Happy Fourth!

Today is the 4th of July, which I don’t typically celebrate since I haven’t lived in the U.S. for over 20 years and it passes here much like every other day, but I am still American, born and raised, so it is worthy of comment at least.
First, Happy 4th to all of those who are celebrating. I wish you a pleasant, and safe, day.
Personally, I have often thought that American independence should more properly be celebrated on April 19th. The revolutionary war had already been going on for a year and a few months before the richest and most important people in the 13 colonies gathered in Philadelphia and signed a document to recognize that fact.
I guess fireworks are more an issue than ever, because of the extreme heat and risk of starting actual fires, on land, which could cause the deaths of many trees, and the trees were there before the white man, before the first peoples even. (for some reason, I prefer the Canadian terminology on that, although recently unearthed -literally – evidence shows that they weren’t much kinder in their treatment of the original inhabitants than we were. I guess because ‘native’ just means born there and I consider myself a native American. Maybe ‘indigenous’ would be better, except that it has four syllables and would be difficult for many Americans to spell)
I’ve always thought fireworks were over-rated. Here in the Czech Republic, people go nuts with them on New Years, some state holidays, and after major sporting events, but it’s not so much municipal sponsored, controlled and choreographed displays as it is everybody and their cousin going out to a park to light a bunch of shit up and scare people with the explosions.
There is something deep, deep down inside the human psyche that just loves bright lights and explosions. I’m not denying that. I’m just not sure it’s a good thing.