Can you smell that?
That, my friends, is the smell of sulfur. The smell that enters our nostrils upon watching a fireworks display might be the same smell as rotting eggs, but we love it because it goes with watching rockets explode in the sky.
Boom! Crackle Crackle! EXPLOSION!
I am rather fond of this holiday. I'm kind of disappointed because we often seem to forget what the holiday commemorates. Independence Day celebrates our ... independence from people that would tax our tea at ridiculous rates, and make us all talk in sophisticated accents.
Curse you, Britain.
I still feel like the fourth holds the same patriotic fervor that it had a long time ago, I just sometimes wonder if we understand what we are being patriotic about. Sure, we wave our red-white-and-blues around like crazy and we shout "AMERICA!" into the smoke-ridden atmosphere (we really do like fireworks) but what are we celebrating, really?
George Washington: the talented military leader, our first president, and kind of vain wig-wearing guy. Patriots running across the battlefield for the sake of their freedom. Apple pie. People throwing barrels off of ships in the dead of night. Thomas Paine making a really big deal out of the whole "independence thing". Apple Pie. A room full of delegates arguing on how this new country should be formed. The signing of the Declaration of Independence. APPLE PIE. Our people stretching forth to create a new civilization based on freedom for all.
These are all what scream "American" to me. Not going out to watch fireworks, not drinking obscene amounts of beer and eating cute little candies. People lay down their lives for us so that we could do all of these things. I believe we should all do a little thank you for the people who have worked so hard to get this far. Before you go out and enjoy your fireworks (I won't be doing so because the grass has dried to kindle and any spark of fire would cause the entire world to spontaneously combust.) take a moment and think about what a great country you live in. This applies even if you aren't American, of course. Take a moment to realize how blessed you were that someone brave and valiant risked his life in order to sustain the ideals that we hold today.
They deserve to be noticed.
Now go, leave this place! Drink your fancy, non-high-taxed ice tea! Bask in the freedom that someone has worked to give you! Be a true patriot! Talk to your friends about all of the things we have accomplished as a country. May we always be one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Don't set anything on fire,
Esther
Showing posts with label Fireworks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fireworks. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Happy 50th!!
Okay, so I don't know anybody whose anniversary is today, but this is our 50th blog post! Super exciting, I know. =) So let's celebrate for a moment (you can mute the music if you want to, it is a bit of an older, odd sound).
Now that you have celebrated with us for all of one minute and fifty-five seconds, it's time to keep going with this post. I've decided that, in celebration, I should do a "fun" post. This will probably be a first for me, and I am not entirely sure as to how to go about doing it. I think that I am going to tell you a few rather random things to kick it off. So we will see how this goes....
Did you know that, in England (back in the 1800s), suicide attempts were a crime - one that, if discovered, were punishable by death? To me, this just seems a bit ironic and oxymoron-ish.
In Florida, it is illegal to play Dominoes on Sunday. Just...weird.
You must pay a fine of $600 in Thailand if you’re caught throwing away chewed bubble gum on the sidewalk. Maybe I'm off a bit here, but that just seems really extreme....
It is illegal to die in the Italian village of Falciano del Massico, as issued by the mayor (tongue-in-cheek). I really don't understand how you can determine where someone will die...I just don't get it.
In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM. Odd. That's all I can say about it.
In Singapore, bungee jumping is illegal. It's gotta be fun right? I've never done it, but it sounds like fun - if you are the adventuresome type. I sure hope that there was a reason behind this other than someone was just bored.
In the UK, no cows may be driven down the roadway between 10 AM and 7 PM unless there is prior approval from the Commissioner of Police. Are there really that many cows in the UK?
In Cambodia, water guns may not be used in New Year’s celebrations. I mean, come on? Who doesn't love a good water gun fight?
In Australia, it is illegal to roam the streets wearing black clothes, felt shoes and black shoe polish on your face as these items are the tools of a cat burglar. How many cat burglars can there be?
In Indiana, it is illegal to sniff glue. I can understand the reasoning behind this, but it still sounds odd.
In Wyoming, using a firearm to fish is strictly forbidden. I 'm completely lost on this one. Just...how?
Okay, well, I was just going to kick off this post with these random laws, but I have to go watch some fireworks soon, so I guess that it will end the post as well. If you know the explanation for any of these laws, I would love to hear it. Also, don't worry (for those of you that were), I will be back to my "normal" self next time.
Many laws were found at www.dumblaws.com. Please note that some of these may not still be in effect.
Blessings,
Hannah
P.S. My friend asked me to guest post over at her blog. The post that she asked me to do was the same post that I most recently wrote: To Surrender a Precious Dream. Her heart is very similar to mine in regards to this issue, and she wanted it to help her kick off her blog, as the message of the post is really the heart behind her blog. She is quite new to the blogging community, and would love for you to stop by and say "hello!"
Now that you have celebrated with us for all of one minute and fifty-five seconds, it's time to keep going with this post. I've decided that, in celebration, I should do a "fun" post. This will probably be a first for me, and I am not entirely sure as to how to go about doing it. I think that I am going to tell you a few rather random things to kick it off. So we will see how this goes....
Did you know that, in England (back in the 1800s), suicide attempts were a crime - one that, if discovered, were punishable by death? To me, this just seems a bit ironic and oxymoron-ish.
In Florida, it is illegal to play Dominoes on Sunday. Just...weird.
You must pay a fine of $600 in Thailand if you’re caught throwing away chewed bubble gum on the sidewalk. Maybe I'm off a bit here, but that just seems really extreme....
It is illegal to die in the Italian village of Falciano del Massico, as issued by the mayor (tongue-in-cheek). I really don't understand how you can determine where someone will die...I just don't get it.
In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM. Odd. That's all I can say about it.
In Singapore, bungee jumping is illegal. It's gotta be fun right? I've never done it, but it sounds like fun - if you are the adventuresome type. I sure hope that there was a reason behind this other than someone was just bored.
In the UK, no cows may be driven down the roadway between 10 AM and 7 PM unless there is prior approval from the Commissioner of Police. Are there really that many cows in the UK?
In Cambodia, water guns may not be used in New Year’s celebrations. I mean, come on? Who doesn't love a good water gun fight?
In Australia, it is illegal to roam the streets wearing black clothes, felt shoes and black shoe polish on your face as these items are the tools of a cat burglar. How many cat burglars can there be?
In Indiana, it is illegal to sniff glue. I can understand the reasoning behind this, but it still sounds odd.
In Wyoming, using a firearm to fish is strictly forbidden. I 'm completely lost on this one. Just...how?
Okay, well, I was just going to kick off this post with these random laws, but I have to go watch some fireworks soon, so I guess that it will end the post as well. If you know the explanation for any of these laws, I would love to hear it. Also, don't worry (for those of you that were), I will be back to my "normal" self next time.
Many laws were found at www.dumblaws.com. Please note that some of these may not still be in effect.
Blessings,
Hannah
P.S. My friend asked me to guest post over at her blog. The post that she asked me to do was the same post that I most recently wrote: To Surrender a Precious Dream. Her heart is very similar to mine in regards to this issue, and she wanted it to help her kick off her blog, as the message of the post is really the heart behind her blog. She is quite new to the blogging community, and would love for you to stop by and say "hello!"
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