Some people have accused me of being un-American, and only partly in jest. I don’t mean to be; I really do love my country. But I think that celebrating its birthday with fireworks demeans it. The fire display depicts “bombs bursting in air” and other warfare, yet I like to think of America as a peaceful nation. The explosives create air pollution, and the casings, gunpowder, and other chemicals are not good for our American soil and water. Also, the cost is obscene. For example, North Carolina’s Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune cancelled theirs, in this era of tight budgets and sequestration, because it would cost around $25,000 PLUS another $75,000 for other expenses, like security, food, and staff overtime to host a mere 20,000 people.
OK, so call me the Grinch Who Would Steal Independence Day. I just feel that America is better than that.