This is the first time in the last several years or so that I haven't been away for the 4TH of July. We usually take our horses and go camping rather than expose them to the trauma of all the night time explosions. Since the last time I was home for the 4Th many new houses have been built and lots of folks that move to the country are uncomfortable with the darkness and silence of living in the country; hence they leave lights on and make as much noise as possible.
There were some fire crackers being lit in the afternoon and it wasn't too bad, and at about 9:30 I looked out the window and saw some kids running in their yard with sparklers. That was really sweet and reminded me of what all the young kids did on summer evenings when I was growing up.
However at around 10PM things turned sinister. That is when the adults came out to play. With no regard for their neighbors that have horses, pets and livestock the American Douchebags started to make the ground rumble with explosions and flashes of chemical fires. We went out to check the horses since horses have been known to go to great extremes to get away from aggravating situations
I was stunned by the amount of noise. I've attended several big fireworks displays in my lifetime and I've felt the concussion of the exploding mortars, but that was nothing to several explosions I felt last night from a quarter mile away. Everything was in the air, meaning none of it was legal in Oregon.
Over the next two hours there was explosion after explosion. We were hearing many thousands of dollars going up in flame and smoke and raining heavy metal residue all over the land.
I was worried about my horses and my neighbors horses, but then I thought about the poor veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. What must they be going through? Here are all these Johnny Six-Packs who have never been to war, attempting to make their back yards into a simulated war theater, while their veteran neighbors have to tranquilize themselves into a stupor so they don't have to relive their nightmares due to the sounds that the inconsiderate American Douchbags who feel that freedom gives them the right to shoot off dangerous high explosives.
Look, Douchebags, bigger and louder isn't better. Rather than waste all your money on Chinese explosives next year, why don't you donate that money to a veterans organization or to an pet or horse rescue shelter or adoption organization. The Clatsop County Animal shelter can always use your help.