Bombs Bursting in Air…
by John Vinopal
“And the rocket’s red glare; the bombs bursting in air…” This excerpt from our National Anthem is intended to inspire and instill pride in the resilience of a nation in its infancy. I hate to be a party pooper, but if I need “proof through the night”, I’m reasonably certain explosions would cause more concern than confidence. Yet on the fourth day of July every year, we celebrate our country’s birthday by blowing things sky high.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve oohed and aahed like everyone else at the elaborate displays of modern pyrotechnics, but other than the occasional “did you see that?!” moment, I find the whole tradition to be a tad monotonous. According to the American Pyrotechnic Association, an estimated 14,000 displays are launched every Fourth of July, each at a cost of $20,000 and up. Way up!
I know what you’re thinking: There’s an American Pyrotechnic Association?? You may also be wondering how far up “and up” can be. The top end of the fireworks frenzy is thought to be the Macy’s Fourth of July Spectacular. Set against the New York City skyline, Macy’s ignites an average of 1,600 shells per minute— the largest of which costs as much as $350 a pop. The cost of the fireworks alone is estimated to be over 6 million dollars, plus the considerable expense involved with a party that takes a full year to plan. Heck, Macy’s actually has a “Fireworks Spokesperson”. How would you like that title on your business card?
Move the celebration to our nation’s Capital and add to the price tag the costs of the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FAA; Secret Service; D.C. Police and Fire Departments; and National Park Service. You will also need to spring for some dynamic detonators to reach an adequate elevation “o’er the land of the free” so that the blast can be seen above the 550-foot Washington Monument. It seems our tax dollars would be better spent elsewhere, but we appear forever willing to spend big bucks for a big bang.
Secure in knowing the statute of limitations has expired, I will admit to having some fun with illegal fireworks as a youngster. My favorite fireworks fun was a game we called “Bottle Rocket Roulette”. Bottle rockets are basically firecrackers on a stick with a delay between ignition and blast off. For reasons only a teenager could rationalize, my friends and I would love to twirl a lit bottle rocket in the air making the exact trajectory a thrilling moment of uncertainty, often ending with the sting of a small explosion in one’s personal space. However, even small explosions are potentially dangerous, as my girlfriend and her ruptured ear drum proved when a rocket became tangled in the hair directly over her right ear.
Accidents will happen no matter how tame or reckless the plan. My wife’s uncles were busting with anticipation while gazing into the box of fireworks they had accumulated over the year. It couldn’t get dark fast enough, but shortly after the fun began, an errant ember landed directly in the middle of their cherished stash, sending the family scattering in all directions— suddenly a part of an unintended backyard dramatization of a scene from Apocalypse Now.
Fireworks have been around for thousands of years and will be around for thousands more. Wherever there is a celebration, there is reason to blow something up. New Year’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday, homeruns at Sox Park, or any Wednesday at Navy Pier they will light up the sky. All great fun, but I can’t help but think of the more destructive acts these aerial bombs are intended to simulate. In this violent world, I often wonder if the controversy over gun control and second amendment rights is less about defending ourselves and more about a fixation for firepower. Call it a “Big Bang Theory”.
Look, I don’t want to throw a dud in your celebration and I wish the good ol’ US of A a happy 239th birthday, but I think I will take a ride to Chicago Botanic Garden and celebrate by watching the blossoms bursting in air. I’m far less likely to get burned.
Back to John's Page
Can not be reproduced or used without written permission All rights reserved, copyright, 2015
by John Vinopal
“And the rocket’s red glare; the bombs bursting in air…” This excerpt from our National Anthem is intended to inspire and instill pride in the resilience of a nation in its infancy. I hate to be a party pooper, but if I need “proof through the night”, I’m reasonably certain explosions would cause more concern than confidence. Yet on the fourth day of July every year, we celebrate our country’s birthday by blowing things sky high.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve oohed and aahed like everyone else at the elaborate displays of modern pyrotechnics, but other than the occasional “did you see that?!” moment, I find the whole tradition to be a tad monotonous. According to the American Pyrotechnic Association, an estimated 14,000 displays are launched every Fourth of July, each at a cost of $20,000 and up. Way up!
I know what you’re thinking: There’s an American Pyrotechnic Association?? You may also be wondering how far up “and up” can be. The top end of the fireworks frenzy is thought to be the Macy’s Fourth of July Spectacular. Set against the New York City skyline, Macy’s ignites an average of 1,600 shells per minute— the largest of which costs as much as $350 a pop. The cost of the fireworks alone is estimated to be over 6 million dollars, plus the considerable expense involved with a party that takes a full year to plan. Heck, Macy’s actually has a “Fireworks Spokesperson”. How would you like that title on your business card?
Move the celebration to our nation’s Capital and add to the price tag the costs of the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FAA; Secret Service; D.C. Police and Fire Departments; and National Park Service. You will also need to spring for some dynamic detonators to reach an adequate elevation “o’er the land of the free” so that the blast can be seen above the 550-foot Washington Monument. It seems our tax dollars would be better spent elsewhere, but we appear forever willing to spend big bucks for a big bang.
Secure in knowing the statute of limitations has expired, I will admit to having some fun with illegal fireworks as a youngster. My favorite fireworks fun was a game we called “Bottle Rocket Roulette”. Bottle rockets are basically firecrackers on a stick with a delay between ignition and blast off. For reasons only a teenager could rationalize, my friends and I would love to twirl a lit bottle rocket in the air making the exact trajectory a thrilling moment of uncertainty, often ending with the sting of a small explosion in one’s personal space. However, even small explosions are potentially dangerous, as my girlfriend and her ruptured ear drum proved when a rocket became tangled in the hair directly over her right ear.
Accidents will happen no matter how tame or reckless the plan. My wife’s uncles were busting with anticipation while gazing into the box of fireworks they had accumulated over the year. It couldn’t get dark fast enough, but shortly after the fun began, an errant ember landed directly in the middle of their cherished stash, sending the family scattering in all directions— suddenly a part of an unintended backyard dramatization of a scene from Apocalypse Now.
Fireworks have been around for thousands of years and will be around for thousands more. Wherever there is a celebration, there is reason to blow something up. New Year’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday, homeruns at Sox Park, or any Wednesday at Navy Pier they will light up the sky. All great fun, but I can’t help but think of the more destructive acts these aerial bombs are intended to simulate. In this violent world, I often wonder if the controversy over gun control and second amendment rights is less about defending ourselves and more about a fixation for firepower. Call it a “Big Bang Theory”.
Look, I don’t want to throw a dud in your celebration and I wish the good ol’ US of A a happy 239th birthday, but I think I will take a ride to Chicago Botanic Garden and celebrate by watching the blossoms bursting in air. I’m far less likely to get burned.
Back to John's Page
Can not be reproduced or used without written permission All rights reserved, copyright, 2015