Celebrate Independence Day!
Although our plea for independence was almost certainly mistaken (the taxes we protested so vehemently were meant to pay for the costly French and Indian Wars), we should celebrate our independence nonetheless. And what better way than to let off illegal fireworks? The fundamental American mindset is expressed in two simple words: buzz off. So long as I do not bother my neighbour, none of my neighbours may bother me. Fireworks are a great example: so long as I don’t set anyone else’s home on fire, I should be free to let of whatever I like.
This year, I bought some legal fireworks (living in the West, we have much more freedom than those poor cattle out East) to celebrate with my family: it was a lot of fun, much smoke & light & sparks & fire. Many other folks were setting off their own rockets and shells, and so far as I can tell everything came out alright. Back in the old days, Americans celebrated by firing guns and tossing dynamite into the streets: a few bottle rockets (do other states even have such things? Can one imagine a Londoner setting off a bottle rocket?) pale in comparison.
Now, I wouldn’t use them, because the danger of fire is non-negligible. But next year I plan to purchase blanks for my Beretta; one still needs to shoot upwards (blanks aren’t completely safe—there are still escaping gases), but they let one make a lot of noise safely.
