I think symbols vary in what they mean to people. While noting the explosive and thus declarative nature of fireworks, the above has never occurred to me as their meaning on the 4th or at any other time.
And I dislike this guy in the picture telling me what they should mean to me. Who the fuck does he think he is, telling the rest of us what to think with that level of anger?
That's true. As I mentioned, I don't know who that guy is; he might be somebody with a political program I wouldn't endorse.
On the other hand, I originally posted it just because I -- like you -- had never thought of it that way before. And it's obviously right, to some degree: July 4, 1776 is celebrated because it was the start of a war, and the explosions of fireworks (the biggest of which are properly called "mortars," and are launched in much the same way as military mortars) is appropriate in part because it reminds us of the actual explosions that attended the fight for independence. We have the same thing in our national anthem from the War of 1812: "The rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air..."
(In Iraq one evening we came under attack by Iranian rockets while I was outside in an open field, and while I lay down I watched the counter-rocket machine guns shooting them out of the air. They came in on red plumes, and exploded in midair when the C-RAM would hit them. And I thought: "I've seen it! The rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air. Just like the song." It was the most patriotic moment of my life.)
So whoever he is, in this particular case he's got a good point. I don't know if he was angry about it; maybe he is. But it's worth remembering that this isn't a holiday celebrating a peaceful transition to independence. It celebrates the start of a war.
That’s it!
ReplyDeleteThat’s the attitude!
Greg
I think symbols vary in what they mean to people. While noting the explosive and thus declarative nature of fireworks, the above has never occurred to me as their meaning on the 4th or at any other time.
ReplyDeleteAnd I dislike this guy in the picture telling me what they should mean to me. Who the fuck does he think he is, telling the rest of us what to think with that level of anger?
That's true. As I mentioned, I don't know who that guy is; he might be somebody with a political program I wouldn't endorse.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I originally posted it just because I -- like you -- had never thought of it that way before. And it's obviously right, to some degree: July 4, 1776 is celebrated because it was the start of a war, and the explosions of fireworks (the biggest of which are properly called "mortars," and are launched in much the same way as military mortars) is appropriate in part because it reminds us of the actual explosions that attended the fight for independence. We have the same thing in our national anthem from the War of 1812: "The rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air..."
(In Iraq one evening we came under attack by Iranian rockets while I was outside in an open field, and while I lay down I watched the counter-rocket machine guns shooting them out of the air. They came in on red plumes, and exploded in midair when the C-RAM would hit them. And I thought: "I've seen it! The rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air. Just like the song." It was the most patriotic moment of my life.)
So whoever he is, in this particular case he's got a good point. I don't know if he was angry about it; maybe he is. But it's worth remembering that this isn't a holiday celebrating a peaceful transition to independence. It celebrates the start of a war.
The “…and not” is a problem. The Church of Satan LLC exists on that ground. Formally there’s no reason to support the one group against the other.
ReplyDelete