Comments on: 4 Reasons the 4th is Strange

By: Silva

Silva — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:54:22 +0000

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.

By: Samiam

Samiam — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:33:01 +0000

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

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:55:22 +0000

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)

By: Jason Baxtor

Jason Baxtor — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:58:39 +0000

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.

By: Florida

Florida — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:25:50 +0000

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.