The Bombs Bursting in Air

[MineralMan]

Here in St. Paul, despite the prohibition against all fireworks that either "fly or explode," we are pretty much the home fireworks display capital of Minnesota. Just 20 minutes or so away is the border with Wisconsin, where permanent, year-round fireworks sellers have their outlets. So, St. Paulites by the thousands flock to Wisconsin and max their credit cards out on "flying and exploding" fireworks of all kinds.

It's Independence Day, the 4th of July, but the anticipation is just too much for these amateur pyrotechnics experts. They started filling the skies with chrysanthemum mortars and star displays and simple loud reports a week ago. Every evening about 9:30 or so, the booms start. My neighborhood, a 1950s collection of 1200 sq. ft. ramblers with finished basements to double their usable space, is home to an evening fireworks display that almost rivals the professional shows. The "whump" of the mortars is followed shortly by a satisfying display of whatever design the pyrotechnics experts have built into their retail fireworks. Add the roman candles and skyrockets, ranging from tiny bottle rockets to much larger, high flying models with impressive end-state displays, and the sky lights up on the 4th for a couple of hours. I don't mind, but I don't buy fireworks. My wife and I set up lawn chairs, hose ourselves down with mosquito repellan, and watch the annual event.

"The Bombs Bursting in Air." That's the origin of this fascination with fireworks on Independence Day. We're celebrating our war-making and a song lyric written by Francis Scott Key to commemorate a battle from the War of 1812. It's a militaristic sort of celebration, and more or less simulates the sound of early 19th Century warfare. That fireworks are associated with Independence Day sometimes makes people think that our National Anthem is about the revolutionary war. It's not, but that's not important. It's about warfare and militarism. We sing it without really thinking about what it means, most of the time.

On Independence Day, all across the nation, people in small towns and large, privately or publicly, will re-enact the sounds of war. That is the American way. It's interesting. We are a nation that was born in warfare, and almost every generation of Americans have been involved in one war or another, large or small. It's worth thinking about.

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Will we always be fighting wars to keep our flag flying? It seems so.

[GeorgeGist]

1. Worst ...

National anthem, ever.

[MineralMan]

2. Many have that opinion.

It is definitely a militaristic one. And yet, there is not a solid will to replace it with a more peaceable one.

Besides, it stretches the vocal range of amateur singers, and leads to poor performances.

[geckosfeet]

3. Not quite correct. Fighting wars to make sure corporations and the 1% maintain their way of life.

Our flag would be flying for generations to come if we stopped all our wars today.

[MineralMan]

14. Perhaps. There have been a number of wars and

actions like wars in our history. I'm not sure all of them had the goals you mention, however.

[geckosfeet]

15. I would agree - not all - not nearly.

But today the military (and security agencies in general) has become the enforcement arm for congress, and congress serves the elite and the money houses. They would all have us believe that the nation would crumble from the evil enemy if they stopped the state of perpetual war. What would crumble is their authoritarian hostile strangle hold on world resources and finances.

[boston bean]

4. Most people are thinking day off work

Cookouts, beer, watching pretty fireworks in they sky with the kids at the end of a fun day.

[MineralMan]

6. That, too, of course.

But that's not what my thread is about.

[boston bean]

7. That's what my response was about.

Just my opinion, mind you.

Happy Fourth!

[Buzz Clik]

5. Excellent sentiment on this day.

But, were our "bombs" made in China?

Did we have fiery egg-laying chickens?

[MineralMan]

8. I had not seen those. The Chinese fireworks makers

are very creative. I love the names of the individual fireworks at the big fireworks stores. I never buy any, but it's always interesting to visit them.

[MineralMan]

9. A Brief History of Our National Anthem

can be found at the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_Spangled_Banner

If you don't know it, it's worth looking at. Do take the time to read the words of the verses that are no longer sung, and the ones added during the Civil War.

[madokie]

10. It sounded like a war zone around here last night

I finally went to bed and put the only ear I have that works to the pillow so I wouldn't have to hear it. Some of us don't care for the memories of rockets being launched and or the big booms of them landing near by.
Pseudo patriots and their toys, my o my

[MineralMan]

11. Yup. There's no point trying to sleep in my

neighborhood around the 4th. Tonight, the noise and light will continue until after midnight. It's competitive in my neighborhood, with people launching a display for a short time. That is followed by another neighbor's planned display, and so it continues all around the town, with each person trying to outdo the neighbor.

It makes for an interesting couple of hours in the lawn chairs. It's a freaking phenomenon. And no law enforcement presence at at all, despite the illegality and actual fire danger it presents.

War games, with the emphasis on "games." It makes a guy wonder.

[WatermelonRat]

12. "Bombs bursting in the air" refers to the bombardment of an American fort by British ships

The songwriter watched the bombardment while prisoner aboard a British ship. He was inspired upon seeing the flag still standing the next morning in spite of it. The song is about American resilience.

[MineralMan]

13. Yes. I'm aware of that. Most people, however, are not.

That's why I added a link to the Wikipedia article.