To the editor:

I read earlier of the city commission’s look at banning fireworks in Lawrence. What confused me was not that there were opponents to this, but how opponents reacted. Two people were quoted in the July 17 Journal-World who were against this proposal. They both said something to the effect that this act of blowing stuff up was somehow patriotic, rather than just some kind of loud and dangerous fun. One thought that it was his right as an American to fire off explosives.

Since Sept. 11, it seems that people have gotten some idea that flying a flag over their house and blowing things up is more patriotic than giving blood or doing something more productive for everybody. It should be no surprise that I support this proposal and as well, found the sudden outpouring of so-called “patriotism” after Sept. 11 to be more disturbing than awe-inspiring.

Jared McDonald,

Lawrence