Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Fireworks have long been an important part of our society, used to celebrate and, in a way, exemplify our freedom. The act of lighting fireworks is an apt metaphor for the American dream, and the essence of what makes us great. The ability to take a risk, in this case lighting the fuse, but to do so prudently, and for that risk being rewarded with a grand, brilliant display in the sky and to take pride in the fact that you caused it. And this is what we have been doing as a nation for the past 250 years. The founding fathers started a war with an imperial superpower, and then ended up assembling the worlds first democratic republic. Then the settlers 60 years later, moved west, facing the elements, the wildlife, and indian attacks along the way. And as a result, they gave America the size and resources it enjoys today. And since then, it has been the multitudes of immigrants who have given up their lives in their home countries to make a name for themselves here, that have made this country what it is today.
And yet this universal symbol of freedom has been outlawed in Lawrence. This is troubling because the government has once again decided that not only are people not responsible enough to take care of themselves, or know what is dangerous, but that the government needs to tell people what is dangerous. Both of these statements are incorrect, and offensively so.
nutgraf
The government is a kid that we aren’t watching as well as we should.
This effort, apparently carried out in the name of protecting the people, in that special way only the government can, is just another turn of the wheel on the medieval rack, to which the concept of individual responsibility seems to be strapped. But it’s not just the governments fault. The government is a kid that we aren’t watching as well as we should. We don’t want to be bothered with personally forming an opinion on fireworks, or car seatbelts, or trans-fats, so we pay someone to tell us what to think about these things.
I say, America needs to grow some balls. Yet when I have, on a few occasions actually, been witness to a group of drunken party attendees screaming about and eventually detonating fireworks in a front yard somewhere, I realize there’s hope for this nation, and it brings a tear to my eye. A little American tear.
White is a River City, Iowa sophomore in journalism and Japanese
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Comments
White: Gov. decides too much for society
Mr. White is a River City, IA sophomore, thus we may call this article 'sophomoric' on at least 2 levels.
I must agree with Linguo - settlers didn't give us resources, at least not the kind that count. Perhaps to the reading list Linguo is starting we might add Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations".....or at least, PJ O'Rourke's recent - and humorous - treatise on that classic.
Mr. White is spot-on accurate about one thing, though: Government bears more scrutiny. Actually, Mr. O'Rourke himself said it better -
"Giving money and power to Government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys"
White: Gov. decides too much for society
I love it when my neighbors in a glorious display of freedom light off bottle rockets that come whizzing by my head. I am especially proud to be an american as two stellar examples of humanity light roman candles and point them at one another.
I don't appreciate government imposition, but this is not the most solid ground you've chosen to stand on.
White: Gov. decides too much for society
While I agree with your seatbelts and trans-fat views...people playing with fireworks can harm other people. No one has ever lost an eye or had their home burned down because some dumbass wasn't wearing a seatbelt while sucking down some Wendy's.
White: Gov. decides too much for society
Also...maybe you should've protested?
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