In Michigan, the law recently changed to allow airborne, large fireworks for consumer use along with increasing the amount of days they could be used. They can now be fired off the day before, on, and after 10 particular holidays from 8AM to midnight.
The 4th of July evening was incredible. We live in the suburbs and could hear them in all directions at all distances well into the 2AM hour. It was obnoxious. I just got to thinking about how we're all celebrating our independence by firing off Chinese-made explosives that symbolize the "rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air" killing everyone below during the struggle for independence.
Then I thought of the people dying for our freedom and the likely PTSD flareups some of them must be suffering having to listen to all of this.
Then I thought of all the people blowing their hands off that night.
Then I thought of all the mortar shells I'd be picking out of my yard, and the piles of cardboard garbage that (still two days later) is strewn down the street by my neighbors firing them off.
Thoughts?
I have PTSD. I was mortared and rocketed a lot as was anyone who was deployed to Afghanistan. It doesn't bother me at all, and I think it's one of the stereotypes of PTSD that non-vets have where they assume that what bothers you is loud noises. It's not. It's as if people think that because you went to war that you can no longer tell the differences between fireworks and mortars. In Missouri where my grandmother lives we can shoot fireworks from June 23rd to July 10th or something along those lines. It's that time of year where you hear pops and whistles. It's just part of the sound of summer. I shot off fireworks with my son, and we had fun. Most injuries are men above the age of 25. There are only 230 injuries every year which means you run literally less than a one in a million shot of injuring yourself even though 45% of Americans participate in fireworks displays every year and it's a billion dollar industry. So I wouldn't worry too much about hands being blown off. Simple and obvious safety precautions will eliminate most injuries and close calls. For example, my son is not allowed to use a match or lighter. He uses a punk which is a sawdust stick that has a cherry on the end of it to light fuses. Even if he dropped it, it would be unlikely to start a fire. Even if it did, we use fireworks near a hose and we don't shoot them in dry areas. Seems obvious right? The paper is pretty much gone in a week after a rain since it's all made to disintegrate. If your neighbors didn't pick up their garbage that's on them, but it's also something that should be expected of someone using fireworks. That's like changing your oil in the driveway and just pouring it down the street. There are privileges and responsibilities in everything.
While I did not serve, I have a few friends who did, in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Both lost friends, both got mortared, both were in vehicles that hit IEDs, both have PTSD. They don't mind fireworks, because it's expected. The only thing that will send them into a panic attack is an unexpected explosion/bang/sound. Is that true for you as well? I'm just curious if that makes more sense and more people experience that. They don't give a shit about fireworks and even light them off themselves. They just don't the random ones going off when it's like a random summer night and aren't expecting it.I was mortared and rocketed a lot as was anyone who was deployed to Afghanistan. It doesn't bother me at all, and I think it's one of the stereotypes of PTSD that non-vets have where they assume that what bothers you is loud noises.
First off, and absolutely most importantly, excellent user name. I was in the Air Force and though I did take fire during an air drop my PTSD is not related. I had friends (three now) who died during their service, but I was lucky. I was an Afghan (Pashto) linguist aboard the AC-130U, MC-130W (now AC-130W), U28, and M28. My PTSD comes from killing. Being in the Air Force, we don't kill one at a time, and I find that harder. You don't get to look in your enemies' eyes, and you don't get to feel as if they are targeting you and that you are defending yourself. You kill because they are hurting people you are there to protect, and you watch it in HD on imagery screens. I have directly caused the deaths of at least one thousand people, but no Americans ever died while I flew overhead. I was unique within my unit for that, and so I'll live with my ghosts knowing that I did what I could for them at the expense of others. There is a noise that I can't stand and that does bother me, and that's crying children, but usually I can just leave before it gets to be too much. If I stay too long, I don't function anymore. It's not panic. It's a rushing sound in my head that reduces my vision into a point. I used to drink to fall asleep because I would have panic attacks every night where it felt like my heart was traveling around an inch at a beat. I tried not to get drunk because I knew what I was doing was not a solution, but I'll be damned if booze isn't the best medicine sometimes. I don't like crowds, and I don't have a lot of patience or compassion sometimes. I don't know what PTSD is for everyone, but that's what it is for me. There is a very very unique thing about PTSD though. Imagine that deep within yourself is a fire. Fires can warm you when it's cold, they can cook your food, they can scare away the night, and they can burn your fucking house down and kill you. That fire is unlit within everyone until they need to light it. People talk about how cool and callous military professionals are, and how they function at times when others simply cannot. How the new guy gets killed instantly when the old guys just knew to lower their heads. They can be robotic because they've lit that fire. They can act with instinct and not let thought get in the way. They can do this because one day their life had become so cold and terrifying that they needed to light that fire. They needed it to scare away something in the night so that they could live through it. PTSD is the fire still lit when you don't need it to burn any longer. Because when the fire was lit, it scared away other things too; things like compassion and patience. Coming back to the real world is called re-deployment. It's a brand new fight.
Great comment, honestly. I've never really heard it from an Air Force perspective outside of documentaries on TV and whatnot. All my friends that I spoke of were Army. Most of the work was already done by the Air Force or Army helicopter boys before they arrived on any front, but there was still the sneak attacks, snipers, and IEDs they had to deal with. And that's the most poignant part of your comment. Like I said, never really thought about it from an Air Force perspective. It's definitely different for everyone. Interesting to here it from that angle. You don't hear that one too often. I don't know what PTSD is for everyone, but that's what it is for me.
Thanks for your input on PTSD. There's a dollop of proof for the fact I make assumptions. I'm sure there are some folks it bothers, but perhaps fewer than I thought! I guess at the age of 35 I'm turning into a cranky old man. I'm not bothered that I'm getting cranky, because at least I know how I want things to be. I do however need to investigate the why of both sides to be fair. I'm sure there are some things I do or don't do that make other folks freak out. Thanks again!
Keep in mind my views are very localized....everything's drier than an old stick out here. We're on fire alert most of the warm months. You can only buy the "safe and sane" ones in the city (i.e. fountains that stay on the ground) but you can drive 10 minutes to the reservation and get the illegal stuff which is what everybody does. Our neighbor's backyard got burnt pretty bad one year. I'm always afraid a dud is going to land in any of the piles of dried brush and tumbleweeds and set off something bad. And then there's dipshits down the street who were so drunk they kicked the mortar over and shot three huge shells down the street and past my neighbor's three year old son (it exploded maybe 200 feet from him). I get the patriotism and blowing stuff up because Murica but the number of people who can't use them responsibly and who use them regardless of the danger it's causing are what worry me. I'd be just as happy if we kept it to public displays around here. Green and soggy places can do what they want. Now if you'll excuse me I think I need to go yell at some whippersnappers to get off my lawn.
I think states banning fireworks are missing an important source of revenue. I live in Iowa, where fireworks are still illegal. At major holidays, (and pretty much in general) this doesn't stop fireworks from being used. My brothers just drive south into Missouri to buy them, and Iowa misses out on the tax revenue. Now, there's currently a bill in the Iowa house to legalize them. Making fireworks illegal hasn't solved any safety issues. But then again, explosives have never been heralded for their safety.
Our state did it for revenue. Weird thing was in southwest Michigan, all the firework places were across the state line in Indiana. People'd drive down there for their mortars and big boomers. (the ground-based ones were legal here) But over on the southeast side of the state, all the firework stores were on the Michigan side because (I think) ALL fireworks were banned in Ohio. I guess the cost of a few lives and some hospital visits, and a few noise complaint calls to the non emergency police numbers doesn't eat as much as the revenue makes. It's just a really obnoxious way for the states to make money--mostly because people don't stick to the hours and enforcement is next to impossible. If the state wanted money, station some cops around neighborhoods at 11:50 and start handing out the $500 dollar tickets at 12:01.
You'd think they'd be able to make just as much in taxes as they would from expensive fines and tickets. I think the more important thing is for fireworks themselves to be closely regulated. While you can't prevent people from being idiots, maybe some people could be saved from harm if inexpensive and potentially more defective fireworks were removed from the equation. Also, props to you on the relevant username.
I'm probably not being very PC or in line with the thought of younger millennials (i'm 28), but I think people should certainly be able to shoot off fireworks for celebration. The part about it being symbolic of war is bothersome, but in the modern age for most of us it's a quaint retrospective on our war for independence literally hundreds of years ago. That isn't to say anything about current conflicts or people with PTSD (my dad said fireworks remind him of mortars in vietnam which makes me very sad). As for the environmental impact, it's probably no worse than any big holiday. We can't have that argument without talking about all the plastic cups and decorations from St. Patrick's day or Cinco de Mayo. The dangers of people injuring themselves are on the people. We don't ban cars because people drive like idiots, we regulate them. Just like we should regulate fireworks to certain days and we don't sell fireworks to young people. I think if we're talking about it being offensive to shoot off rockets in memory of a military victory from hundreds of years ago--that's just reaching a little too far. I think it's absurd to say we should ban them all together. There are plenty of holidays where fireworks can be used in a celebratory manner that has nothing to do with representing military conflict.
There is the issue of fireworks setting off fires in the more flammable of towns (supposedly an issue where I live). But past that, I agree with most of what you said.The dangers of people injuring themselves are on the people. We don't ban cars because people drive like idiots, we regulate them. Just like we should regulate fireworks to certain days and we don't sell fireworks to young people.
My wife had to wake up at 4:30 the next day to open the cafe she helps manage. The day after sucked for her. We're both old and cranky beyond our years. (we're 35ish)
I don't really care about it either way. As an EMT, the fourth of July weekend is always busy with people that have hurt themselves using fireworks. They're illegal for personal use here in NJ so that's probably part of the reason I don't have too much of an opinion on them.
They are a pain in the ass. They are destructive by nature. But I have lived in countries where there were fireworks set off every morning for birthdays, businesses, anniversaries, et cetera. So once a year (and New Year's?) ... twice a year isn't too bad. But they are dangerous. And if you live in a drought stricken area it is fearful. But this country is largely based on firearms, slave labor, intoxicants, and freedom to "here hold my beer".
In Michigan, we've had way below normal temperatures, but in the west, it must be a nightmare with the heat and the lack of rain. Yikes.
I don't have an issue with fireworks, except that people don't clean up their mess. As for those with PTSD, it sucks that they're suffering from mental anguish, but if we force our society to cater to every single person's problems, then nobody is going to be able to do anything. Hopefully, some of those with PTSD realized that they needed help and are seeking it today. People blowing their hands off are usually stupid people. Accidents happen via crappy manufacturing, but let's be honest, most of these guys are injuring themselves because they're trying to goof off while using explosives. I do get confused about people shooting fireworks off the day(s) before, though. There's a large hispanic population around me and these folks barely need half an excuse to celebrate. The last week has been fireworks and parties every night. It's pretty hilarious, but confusing at the same time.
A lot of Hispanic cultures celebrate American holidays as a way to integrate into the culture here. I think that's really rad. My friend Carla actually made the front page of MTV.com for a 4th of July music video a couple of years ago. It highlighted Colombian families celebrating the 4th in a humorous, fun way.
Awesome! More power to them. Every week, there's a huge party down at the local car shop. They're just packed in there, but I never have seen the cops called or seen anyone trash anything in the neighborhood. Can't even hear them half the time and I'm about 200 yards away. Really nice folks just looking to have a good time.
Here is her YouTube channel. The 4th video from last year is the featured video. It's from her alter ego Rosa G. Karla is awesome. She dated my friend in college.