Dear fellow Seattlites,
I'm as proud to be an American as the next guy. Perhaps less proud if the next guy has a "Born in the USA" tattoo and voted for George W. Bush the second time, but the point remains-- July 4th is a time for celebration. We live in a country with more freedoms than most, even after sacrificing some on the altars of Security and paranoia. The worst dilemma for many Americans is choosing whether to get 4GB or 8GB in their iPhone. And we may be screwing up the planet, but thanks to modern health care more of us will stay alive long enough to see Armageddon first-hand. There are plenty of reasons to shoot off fireworks, down 66 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes, and wave the American flag.
But not at 2 in the morning.
For that matter, not even at 11 at night. Look, I know that when the fireworks end the streets between Gasworks Park and the highway are more clogged than Joey Chestnut's arteries. It's a nightmare. But you know all those houses you pass (slowly, so painfully slowly) by? People live in them. And though we're all flush with patriotism and fellowship, that really doesn't explain why you feel it's necessary to blast hip-hop from all seventeen of your car speakers at decibel levels exceeding a few dozen M-80's. Growing up in a barn may give you a white bread, all-American pedigree, but it's no excuse for grossly inconsiderate behavior.
And if you decided it'd be smarter to wait out the traffic at a local bar and walk to your car later-- say, after last call-- there was really no need to celebrate your right to free speech by bellowing back and forth on a quiet residential street. You also have the right to remain silent. Exercise it.
Thank you for your attention.
Posted by Peter at July 5, 2007 1:54 PM