Happy 4th of July

Today is the 4th of July, 2008! Happy Independence Day! But as much as I love my country (and I really, really do) I have a problem with the way it is celebrated on the 4th of July. A few minutes ago, in connection with our local town celebration, huge planes flew overhead and while at a very low altitude scared the daylights out of me. It took me a second to realize why they were dive bombing our town. And I wonder who bought the fuel for the planes?
I have spent the past many nights trying to find a place in my bed that could block the sound of the neighborhood as it started doing it's loud fireworks a bit early. And if this holiday is like the rest of them, this neighborhood will celebrate well into the nights for a very long time yet, having bought up all of the fireworks they possibly could store safely. (And that's a whole different message.)
But it often occurs to me that we are strange here in America to celebrate our freedom by making so much noise that it sounds like a 'war movie' going on and on forever. I don't think this is what our forefathers had in mind when they started celebrating the 4th of July. I have seen many kids terrified out of their minds with the noise and the colorful explosions overhead. Here I am a grandmother and still don't like the noises going on and on non-stop for days on end. It just seems like overkill on the fireworks and it makes me wonder about the cost of all of these "celebrations" and just how all of that money could be used in a better way. Like feeding hungry people or finding shelters for the homeless...
I'm not a party pooper but I am a little too practical for my own good and I know this about myself. I don't expect anyone to agree with what I have said here - but then, that's why it is MY blog!