Jun 04 2010
ON KEEPING THE 4TH OF JULY ON THE 4TH
The point here I believe is that if they are city fire works for all to enjoy then the city should be responsible for them. The problem is that they are allowing one man/private organization do the ONLY city PUBLIC FREE firework show! Telling people that they should just go set off their own fireworks at their home on the 4th is quite frankly ridiculous. How many people do you think would have to choose between food for the week and the fireworks? ALOT! Fireworks are really expensive and many live in apartments that you could not set them off at home because the parking lot is private property not owned by the renter. For many many children the only fireworks they get to see are those that Vandersloot pays for!
Those are just some issues with you telling them to do it on their own. Now, Separation of Church & State, well folks I’m sorry but Eastern Idaho isn’t the only place in the good ol’ USA that has a problem with that Constitutional mandate! The City of Idaho Falls and Chamber of Commerce should take the responsibility of getting the money for the fireworks and the rest of the 4th celebration. Their isn’t a problem with Vandersloot donating to the money pool for that. However, letting him be the only one in charge and the only one to foot the bill is certainly against the Democratic way if you ask me.
And yes I do agree that this state as well as Utah rely far to much on the LDS church to make their laws and run the state. The whole reason we celebrate the 4th of July is to celebrate freedom. And in case anyone of any particular religion has forgotten, that was originally FREEDOM FROM RELIGIOUS PROSECUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It wasn’t all about freedom from government and taxes! It was about the freedom to practice whatever religion you wanted. The problem has been that in 200+ years the people of the US have not adhered to that!!!!!!
There is also no reason why citizens/residents of Idaho Falls should not/could not donate money to the fireworks cause throughout the year in order to free it from the stranglehold that it currently it is under. For the Mayor’s office to say there is no interest in making sure that our holidays stay on the actual day of the holiday is preposterous! Do you honestly think the framers of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights would agree with switching the celebration of what they fought for to a different day every 7 years when the holiday falls on a Sunday just for the convenience of those of a particular religion? NO!!!!!!!!
It is up to the people who have a problem with the holiday being on a Sunday to change their celebration not the ENTIRE STATE OR CITY OR COUNTY!
4 responses so far
The Melaleuca sponsorship of the fireworks is just the latest in a long string of sponsorships. Several civic clubs have sponsored the event in the past, as has the city. Sometimes the public has been encouraged to contribute, sometimes not.
I firmly believe that the 4th of July should be celebrated regardless of the day of the week it lands on, and I can see no reason why the fireworks display or the parade need to interfere with church attendance. I don’t think the fireworks has ever interfered with any church services I know of.
I also don’t see celebrating our independence as being an activity that violates the Day of Rest church requirement, either. How can having fun with family and friends, relaxing while watching a parade and a fireworks show no be considered resting one’s body and refreshing one’s spirit?
The Declaration of Independence was actually signed on July 3rd right before midnight:) Just a little FYI…
Really, you guys are upset because fireworks are on saturday instead of sunday? You need to grow up. Who cares when the fireworks are? Fireworks are NOT what makes the 4th of July special. The 4th of July is made special by people remembering how good this country is, and by people being patriotic.
You should be HAPPY that this man is willing to spend the millions of dollars that it costs to do these fireworks shows. If you want to spend your tax money on things like city fireworks instead of building schools and fixing roads, or any of the important things in life, then go live somewhere else. You should be happy your city even has fireworks, because there are plenty of people who have to drive for miles to go see them. Stop trying to make these fireworks into some kind of political statement and deal with it. They’re free, and if you aren’t happy about it, then don’t watch them.
Um, that would be Religious PERSECUTION, not Religious PROSECUTION.
Proof read much?