It’s the first Friday of July, and the Sun hopes you are all very, very well!
☀️Missing Fireworks
I was not only not in Marysville on July 4th, I was with a group of students and chaperones who were out of the country. In fact, on Independence Day we were in the very country that the United States of America declared independence from, that is, Britain. We had a full day, with a few hours in the British Museum, some time in the National Art Gallery (pointillism for the win!), an attempt to visit the Churchill War Rooms (but it was packed), and finished with a performance of “Witness for the Prosecution,” all while dodging rain as we walked over 20k steps through the streets of London. I give that list to say that there was plenty to keep my mind occupied.
But I missed the fireworks.
I shared my Opinion about fireworks in a Sun last summer. Marysville has a long history of celebrating Independence Day, starting with James P. Comeford himself. And it is fantastic that the city started putting on a big show again, and I’m sure the 5th annual time on Tuesday was great.
But I missed not just the show, I continue to miss the freedom for individuals to blow a week’s paycheck on stuff to blow up in their driveway. Yes, when my neighbors used to shoot off their wad pre-2017 it made my dog crazy, and it made me want to find noise-canceling technology in order to sleep through the night. But there’s something uniquely American about exploding things for fun in the sky.
Is it true that some people should not be trusted with fireworks? It’s not hard to find plenty of the “fireworks-gone-bad” genre on social media. But we’re also not tired of that genre yet (here’s my favorite to watch this year). It reminds us that we need to learn how to party better.
Is it true that some people should not be trusted with freedom? Well, in one sense YES, but the British Parliament also thought we couldn’t be trusted with independence. Our country’s Founders thought otherwise. John Adams said, “Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker.” Benjamin Franklin said, “Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.” Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
Well-known in our Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Is it necessary for an individual’s freedom that he be able to purchase and light his own fireworks? Maybe not. But is it a good symbol? You bet your singed eye-brows it is.
☀️Bunch o’City Events!
Jennings Park Cleanup - tomorrow, July 8, 9:00am-12:00pm
Junk in the Trunk - tomorrow, July 8, 10:00am - 2:00pm, 1-15 State Ave. See the city’s most recent update on this event.
Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps - part of the Northwest Youth Music Association. tomorrow, July 8, 7:00pm at Marysville-Pilchuck HS Stadium. See this page for more info and to purchase tickets.
Food Trucks at Comeford Park - Tuesdays, starting July 11. More info here.
All-Comers Track Meets - Thursdays, starting July 13. More info here. Read some coverage from last year’s meets here.
☀️Friday Fun
As seen going around the internet, and not a bad reminder around this time of year (or all year long). #OneToGrowOn
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