Question:
Not trying to sound like an old crab but where I live the houses are very close to each other. One of our neighbors had a whole crowd over and shot off hundreds of fireworks going in all directions. My husband and I felt like we had to babysit our house and cars -- always afraid of burning fireworks landing on my roof. There are ordinances here against them but they are never enforced. They openingly sell the fireworks everywhere and the purchaser has to "promise" not to set them off in this state. What a joke! Anyway, how do you feel about them?

Choices:
Like to watch them in public displays only
Everyone should be able to shoot them off wherever
They're an annoyance if not dangerous
Hate them -- wish it would rain every 4th!

 

Besides that they represent a very real danger,for people and critters it is psychologically disturbing (as opposed to just annoying) to have those particular noises forced on you....I have shared a home, at various times, with combat veterans from 3 different wars, and spoken to countless others about this, and they've all told me the same thing... the unpredictable nature of privately purchased fireworks going off at random is painfully and upsettingly reminescent of being under fire.... up until the first such conversation, I had thought myself alone in just hating that aspect of Independence Day.
But I love the public displays!

I too dislike the private use of fireworks. Over the years they have caused a great deal of damage and injury. They are illegal in most places in Alaska, but they are still sold openly. Many local TV stations run ads for them, but one station, KTUU in Anchorage, will not run the firework ads.

Dwight

My neighborhood sounds like Beirut under fire on the 4th. It's irritating. I am used to it but it really is a pain that my neighbors are so enthusiastic about banging noises. And that apparently they don't have to work because it goes on until 1:00 in the morning.

I don't like the noise. Not only were there too much noise but the neighborhood was fogged with smoke and I could even inhale the smoke while inside. On the 5th, the kids were still shooting them off and I had to get rude with them when a firework hit my porch swing. It's against city ordinance to shoot them after the 4th and I threatened to call the police.

From the sound of your question as well as the responses, perhaps you are living in the wrong country. Independence day, (July 4) is a celebration of the freedoms that we have in this country. We won our independence and hence the right to decide for ourselves what freedoms we would have here in the United States of America. Once again, our boys are dying for your right to express yourself. Are you or your spouse veterans?

TinyTammi, I think it is safe to assume that we are all aware of both the meaning of the date and of the fact that our servicemen and women are in harms way and one of those rights you mention is that of freedom of expression... There is nothing unpatriotic about not being pleased that a great many seem to feel that the 4th of July is justification for a week of disruptive and unsafe use of fireworks. No one has made any objection to celebrations of Independence Day, just to the unsafe, inconsiderate and often unlawful use of fireworks purchased by private individuals and set off in residential areas. As for veterans, did you read my post above? My friends who are combat veterans are quite unified in their dislike of random noise that is evocative of the battlefield.

I can't imagine that the police and fire fighters appreciate all the private fireworks, which often include the firing of weapons.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,