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I hope you all enjoyed the Fourth of July last weekend. I know I did — copious amounts of grilled food were eaten, fireworks were observed, independence celebrated. But I was also in a reflective mood this year, and I got to thinking about the way we celebrate this holiday. Perhaps you’ll agree with me: in some respects, it’s downright strange.
Traditional fireworks release lots of nasty heavy metals
Yeah, they’re pretty, and symbolic, and they make nice loud gut-rumbling bangs in the night. Unfortunately, they also release heavy metals like barium, copper and potassium perchlorate into the environment, which can linger in the the air for days and have been linked to various cancers. In fact, much of the toxic fallout of these patriotic bombs bursting in air (and eventually collecting in the water and soil) is in violation of federal Clean Air Act standards. So what’s the alternative? Laser light shows are wowable, and don’t cause any pollution — but if you simply must blow things up, at least go green. Disney, which puts on hundreds of fireworks displays every year at its theme parks, is currently filing patents for “clean” fireworks technology; let’s hope they don’t keep it to themselves.
Fireworks can burn down your neighborhood
Most people don’t need to be told that a cherry bomb can take off a finger and a poorly-aimed roman candle can celebrate your eyeball right out of its socket. But even more serious disasters can and do happen, like this 2006 fireworks factory explosion in Denmark. It damaged 350 buildings, left one firefighter dead and six injured, and the resulting explosions sent shockwaves as powerful as a magnitude-2 earthquake through surrounding neighborhoods. 2,000 people living near the factory were evacuated from their homes.
What does it mean to stage a pretend war when we’re fighting two real ones?
I don’t have an answer to that question, but it did occur to me. Let us know what you think! Meanwhile, I like what author and former Floss writer John Green has to say on the subject.
Even ten million firecrackers blowing up at once don’t look that cool
It’s all been done before, the Guinness records have been set — so how do we top last year’s fireworks display? Usually, the answer is volume — both in terms of the number of fireworks set off and in decibels — as in this display of 10,500,000 firecrackers being ignited on a vertical string, at the 2006 fireworks convention in Appleton, Wisconsin:
If you don’t have quite that many fireworks at your disposal, however, there’s always the indisputable novelty value of doing something like shooting a thousand bottle rockets out of a broken toilet:
The 4th of July “ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”
-John Adams
Personally, the thing I find most bizarre is the consistent use of the 1812 Overture, written to celebrate the Russians defeat of Napoleon, in conjunction with our Independence Day fireworks displays.
Unfortunately, I am incapable of seeing John Green’s commentary regarding a pretend war. However, on the surface, I would say the use of fireworks is more a celebration of lights, derived from a time before night time illuminations were as common place as they are now, then it is a reenactment of war.
posted by Florida on 7-7-2008 at 9:25 am
I can see why John Green got himself so worked up. He lives in an imaginary world and proselytizes about it in a faux-intellectual style, speaking in a widely generic manner because his knowledge of the subjects of which he speaks is far lacking.
A firework is to a “bomb” as a match is to a California Redwood. A normal everyday BBQ is more dangerous than any firework an average person could purchase. The explosion in a single piston of your car is more powerful than any firework that a normal person could get their hands on. This is highly regulated by the ATF.
He reminds me of myself back when I was in high school. Pretending to be far superior to my peers, but inside consumed with loneliness and anxiety. Sitting at home, filming a party from afar to speak about how far beneath you it is was the saddest scene in that whole video.
As for the idea that a fireworks show is a pretend war, I’m at a complete loss for words. That level of cynicism has to be detrimental to your health.
posted by Jason Baxtor on 7-7-2008 at 2:58 pm
Not sure where Mr. Green question about staging a pretend war to celebrate Independence Day came from; has he not heard of the Revolutionary War? Celebrating in that manner was meant as a means of reminding us of what our forefathers went through to gain the independence we were celebrating. Apparently that plan isn’t working so well 200-plus years out.
Captcha says “He ought”; I can think of a few ways to apply that phrase in reference to Mr. Green, to help him better appreciate the holiday. ;o)
posted by Dave on 7-7-2008 at 5:55 pm
Dude, fire works are awesome. I love shooting them off, but I Didn’t know they were harmful to the environmen. They can be safe enough if you treat them right, 10 and 1/2 million fire crackers is unbelieveable. Fireworks are a good way to teach children safety I think, but how you raise your kids is your decision. I’ve known lots of dangerous things to happen with them. Last year some kid in my area decided to be stupid and blew 2 fingers off. He was making his own fireworks.
You should treat fireworks with respect so you will be safe. Have a safe and happy 4th
posted by Samiam on 7-7-2008 at 9:33 pm
Meh, I come from the school of thought that says the only people who should handle fireworks are the local fire departments. I’ve heard of too many people maiming them because of them.
Here’s a question: who here has seen July 4th celebrations outside of the US? I have a cousin who, years ago, attended a July 4th celebration in Germany. I get the feeling some may just use it as an excuse to set off more fireworks.
posted by Silva on 7-8-2008 at 1:54 am