Being Frank about freedom and its dangers

It was a really big piece of ash. It was still glowing a dull orange color when it floated down to a few yards in front of our car. It landed exactly where we had been sitting on a blanket just a few minutes before.

Mom, Dad and I had attended the fireworks show in a nearby town when for some reason -- it was probably windy and a little chilly -- and we had retreated to our car to watch the rest of the show.

For some reason we had been able to park close to the area roped off for the viewers' safety.

Oops. The ropes should have been back about 6 feet further.

This is the time of year when we sing about "the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air ..." even if we do not do so any other time.

I am not in favor of letting kids play with explosive fireworks but when I read about the dangers of firecrackers and remember the time we were nearly burned by that hot ash set off by a professional fireworks show, I am reminded what our soldiers have sacrificed that we can sing about the rockets glare and the flag that is still there.

Freedom is a dangerous proposition. It is periodically maintained at the cost of spilled blood. Loss of life is the most terrible price tag for our nation's future.

Freedom is also dangerous because my freedom means you have less control over my life. The same is true for you and we all know there are too many people who want to control others, at the expense of personal freedom. I am one of those people who complain about loss of freedoms. It does seem that our freedoms are gradually being eroded to supposedly benefit the masses.

The following is definitely my opinion, not necessarily the opinion of the owners, management or any employee of this newspaper: I am of the opinion that when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns and instead of gun control, I would like to see more honest people packing heat.

Imagine how many lives could be saved if some nut realized that if he pulled a gun in a theater or a school, it would be likely he would be dropped in his tracks. If a sick mind couldn't comprehend that idea, at least gunmen would have less opportunity to hurt and kill as many as they seem to do now.

Pull a gun to kill people in a church, a movie theater or on a campus and -- blam-- you are no longer tormented by your inner demons ... or anything else.

At the same time our rights seem to be eroded, more and more immigrants try to reach our shore.

I think Donald Trump was right, though he misstated it -- too many people want to come to American to take from us with no interest in giving. They want to sell drugs to our kids and live off our welfare system.

Not all of them, of course, but too many.

Yes, we make mistakes as Americans but I recall an old TV show, "Slattery's People" about a state legislator. Each episode began with the narrator ntoning the words, "Democracy is a very bad form of government. But I ask you never to forget. All the others are so much worse."

This is a pretty good place to live, if so many people are trying to come here, to find a better life.

Happy birthday, America!