I just came in the house from our front yard, watching unending rockets, mortars, and other assorted fireworks bursting above the homes in our division. It made for a great sight, and smoke was rather thick in the air in places. We didn’t have to spend any of our own money on fireworks, because the neighborhood adequately stocked up, it seems, for the big event this evening.
It was a wonderful display of red, green, white, gold, and occasionally blue, punctuated by booms of greater or lesser volume. The neighbors about a half block away, though, worried me some because although I couldn’t see them directly, several loud booms came from their area, but the sounds came from on the ground instead of in the air, as mortars and rockets normally do. The ambulance didn’t come, however, so I presume everything is OK, at least for now.
We also saw what we thought might have been a balloon sailing over the area. It was too dark to know for sure, and I don’t know if balloons can fly at night or not. But, that would be a great perch to observe fireworks from many square miles, and also hear many of the booms made by the fireworks on the ground.
Of course, living in Wichita, virtually all of what we saw was illegal. However, there was so much of it that the city really needs to get with it (as Sedgwick County did) and allow common fireworks. Yes, some will be irresponsible. Yes, some will mix alcohol with fireworks. Yes, there will be some injuries. But when is government going to quit being our nanny? It’s one thing to assure the safety of drugs, food, and automobiles. It’s quite another to ban fireworks because “something might happen”.
Hopefully, the Sedgwick County experiment this year will go well, and the City of Wichita will figure out that an unenforceable law (1) is of no use, (2) breeds disrespect for the law in general, and (3) encourages the populace to find ways around the law. Passing a law doesn’t make anyone safer. Passing a law that the people will obey, by and large, on their own, is the way to responsibility and safety.
2 comments:
Harvey County opened things up some on that this year. While many of the fireworks one sees are indeed quite nice, my personal preference is that there wouldn't be any, period. To me its wasteful and in most cases is something that is used for personal and local community reasons. But I know that's not the way most people think, so I guess I'm the odd man out.
WDK
The government can't be our nanny - and shouldn't try. People have to be responsible - what a novel idea. Glad you enjoyed "your" fireworks. We, also didn't purchase any of our own. We stood outside our home and watched the fireworks in Oakley, 10 miles to the west, and Grinnell, 10 miles to the east. We got to view the beauty of it without the noise (as you recall - I don't do well with loud noises). And while I kind of share the same view to some point with Wayne - that it is wasteful, I also view it as an homage to those who over 234 years fought publicly, in the battlefield, politically to ensure the freedoms we have. Those who faced treason charges if our independence had not been won. Maybe not everyone looks at fireworks that way - but I do. I also think a Roman candle here, a cone of sparkles there can do no harm. Moderation, as with several things, is the key. - kw
Post a Comment