wagon to a star and stick with it. Exploited, betrayed, duped,
and cheated by their leaders in work and politics, they remain optimistic and look to the new day. They gather on holidays fully intending to have picnic, a celebration, not of success, but survival. A holiday is a psychic aspirin. Putting the headache of life aside for day or a weekend to enjoy our apple pie.