As Americans, we engage in several activities that define us as such. This Sunday, we will all sit down to engage in one of those activities: eating copious amounts of junk food.
This isn't much different from any other day of the year, except for most we will be watching the Superbowl, which is another American institution: the yearly winner-take-all gridiron spectacle. And during the Superbowl, we will get to see another facet of American culture the totally lame halftime show.
During the show, we will undoubtedly see another American custom, the shooting off of fireworks for no good reason. And even though the Indianapolis Colts are playing in the Superbowl this year, it is a good thing that the game is not being played in Indianapolis. If a new Indiana law passes, it might be illegal to shoot off fireworks on Superbowl Sunday.
Jan. 24, the Indiana Senate passed along a bill which, if approved, could restrict the usage of fireworks to three days a year: December 31, July 3 and July 4. Superbowl Sunday isn't on that list. The law would give power to towns, cities and counties for nearly unlimited restriction as to the use of fireworks.
Right now, the current law states that you can go out onto your property any time from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and shoot off as many fireworks as you want; there's virtually no restriction. There is a certain inherent responsibility with fireworks that people impose on themselves, however.
Even though it's legal, there's no reason for a person to go home on their lunch break in April and start shooting off bottle rockets. The state is failing to realize that even though citizens can misuse fireworks, it doesn't necessarily mean that they do.
Fireworks are such an ingrained part of American culture. They're inspiring. Go to any roadside fireworks stand and look at the guy who runs the place. He has four fingers on one hand and three on the other. That's two separate accidents.
This guy messed up in two different isolated incidences, and look what happened to him: He's selling firecrackers and sparklers to teenagers on the side of the road. Just looking at this guy is a life lesson in having respect for your surroundings and learning from your mistakes.
Fireworks are an integral part of growing up American. When fireworks start showing up on the shelves in mid-June, it is an affirmation of the arrival of summer.
Fireworks can be a lot of fun if used properly, but it's undeniable that they are infinitely more fun when used improperly. But misusing fireworks is one of those defining childhood moments; it's an experience you have to learn the hard way. You never really respect something until you see firsthand the damage it can do.
It's like playing with a stapler in grade school; it's only until you put a staple a half inch into your index finger that you realize that the stapler is not a toy. And likewise, it's only until you can't grow hair on a three-inch patch on your leg that you realize Roman candles are not meant to be used as projectile weapons.
Fireworks are a fun way to celebrate and blow off steam, and responsible citizens should be able to use them 365 days out of the year, not 3. So even if this proposal goes through and gets turned into law and your town, city, or county restricts your God-given right to blow stuff up, it's okay.
If you get the urge to set off a festival ball in late September, go ahead. Just remember to do what you would have done anyway: light the fuse and run like hell.
Write to Paul at pjmetz@bsu.edu
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