To me, fireworks are like silent bombs that jump out and destroy you when you least expect them. Each ear-piercing boom is enough to shatter my skull and ensure that I my heart never beats again. Year after year, while my friends and relatives are happily eating their overpriced elephant ears and silently admiring the fiery bursts of color right beside me, I am sitting there in a hunched up little ball, hands clamped over my ears as if my life depended on it.
Could this symbolize something about my perception of the American Independence Day? The Fourth of July, to a normal person, is an occasion of celebration and appreciation for the freedom and liberty of our country. However, entrenched in my dark sphere of fear and apprehension, freedom and liberty are the least of what I feel.
*Cue wise old man voice*
When a firework is released from the cannon, it becomes independent and harbors immense amounts of potential. This parallels America's break from Britain back in 1776, as the new nation headed towards a bright future at full speed. Once a firework reaches its pinnacle, it explodes in a brilliant flash of light and color, followed by a thundering bang that reverberates in the night sky. Similarly, shortly after its independence, our nation rose to great strength and success, boasting liberty and equality for all. However, this ironically created deeper oppression for the individuals who did not enjoy freedom glorified on the surface - the women, the slaves, and the Native Americans. Likewise, while the effect of fireworks produces joy and satisfaction for most, there will always be strange outliers like myself who will feel the exact opposite of what is intended on this oh-so-consecrated holiday.
Okay, that analysis was a bit of a stretch. But I really do hate fireworks.
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| Do I embarrass myself too much on the Internet? |
Hi Angela! I really enjoyed your creative view of the fourth of July. I wish I could personally witness this sight for myself! Maybe you could write a creative story about overcoming your fear and finding true love along the way! I have some name suggestions for the characters. Also, I loved the extra touch you added with your very own meme. I wonder who took such a beautiful picture? That thumb is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBut actually, I realized how this year, a lot of our topics we talked about in English revolve around how perception can change everything. One emotion can never be universal for any object/date/holiday.
Hi Angela! I agree with above commenter that I would love to witness this myself! Why do I feel like I have seen this meme before. I am very curious on how your fear of fireworks came to be.
ReplyDeleteWe all have certain fears that have been built within us and it is what characterizes who we really are inside. I also agree with how the Fourth of July is very ironic with creating a gap between everyone when it should instead be joining all Americans.
Hi Angela! I, too, enjoy that meme very much. I found it very interesting how you directly linked your fear of fireworks to an underlying darker meaning of the 4th of July. For some of us, this holiday is not all about the freedom and liberty.
ReplyDelete