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5 myths debunked by Howard Zinn (and others) about America’s ‘Independence Day’ 5 ‘myths’ about Independence Day exposed by American dissidents
(about 17 hours later)
America’s patriotic celebration every Fourth of July is enough to cause the more conscientious citizens to throw up their BBQ hot dogs. For most Americans, July 4 is a time for patriotism, BBQ and fireworks. Yet some of the country’s most outspoken dissidents have denounced the holiday and what it represents.
The late historian Howard Zinn, as well as political prisoners like Mumia Abu Jamal, know the real truth about those early, dark days. As official history goes, the thirteen American colonies signed their Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, pushing through their own 'Brexit' from the English king.
July 4 supposedly celebrates the day in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed and honors the Founding Fathers, many of them slave owners, who pushed through their own 'Brexit' from the English king. However, not all Americans have felt the freedom instilled by the iconic document’s promise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” particularly with the world’s highest incarceration rate and millions of poor and hungry children. 
But not everyone is feeling the freedom instilled by the iconic document’s promise of “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” particularly with the world’s highest incarceration rate and millions of poor and hungry children.
At the risk of ruining your festive holiday, here are five myths about Independence Day that have been debunked in recent years. Several American dissidents have criticized the hero-worshipping of the Founding Fathers and their values. Here is why they think Americans shouldn’t celebrate on July 4.
1) The Founding Fathers were heroic men 1) The Founders were heroic men
Zinn obliterated America’s Founding Father worshiping during his 2009 lecture ‘Myth of the Good Wars’ (Three ‘Holy’ Wars). According to Boston University professor Howard Zinn (1922-2010), a self-described “democratic socialist” and author of ‘A People’s History of the United States,’ the Founding Fathers were actually far from being heroes.
He blasted the history books’ perceptions that these were heroes on a par with gods. “Our ‘Founding Fathers’ were horrible, horrible people. We must accept this historical absolute truth, if we ever wish to move beyond it. They were incredibly racist, misogynist, classist, unapologetic exploiters of the common working person,” he said in 2009, during a famous lecture ‘Myth of the Good Wars.’
“Our ‘Founding Fathers’ were horrible, horrible people. We must accept this historical absolute truth, if we ever wish to move beyond it. They were incredibly racist, misogynist, classist, unapologetic exploiters of the common working person,” he said. Zinn maintained that the Founders were rich elites, interested in achieving American independence not for the people to be free, but to make themselves even richer.
He maintained these men were rich elites, interested in achieving US independence not for the people, but to make themselves even richer. 2) The Declaration of Independence was put into practice
2) The Declaration of Independence was put into practice Zinn also called out the Founding Fathers for initiating the “worst genocide in all of human history,” which resulted in the deaths of up to 100 million Native Americans.
Zinn called out the Founding Fathers for initiating the “worst genocide in all of human history” when they killed up to100 million Native Americans.
Contrary to popular belief, not all Native Americans fought with Britain’s King George III. Many sided with people in the Colonies, or avoided the conflict.Contrary to popular belief, not all Native Americans fought with Britain’s King George III. Many sided with people in the Colonies, or avoided the conflict.
Many of those who did fight on the British side did so with the hope of saving their own homelands.Many of those who did fight on the British side did so with the hope of saving their own homelands.
He also debunked the myth that the signatories were in favor of democracy. Instead he says they were openly anti-democratic and pro-republican. Contrary to popular belief, not all Native Americans fought with Britain’s King George III. Many sided with people in the colonies, or avoided the conflict. One of the reasons the colonists were rebelling was that the crown forbade any settlement of Native American lands west of the Appalachian Mountains in 1763.
Zinn called the American system “the most ingenious system of control in world history” and credited this  to the roots of independence. Zinn also challenged the notion that the signatories of the Declaration were in favor of democracy, arguing that they favored a republic and were openly anti-democratic.
Calling the American system “the most ingenious system of control in world history,” Zinn credited this to the country’s origins.
“The pretense continued over the generations, helped by all-embracing symbols, physical or verbal: the flag, patriotism, democracy, national interest, national defense, national security,” he said.“The pretense continued over the generations, helped by all-embracing symbols, physical or verbal: the flag, patriotism, democracy, national interest, national defense, national security,” he said.
3) America was based on Christian principles
Thomas Jefferson, the main author of the Declaration of Independence, had widely contrasting religious views to the Christian patriots of his era - and today. 3) America was founded on Christian principles
He was considered something of an outcast among his peers who insisted America was founded on Christian principles. Thomas Jefferson, considered the main author of the Declaration of Independence, had religious views unlike most Christian patriots of his era – and today.
While Jefferson was intellectually interested in theology, he was reluctant to speak personally about religion. Jefferson was considered something of an outcast among his peers, who insisted that America was founded on Christian principles.
The words “under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 by Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, as a way to further this myth. While Jefferson was intellectually interested in theology, he was reluctant to speak personally about religion. He did, however, write that the First Amendment of the US Constitution – forbidding Congress from establishing a state religion – built a “wall of separation” between church and state.
4) Liberty for all Why do American schoolchildren and new citizens pledge allegiance to the Flag and “one nation, under God,” then? The Pledge of Allegiance has nothing to do with the Founding Fathers – it was written in the 1880s and only became official in 1942. The words “under God” were added to the Pledge in 1954 by Congress, after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus
Black revolutionary, writer, and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has spent more than 30 years in prison for the killing of a Philadelphia police officer, much of it in isolation on death row, has also spoken out about American-style independence. 4) Liberty for all
He spoke to Truthdig ahead of the July 4 holiday and said: “We live in one of the most un-free systems on Earth.” By the same token, the words “liberty and justice for all” come from the Pledge, not from the Declaration of Independence. Another American dissident, Mumia Abu-Jamal, has been sharply critical of the notion.
“Where is this American freedom they keep telling us about? I don’t see it. Black folks are more in danger, and being killed in even greater numbers, than during the reign of terror that was lynching and Jim Crow,” Mumia said. “We live in one of the most un-free systems on Earth,” Abu-Jamal told Truthdig ahead of the July 4 holiday. “Where is this American freedom they keep telling us about? I don’t see it. Black folks are more in danger, and being killed in even greater numbers, than during the reign of terror that was lynching and Jim Crow.”
The Black revolutionary, writer, and former Black Panther has spent more than 30 years in prison for the killing of a Philadelphia police officer, much of it in isolation on death row.
READ MORE: Police killed over 1,100 people in US in 2015READ MORE: Police killed over 1,100 people in US in 2015
Amnesty International has long called on the US government to end the practice of solitary confinement. The human rights organization has also called for a new trial for Mumia. Amnesty International has long called on the US government to end the practice of solitary confinement. The human rights organization has also called for a new trial for Abu-Jamal.
READ MORE: Pennsylvania lawmakers sued over bill that silences prisoners READ MORE: Pennsylvania lawmakers sued over bill that silences prisoners 
5) The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4 5) The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4
Perhaps one of the greatest myths surrounding the holiday is the date itself. Perhaps one of the greatest misunderstandings surrounding the holiday is the date itself.
The Declaration of Independence wasn’t actually signed until what is believed to be August 2, and even then, a handful of delegates to the Second Continental Congress, including Robert Livingston and John Dickinson, never added their ‘John Hancocks.’ The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, but it took two weeks to write out the text on parchment. Most of the delegates signed the document on August 2. Five of the delegates signed it at a later date, and two – John Dickinson and Robert R. Livingston – never signed it at all.
The Liberty Bell, the iconic symbol of American Independence, never rang on July 4, despite the legend, nor did the excitement over this event cause the crack. Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, the iconic symbol of American Independence, never rang on July 4, nor did the excitement over this event cause it to crack. That legend comes from a fictional story called "Ring, Grandfather, Ring," written by George Lippard of Philadelphia in 1847.
Poor casting doomed the famous bell years before, first developing a crack in 1752 and becoming un-ring-able by 1846. Though schoolchildren still tap the bell gently 13 times every July 4, there is no proof that it actually rang at any point in July 1776.
Even though schoolchildren still tap the bell gently 13 times every July 4, it wasn’t until July 8, 1776 that it rang in honor of the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence. Poor casting doomed the famous bell years before; it first developed a crack in 1752 and had become mute by 1846.