To the editor:

I hear the illegal fireworks while weeding my garden, and I am grateful. I could never enforce the ban on the celebration of liberty that my city has imposed upon its citizens.

Even remembering the bottle rocket whizzing by my head two years ago, I find in my heart a gratefulness. I cherish the civil disobedience.

This Fourth of July, I think of liberty and of personal choice and I think of Lawrence. I was once told by someone that Lawrence was a liberal stronghold and that liberals will take away my liberty.

I know now that both conservatives and liberals will take away my liberty, whether it is the right to an abortion, the right to my sexual preference, the right to open a smoking establishment or the right to shoot fireworks.

I love liberty. Leaders of Lawrence, do you?

T. Ryan O’Leary,

Lawrence