Independence Day

Well, it’s well after Independence Day, but I still have a thought that has been on my mind. The USA was built on some basic freedoms that have “matured” into various practices. The fact that people may have their own means of celebrating is a major part of what this country represents. Having said all of that, I am a bit confused.

I have been fortunate enough to be in various parts of the USA during the Fourth of July celebration. Each locale has it’s own way of celebrating. In my hometown, there is a parade, a children’s presentation, a picnic, games… your basic wholesome family fun. When I lived in a larger city in Michigan, the local people would shoot their guns in the air… a twisted version of fireworks. When I lived in Colorado, people did what they did everyday… drank a couple of beers at the top of a mountain. Now that I live in the Chicagoland region, I have become accustomed to a new tradition… crossing into Indiana to purchase fireworks, that are otherwise illegal in Illinois, and shooting them off at all hours of the night from one’s backyard.

I, personally, don’t care if people decide to obtain fireworks that the government has forbidden. I get upset when they decide to fire them off into my backyard. When asked if they wouldn’t mind stopping, or pointing them in a different direction, they become louder, closer and more frequent. When one of them hit the garage and began to smolder, I called the police to make them stop. They stopped… long enough to egg my car! Lovely.

America exemplifies freedom within reason. To behave in a way that does not infringe on someone else’s right to behave… of course there are exceptions to this, but as a whole you get the idea. We have the freedom to celebrate the birth of our country in a number of ways. We are a country that believes in having a good time so long as no one gets hurt. It’s a shame when the perspective gets lost and people overstep their boundaries.

Happy (belated) Birthday, America!