Have a Safe, Sane, Docile, Domesticated and Easily Led 4th of July!

The Register has come out with it's annual "Leave Fireworks for the Professionals" Editorial.

This just in - Fireworks can be dangerous... ya morons.!!!

Who's their contributing expert...? Oh, one of the usual suspects... a pediatric ER doc. Kind of like having a head and neck surgeon write a column for "Cigar Aficionado".

Look, there's some common sense stuff in the piece. But it's stuff that's so obvious that it seems pointless to mention - unless the REB thinks their readers are idiots.

And that can't possibly be it... right?

Look, I'm sick to death of the ever expanding application of "Public Health" to prohibit any activity that can cause injury or death.

While death is rare, thousands of people in the United States are injured by fireworks every year, some left blind or with permanent hearing impairment or amputated fingers.

And hold on there partner - I'm not talking about activities that can harm some unconnected third party, okay.

I'm tired of the look at the cute poster girl - it's FOR THE CHILDREN uh... "argument".

It's not hard to imagine a 4-year-old holding a sparkler too close and catching her dress on fire.

Oh jebus.

And I'm really, really sick of arguments like "... well, you don't have to do it... it's not like breathing, drinking water or eating after all..." that the nanny-state media uses to suck all of the fun out of life. And, by the way... they ARE going after the eating thing. Better start hoarding those Twinkies and Ding Dongs now!

Look, fireworks are fun in no small part because they are dangerous.

"They are totally fascinated with explosions and bright lights,"

That's the ER doc's comment, giving his expert opinion on children 14 and under. Er, you could apply that statement to most human beings and almost all males - well, at least the ones that have been able to resist assimilation into the Metrosexual Collective.

And, like I commented here:

There is a practical reason that make fireworks are a good thing. Human beings SHOULD KNOW HOW TO SAFELY HANDLE THINGS THAT ARE DANGEROUS. Certain things should be treated with a great amount of respect. There is survival value in this. Pay attention, this could hurt you. It’s also (in a low whisper…) part of the fun.

Fireworks do not kill, Rekha. Recklessness and stupidity kill. And when you try to take everything dangerous out the hands of the general populace, what do you breed…? Stupidity and recklessness.

So, gentle readers... DO be safe, but... Light 'em up!

Happy Independence Day!!!