Actually Dick, we need more fireworks!

“...I have now briefly expressed my view of the meaning and objects of that part of the Declaration of Independence which declares that “all men are created equal.”

Now let us hear Judge Douglas? view of the same subject, as I find it in the printed report of his late speech. Here it is:

“No man can vindicate the character, motives and conduct of the signers of the Declaration of Independence except upon the hypothesis that they referred to the white race alone, and not to the African, when they declared all men to have been created equal-that they were speaking of British subjects on this continent being equal to British subjects born and residing in Great Britain-that they were entitled to the same inalienable rights, and among them were enumerated life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration was adopted for the purpose of justifying the colonists in the eyes of the civilized world in withdrawing their allegiance from the British crown, and dissolving their connection with the mother country.”

My good friends, read that carefully over some leisure hour, and ponder well upon it-see what a mere wreck-mangled ruin-it makes of our once glorious Declaration.

“They were speaking of British subjects on this continent being equal to British subjects born and residing in Great Britain!” Why, according to this, not only negroes but white people outside of Great Britain and America are not spoken of in that instrument. The English, Irish and Scotch, along with white Americans, were included to be sure, but the French, Germans and other white people of the world are all gone to pot along with the Judge?s inferior races. I had thought the Declaration promised something better than the condition of British subjects; but no, it only meant that we should be equal to them in their own oppressed and unequal condition. According to that, it gave no promise that having kicked off the King and Lords of Great Britain, we should not at once be saddled with a King and Lords of our own.

I had thought the Declaration contemplated the progressive improvement in the condition of all men everywhere; but no, it merely “was adopted for the purpose of justifying the colonists in the eyes of the civilized world in withdrawing their allegiance from the British crown, and dissolving their connection with the mother country.” Why, that object having been effected some eighty years ago, the Declaration is of no practical use now-mere rubbish-old wadding left to rot on the battle-field after the victory is won.

I understand you are preparing to celebrate the “Fourth,” tomorrow week. What for? The doings of that day had no reference to the present; and quite half of you are not even descendants of those who were referred to at that day. But I suppose you will celebrate; and will even go so far as to read the Declaration. Suppose after you read it once in the old fashioned way, you read it once more with Judge Douglas? version. It will then run thus: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all British subjects who were on this continent eighty-one years ago, were created equal to all British subjects born and then residing in Great Britain.”

And now I appeal to all-to Democrats as well as others,-are you really willing that the Declaration shall be thus frittered away?-thus left no more at most, than an interesting memorial of the dead past? thus shorn of its vitality, and practical value; and left without the germ or even the suggestion of the individual rights of man in it?

Abraham Lincoln 1857

Actually, Todd, a careful and leisurely reading of your comment shows it to subtly be suggesting that the Declaration of Independence should be celebrated by the use of explosives - even in cities dense with houses.  Perhaps you missed that the folks in Bellingham are not trying to restrict fireworks in the rural areas of our county.  Only in the city where their use is harmful and dangerous to others.

Your entire comment is a quote of Lincoln - who was not writing about fireworks.  He was concerned with the Dred Scott decision by the US Supreme Court and was arguing about how to interpret the Declaration of Independence.  You seem to be making the mental jump that therefore “more fireworks” are encouraged by Lincoln’s concern with how the Declaration is understood. 

We can cherish and celebrate the Declaration of Independence without putting our children at risk.  No need to risk setting our houses on fire and terrifying our pets for days.  A few years ago one neighbor of mine - a supposedly mature 30 something - managed to set another neighbor’s pine tree on fire.  The tree was devoured - the fire department put out the fire before more things caught fire.  All of us know of crazy things that happen over the years due to careless use of fireworks. 

We do not need to use explosives and bombs in order to celebrate Christmas or Martin Luther King Day or other holidays.  This lack of day and night explosions does not indicate a lack of respect for the meaning of these special days.  We do enjoy the traditional public fireworks on the 4th of July.  This is a beautiful and enjoyable tradition.  Bottle rockets screaming into neighboring yards are not beautiful nor enjoyable.  Perhaps you could contribute funds for more public fireworks if you feel so strongly about them.

Lincoln was writing a year before he ran against Stephen Douglas for Senator from Illinois.  The “Judge Douglas” is Stephen.  Lincoln was warming up his campaign with attacks on Stephen a good year before the election.

Dick,

I don’t have an argument to the many points you make in your excellently reasoned article. I had a dog, for example (since deceased and pushing up an apple tree) who ran off every fourth of July petrified of fireworks. Sometimes it took days for us to find him. He, for one, would have supported your proposed ban wholeheartedly.

However, I have two nagging objections to a fireworks ban. The first is my inherent distrust of banning ANYTHING, especially with a law and enforcement and penalties. We’ve got enough nervous nellies minding everone else’s business and telling them what they can’t do without creating more prohibitions to spoil everyone’s fun.

The second is more amorphous and harder to describe - but I’ll start with a question - what would our world be like with no festivals or celebrations to mark the seasons and create a special place in time where the normal rules do not apply? I’d argue that we’ve almost, but not quite, lost most of our festivals, or at least made them hollow and disconnected from substance. There is something mysterious about a festival which is important to us humans on a level which industrial capitalism doesn’t recognize, let alone address. And so what ineffable effect on the celebration of the main festival of the religion of America, the glorious fourth, would the banning of fireworks have? Could a fireworks ban harm the fabric of the Republic?

For just as our religion has The Constitution as holy writ, the Founders as prophets, and Babe Ruth archangel of the sacred game, so too does it have the sacred flame of fireworks to mark and celebrate the sainted Declaration which begins “We the People…”, the wellspring of our freedom. Would you ban the rockets’ red glare?

David,

You will note that I spoke to the issue of consumer fireworks and not to the several, city sanctioned displays which last an hour or so and that are carried out by professionals with great precaution. 

Bans should, of course, be used judiciously and for good reasons such as those having to do with health and safety.  That is part of being in a community and is also a check on corporations that (not who) would peddle all sorts of dangerous items if not banned or otherwise controlled. 

So join me next 4th of July on Railroad Ave. where we will strip and run naked through the streets of downtown in joyous celebration of the Declaration of Independence.  Bring the wife, kids and grandma to enjoy the spectacle.

Dick,

I’m more concerned with prohibitions which restrict personal freedom - in this case, the freedom to celebrate freedom! When only officials of the government can celebrate with fireworks, haven’t we surrendered rather too much of our personal freedoms to authority?

I admit to being intrigued by your Naked Railroad Avenue run. I would add a celebratory element by having the runners let off roman candles and sparklers as they run. Fun for the whole family!

Correction: “too MANY of our personal freedoms” (not “too much”).
The eighth grade english teacher in my head respectfully requests an EDIT feature to this blog,.

Edit feature coming - real soon.  It will include a preview where you can proof read and correct plus a 15 minute period after you post when you can bring it back up and edit - or even delete. 

I’ll be posting more on all this - and more - in an article soon - this week.

And?

“...and quite half of you are not even decendants of those who were refered to that day…”

Abraham Granger, 4th Generation, marched to Boston at the Lexington alarm, 1775.
Daniel Granger, b. 25 Nov 1731; d. 31 December 1778 Joined his brothers regiment Captain Samuel’s 4th, 26 May 1777.
And they did not leave their children behind.
Daniel Granger jr. b. 18 August 1763, enlisted Third Reginment Massachusettes as a drummer served 6 months 5 days, died at 12 years old.

Now we need to babysit our children until their 25, what’s the problem when their on mommy and daddys health care plan?

Special Session of Congress, Abraham Lincoln; July 4th 1861?

Love those fireworks don’t we, after burning Atlanta to the Ground!
That Health Safety and Welfare Letter, from the democratic party.
White House September 3, 1864
My Dear General Sherman,
The national thanks are rendered by the resident to the Major General W. T. Sherman…

Page 1, Sherman’s Memoirs
“...who were at Boston before 1634…From Captain John Sherman are decended Roger Sherman the signer of the Declaration of Independance…

Legal or Illegal, lets ban a firecracker, and make legal the illegal acts of another Bellingham Politician going on around here for generations.

July 4th is partially a celebration of fireworks. The fireworks behind the musket-balls at Lexington and Concord.

Without gunpowder, there would have been no 4th of July.

The gunpowder for Americans at Lexington and Concord was provided to the American rebels there by a small group of fishermen from Marblehead. They imported it around the British blockade of Boston and then smuggled it through British lines in the middle of the night in casks labeled “Codfish”

The British were in hot pursuit of this gunpowder. They knew these damned fishermen had it, and it was the key to armed resistance to their rule. On the Sabbath the Royal Marines and Navy entered Marblehead harbor, and off loaded the Marines. A local rider was dispatched to go from church to church, and preachers cut their sermons short. The townspeople turned out fully armed and lined the road to Salem, where the gunpowder had fled.

Taunting the British they raised the bridge and sank all the boats and prevented the British from pursuing the gunpowder.

Men, women, and children turned out armed to the teeth taunting the British into a fight.
The British wisely looked at the mob and realized that a battle would have been suicidal and retreated back to their ship.

The shot heard round the world almost happened that day, but the British went looking for farmers to fight, and never entered Marblehead again. Marblehead continued to provide George’s army with gunpowder. Eventually these were the men who physically rowed Washington across the Delaware.

While most of Washington’s volunteer soldiers fought for eight months, the Marbleheaders fought for eight years, eventually going to sea and capturing hundreds of British supply ships, breaking the back of the British supply lines.

By the end of the Revolutionary War this fishing town of Marblehead has suffered the highest percentage loss of life in a war, of any community in our nation then, or since.

The fighting tradition continued, and a third of the sailors on the USS Constitution in the War of 1812, were from Marblehead; 42 battles without a single loss.

They were the first United States Marines; they were the first United States Navy. And when George came to complain about the Negroes in their unit; their commander Colonel Glover informed General Washington that the Negroes have gone to sea and to church with us, and they stay, or we all go home. Wisely George kept the Marblehead Mariners intact with their Negroes fighting as free men. Because of this, they were also United States first fully integrated military unit.

Not surprisingly, when Lincoln called for volunteers, the first two units reporting for duty in the whole nation were the Marblehead Mariners; Ready to fight for the Negroes freedom.

In the spirit of historical accuracy the writer mentions Elbridge Gerry of Gerrymandering fame. It is worth noting two important missing facts about Vide President Gerry. First, he too is from Marblehead. Second, he refused to sign the newly minted Constitution as it was missing a Bill of Rights.

The Rights of Citizens was left out. Freedom of Speech, freedom to worship, freedom from the King enforcing and making laws that were only enforced on the common folk, freedom to bear arms, were all missing from the original Constitution.

As one of the young Marblehead rowers in Washington?s boat crossing the Delaware wrote home to the perennial question of when he would return. He wrote; I will return home, when we have obtained freedom.

This may in some way shed light on my feisty brethren Todd’s genetic predisposition towards gunpowder.

Without gunpowder, there would be no freedom. And American style freedom at its root; is freedom from government.

And if the early Americans were predisposed to be docilely prostrate taking orders from politicians making rules for every waking minute of their daily lives, ?

  ? we would still be British.

Hey Doug K…..While it seems that fishermen saved the as yet to be United States, don’t get a big head cuz I once read how the Irish saved civilization.  😊

I don’t buy fireworks, I don’t really like fireworks and, from and environmental standpoint, they leave a pretty big footprint.  And yet, I can’t get behind a ban. 

Maybe it’s the patriot in me talking here but the whole “rockets red glare” line seems to resonate someplace deep inside.

To Michael and Doug,

Thanks for the history lesson.  😊

I am a Vietnam vet.  Served in the Mekong Delta.  I am sympathetic to those who might have post traumatic stress.  I vividly remember how I reacted for years to noise after I got back in 1969.  Luckily, I was not a front line soldier but still had to put up with the mortars, rockets and distant B-52 strikes that hurt ones ears.  The thought of condemning the combat vets in Bellingham, who might still be suffering from their experiences in war, to several weeks of frazzled nerves, flashbacks and who knows what else, is anathema to me.  All that just so a few folks can get their jollies.  No thanks.

If the time period were indeed just a few hours on the 4th of Jul and the 1st of Jan we would not be having this discussion.  But we all know too well that is not the case.

Enforce the existing and current ordinances and, like Dick says, we wouldn’t have to have this discussion.

I find it odd that no comment has spoken to the issues I raised about the effect upon the community as a whole.  It seems as if there is no concern over humans and animals.  It is about patriotism (whatever that is with respect to fireworks) and individual rights.  No responsibilities toward comity.  It is about “me” and not us. 

The advantage of a ban over “enforecment of current codes” is that the current code is unworkable.  It is weak and, at times, unclear.  A ban is definitive and absolute.  Mere possession of fireworks would be an offense.  No tolerance.  It may take time to garner total compliance but as that much larger city, Spokane,has shown, it can be done.

Hey Dick,

You provided fire and injury stats from Spokane, but it is quite a bit drier over there.  Do you have the numbers for Bellingham?

While I agree that fireworks are disturbing and potentially dangerous, it just seems impractical to completely curtail the explosive element of the celebrations on New Years and the Fourth. I can’t imagine even asking cops to run around, entering properties to interdict these exuberant celebrations and convey that they won’t allow us to observe our independence.

Wouldn’t it be better to designate a couple areas where neighborhoods could go to ignite their contraband?  At such locations, police and EMS could be on standby to supervise and protect. Better regulation may be more workable than a ban.

As for me,if I were to prioritize changes -in terms of prohibitions- I’d like to see here in Bellingham, fireworks would be well down the list. Above fireworks, certainly, would be pesticides in the watershed. If we’re going to be rooting around in garages (and COB facilities) for contraband let’s do it for poisons which have already been found in our drinking water.
  Next I’d fix that sidewalk by the 7/11 on Alabama and Yew so the less than affluent kids could get to Roosevelt school safely. The city’s getting ready to make big money at that school zone…don’t you think they could fix the sidewalk so the kids wouldn’t have to walk onto Yew or the parking lot to avoid a big and deep poisoned pond where the sunken sidewalk is? I was eastbound on Alabama one time and witnessed a student almost get run over. The only thing that saved him was that the driver was going slowly due to the school zone was in effect…so I’m all about that school zone and our duty to provide safe passage to our schools. Go down there today…it’s a big filthy pond! Wouldn’t happen in a richer neighborhood.
  While I’m not big on fireworks- never buy them myself- I can see one possible positive…..we can experience just a glimmer of what too many people in this World are having to endure (oftentimes by the US). Fireworks are violent, undeniably. Perhaps having a few fireworks in Bham will spur us on to working for Peace.

Tip,

There is no one entity that keeps aggregated stats for the city on injuries, fires, noise complaints, water pollution or any other aspect of consumer fireworks.  Evidently the City of Spokane is more sophisticated in gathering its data.  The potential for injuries and fires remains.  The problems associated with fireworks, to include the categories of people and animals I mentioned in my article, is of as much importance as the safety issue and affects all people in Bellingham.

I am amazed that you think that we cannot implement a program in Bellingham of the sort that was successfully implemented in Spokane.  One would think then that all of Bellingham is inept. Last I looked, the Spokane did not turn into a police state - so stop the fear mongering.

The continued attempt to connect fireworks to a successful celebration of the 4th of Jul or the New Year is nonsensical - you can always go to the public displays or watch the national celebration on the Washington, DC mall on TV.

Bill,

Fireworks for peace?  Reminds me of screwing for virginity.

Stop “fearmongering” over fears of a police state?  I was actually concerned about the safety of the officers.  There is a lot of drinking that goes along with those celebrations, and drunken revelers are notoriously prone to violence.  Do you think we should prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages, too?  Maybe just on the 4th, eh?

Regulation works better than prohibition.  Proven fact.

Tip,
Fear Mongering?
From the ship owner from Marblehead Mass, a Fireworks expert Elbridge Gerry?
Best Friend of Samuel Adams, Tea Perty expert?
Signer of the Declaration of Independance, I’m sure he’d prefer a 4th ban too?Oh let us not forget lead prosecutor, Boston Massacare, and Phildelphia Lawyer?
“For God sakes be careful who are the men,” Rufus King admonished to Gerry Class of 76, in the ?
The hothead’s from Massachuettes, who staated the whole thing called America?

Elbridge Gerry(R), the businessman “The evils of experiance, flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not want virtue, but are the dupes of prentended patriotism.”

“Even if we differ in priincipal more than I believe we do. you and I know too well the texture of the human mind, & the slipperiness of human reason. to consider differences of opinion otherwise of differences of form or feature. Intergrity of views more than their soundnedd, is the basis of esteem.”
Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry

“Nothing but good can result from an exchange of information and opinions between those who circunstances and morals admit no doubt of the intregrity of their views”
Jefferson to Gerry Phildelphia 1797

Long Live the 4th of July, Elbridge Gerry!

And by the Way?

Lets Gerrynmander a few districts!

How about 6 seperate districts for 6 County Councilmen?

We could eleminate those toxic mixing zones!

The HotHeads include one from Marblehead!

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/index.htm

Whoops?

Tip,

I inferred from your statement that you feared police poking about in peoples’ homes.

You said “I can?t imagine even asking cops to run around, entering properties to interdict these exuberant celebrations and convey that they won?t allow us to observe our independence.” 

This statement is, at best, ambiguous.  I am glad that you have clarified your thought.

Dick, I was attempting to respond to a fairly serious charge of having “no responsibilities toward comity. It is about “me” and not us”. I’m assuming that we’re all here in good faith. I would urge all to provide reasoned and considered posts and dispense with anything else.

Bill,

And I do my best to respond in good faith and, at times, with humor, however biting it may be.

I really do not think that recreation of a battlefield within the city limits will do much at all to spur people to peace, especially when they demonstrate little concern for their immediate neighbors by blowing off mini-bombs for weeks at a time in the first place.

I do believe that there are various interpretations as to priorities but that assumes that people are knowledgeable enough to make an informed decision. I have written about fireworks. Perhaps you might write about pesticides for NWCitizen so that at the time the topic arises, citizens here can choose between fireworks and pesticides or the pond or the sidewalk.

If I am misinterpreting your comments, I would like to know.

Dick, I’ve lived in Silver Beach since 1989 and fireworks have never been a problem for me here. For one big thing, I’m never here around the 4th. Where I’m at some one shoots off out of date CG flares on the 4th off their boat, at times. On New Year’s eve here in Bham, one might hear a few. So it’s an issue that, for the most part, slides by me. If a neighbor was blowing off fireworks out of season, I’d be willing to wager that they’d hear from me, neighbor to neighbor. I’ve not been aware prior to your essay that fireworks have been a problem here in Bham.
    My youngest daughter skated for a Canadian synchronized ice skating team for 8 years prior to just recently going on to other things. This necessitated many trips back and forth across the border. Those crossings back into the US, for two years, were very unpleasant. There was never any kind of explanation available to us. On two occasions my teen daughters and I were handcuffed and guns were drawn. I was told by border supervisors that they weren’t able to explain what was setting off the unwarranted alarms….it was all coming from D.C., and there was no fine tuning allowed from Blaine. Being handcuffed and thrown into an isolation cell, for zero legitimate reasons, helped me emphasize, I think, with those poor bastards at Guantanamo. That’s what I meant by my fireworks for Peace comment. As a Vietnam vet I’m sure you’re aware that violence is much worse than it’s cracked up to be. Most Bellinghamsters, I’ll venture a guess and be grateful for, have never witnessed actual violence Perhaps, and I know it’s a way stretch, if one is dredging for reasons to support fireworks, educating the public as to the horror of violence could be offered up.
    I’ve written fairly lengthy letters to the editor of the Whatcom Watch, which are still available online about what I’ve been seeing at Bloedel Donovan the last couple of Springs, one of which I read to our city council on March 23, 2009. I wrote another one, much shorter and recently, for the Herald. It might still be available online. “Concerned about pesticide use in parks”.
    Dick, I appreciate your civic mindedness.

Bill,

Thanks.  I wager that we are probably closer together on this topic than meets the eye.  Unfortunately, the written word often gets in the way.

I came about being against consumer fireworks gradually.  When I first arrived in Bellingham, I stood around while neighbors set off fireworks in the alley behind my home. I even tolerated the mess that was created and not cleaned up.  Then the mess started coming in my yard and hot embers landing in the bark mulch and firework remnants on my roof.  I asked folks to move the party elsewhere.  Then a neighbor who had just moved here from Michigan was hit in the face by flying debris from some sort of exploding device. I stopped attending these events which, by the way, were chuck full of children.

Then Clay Butler (Freedom from Fireworks) came along to a Samish Neighborhood meeting to ask support for a ban.  I heard his plea and decided to support him, especially when I learned of the “hidden” effects on people and animals, the effects that do not get reported to the fire department or the police but affect the health and safety of the community.

Now I am painted as the bad guy by some.  A spoil sport. Unpatriotic.  A meddler.  A killjoy.  And probably a lefty-pinko.  😊

Still, this must stop.

Dick, A big part of what you’re telling me is that I’ve gotta keep fishing. By going to Ak Spring to Fall I’ll be dodging the Lake Lice (“personal watercraft”) AND tons of artillery around the 4th. Problem is that the jetboat bowpickers in Ak are getting louder by serious orders of magnitude yearly. We’re talkin’ decibels. Where do we go next? Head for the mountains? Spelunking?
    I think my personal ideal would be strictly observed and universally and enthusiastically embraced 9 PM to midnight fireworks time on the 4th and a 9PM to 1 AM fireworks time on New Years. The brevity and the community wide discipline of these hours I’d find appealing. I’d like very much to think that we, as a community, could come together at least as to how we are going to celebrate our country’s birth. How about it?

Bill,

Don’t get me started on those boats.

Your proposal for the limited hour consumer fireworks ordinance is exactly what we have now but with a change in hours.  From whence will come the community discipline to stick to any hours whatsoever since nobody display such discipline at present?

Dick, The fireworks question might well be within an appropriate scope of our Bham neighborhood associations. While an outright and total ban would probably have a hard time getting legs….a 7 hour a year total celebration might well fly. If Bellinghamsters all over town were part of the process and buying into a plan one might see a positive ethic evolve concerning fireworks.
    If we were back in the days when we had one newspaper andn two or three AM radio stations for our media it might be easier. You may have noticed that society has become more fragmented.

Sadly, yes.

But Dick,

The local news, across the Nation?

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/06/us/in-puget-sound-a-county-s-prohibition-on-jet-skis-is-overruled.html

And, those pesky drunken sailors, United States v. Locke, right here in the 4th Corner, for confused Attorney Generals and Governors, who’ve now morphed into Obama’s Commerce Secretary and a Washington State Governor? State 0, U.S. 9.

That 4th of July, and our 1st Congress, with President Washington, always confuse em in Washington.

“..The State of Washington has enacted legislation in an area where the federal interest has been manifest since the beginning of our Republic and is now well established. The authority of Congress to regulate interstate navigation, without embarrassment from intervention of the separate States and resulting difficulties with foreign nations, was cited in the Federalist Papers as one of the reasons for adopting the Constitution. E.g., The Federalist Nos. 44, 12, 64. In 1789, the First Congress enacted a law by which vessels with a federal certificate were entitled to ?the benefits granted by any law of the United States.? Act of Sept. 1, 1789, ch. 11, ?1, 1 Stat. 55. The importance of maritime trade and the emergence of maritime transport by steamship resulted in further federal licensing requirements enacted to promote trade and to enhance the safety of crew members and passengers. See Act of July 7, 1838, ch. 191, 5 Stat. 304; Act of Mar. 3, 1843, ch. 94, 5 Stat. 626. In 1871, Congress enacted a comprehensive scheme of regulation for steam powered vessels, including provisions for licensing captains, chief mates, engineers, and pilots. Act of Feb. 28, 1871, ch. 100, 16 Stat. 440.