Bastille Day 1789 and 2016

I subscribe to several e-mail Newsletters one of which keeps me informed about different celebrations and days that have been designated as "National Days"; for instance National Ice Cream Day, National Pancake Day etc.  In the list of Celebrations I noticed that July 14th is Bastille Day;  curious to know more I searched the internet for information. I already knew that Bastille Day was similar to our 4th of July and I had the phrase "Storming of the Bastille"-- Built in 1370's, the Bastille was a fortified fortress that often housed political prisoners or those who had angered  Royalty.  According to Wickipedia the reasons for the French .Revolution are "complex" and still debated by historians but storming of the Bastille signaled the start of the French Revolution . Bastille Day is generally recognized as the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the modern republic.While searching the internet for information I found a list of cities around the word that also celebrate Bastille Day, of those listed these stood out to me: Paris, New York, London, Orlando, Boston  and Liege, Belgium--while I know there is no connection between these cities celebrating Bastille Day and the recent terror attacks, it is a startling fact.

Bastille Day is a French National holiday ,usually a day of good summer weather when families gather outdoors for picnics and viewing fireworks. So sad that this day was probably chosen by a terrorist or very sick person to kill as many people as he could; 84 people, 10 of them children and leaving over 100 injured, 53 critically--"so sad" are inadequate words to describe this day, but I am at a loss--

BOOM! BANG! POP!

4th of July, in the United States--it is the signal--the "banner on the outward wall" for sins and shooting  crackers, pedantry and pinwheels, oranges and orations, sky-blue toilettes and sky-rockets. A day when patriotism pops and bursts about like so many bottles of sillery.~Henry Harold Paul, "4th of July in the United States"   1851--It's certainly the day for shooting of crackers, pinwheels and sky-rockets!                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                             
When did the 4th of July become a day for buying and shooting off illegal fireworks until well after
midnight? Fireworks that shoot feet up into the air, like those at a professional show, startling not only neighborhood dogs, older people, but military veterans who have faced the perils of war? Last night my neighborhood was ablaze with fireworks from all sides, a constant barrage of cannon and gunfire like sounds as the cat hid under the bed, the dog cowered on the bed now and then barking at then noises, and I contemplated opening the door and yelling at the top of my lungs ENOUGH!! Or perhaps getting in the car and driving around telling people I was going to call the police! Instead I just try to endure it~I might just be a crabby old lady, but I prefer a professional firework show to the up close and personal sights and sounds of the neighborhood "shows"~~Why not enjoy fireworks at a family picnic, in the park or overlooking a lake, harbor,or ocean surrounded by family, new and old friends?

"The 4th of July,when we get to play our favorite guessing game--fireworks or gunshots?"--Author Unknown
                                             

When I think about the 4th of July I think of The Declaration of Independence, "We the people", The Star Spangled Banner, the Red,White and Blue~~I think of those who have fought and those who have given their lives to protect not only our shores and freedom, but those of other countries as well~~

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls~~Robert J McCracken

An item in the news last night caught my attention: a teenager built what amounted to a bomb by gathering a large number of sparklers into a bundle, then using another partially pushed down into the center, acting like a fuse~~it exploded making a large hole in the sidewalk or driveway causing life changing injuries to his body; loss of fingers and a foot as well as probably his eyesight~~I wonder if the Big Bang was worth it?