"...And the [sparklers'] glare // the [fireworks] bursting in air..."
Today, hundreds of man-made bomb-like explosions fill the sky. We strangely call them fireworks. Since it's the fourth of July and all that, I suppose I can forgive it. I'm not incredibly patriotic on the average day, so today is special. Go America, we became independent of Great Britain in 1776.
But what if we didn't?
All of these fireworks going off just makes me think of the first independence day. America and Great Britain had just finished a terribly bloody war. Instead of fireworks going off, they were actual bombs. There were men all around dying for rights they believed in, even when they couldn't believe in themselves or their futures. I can't help but wonder what being an almost 20 year old women looked like back in those days. Would I have been married? Have children? Or would I be one of those daughters who's impossible to marry off because of her quick tongue?
And never mind the fact that I could be raising a family, what about the country as a whole -- the world as a whole. What if the United States hadn't signed the Declaration of Independence all those years ago? When would have the freedom of the world started? Would there be democracy at all? Or would we still be living under monarchs who didn't care about the people? Would Les Miserablé actually be about America?
This weekend is one of the most popular weekends of the year. So many people are out at campgrounds or sitting around bonfires. Where I'm from people are at the beach or on the lake watching fireworks. Crazy people are lighting them off by themselves for fun because hey, who doesn't love setting things on fire and watching them explode?
I can't help but wonder what the world would look like if it wasn't for those brave men who gave up their lives for the freedoms that we take for granted so much now. I don't want to think of all the things that we could be missing out on. And it's not good to dwell on the past -- but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to think about it.
Happy Birthday America,
Carly
But what if we didn't?
All of these fireworks going off just makes me think of the first independence day. America and Great Britain had just finished a terribly bloody war. Instead of fireworks going off, they were actual bombs. There were men all around dying for rights they believed in, even when they couldn't believe in themselves or their futures. I can't help but wonder what being an almost 20 year old women looked like back in those days. Would I have been married? Have children? Or would I be one of those daughters who's impossible to marry off because of her quick tongue?
And never mind the fact that I could be raising a family, what about the country as a whole -- the world as a whole. What if the United States hadn't signed the Declaration of Independence all those years ago? When would have the freedom of the world started? Would there be democracy at all? Or would we still be living under monarchs who didn't care about the people? Would Les Miserablé actually be about America?
This weekend is one of the most popular weekends of the year. So many people are out at campgrounds or sitting around bonfires. Where I'm from people are at the beach or on the lake watching fireworks. Crazy people are lighting them off by themselves for fun because hey, who doesn't love setting things on fire and watching them explode?
I can't help but wonder what the world would look like if it wasn't for those brave men who gave up their lives for the freedoms that we take for granted so much now. I don't want to think of all the things that we could be missing out on. And it's not good to dwell on the past -- but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to think about it.
Happy Birthday America,
Carly
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