English Fireworks

Having just experienced my first fourth of July in the States I'd just like to say that the fireworks in Panama City Beach, Florida (population less than 100,000) were better than London's millenium spectacular.

American show their love of their country far more than we do ours.

I wish I could have seen the fireworks. =( Lol

i love our fireworks!!! lol. =D

Fireworks are crap.

I was hit in the head a few years ago during the Edinburgh Castle end of Festival show, which is a great free show...but i was walking to a party through a park at the back of the castle and a rocket shaft hit me in the head, it didn't hurt of burn me, only make me shout out like a madman in a park full of wary travellers...and so I say again.

Fireworks are crap.

Rocket shaft, eh Kevin? *smirks* What park was this again? *chuckles*

I fail to see how setting off a large volume of explosives and pollutants into the atmosphere of your nation is an act of patriotism. I'll tell you what was very impressive in Britain: when that fuel depot exploded! That was a pretty lightshow, and it created a lot of patriotism in those few agonizing hours while the America-fuelled paranoia crept up and said "this is obviously Al Qaeda..." until human error was once again the true terrorist...

I like to show my patriotism by not littering, getting out into the countryside and enjoying it. By following my nation's sporting teams even if I am not usually that big of a fan, or by pointing out the good of it amongst a plethora of things that are clearly bad both historically and currently.

And as for our fireworks: we use ours mainly to commemorate the terrorist activity of a small group of politico-religiously motivated individuals in the centre of London. Seems pretty ironic this weekend, really.

I think you made an excellent point, Ed. I never really thought about it that way.

"I fail to see how setting off a large volume of explosives and pollutants into the atmosphere of your nation is an act of patriotism"

I really never thought of it that way, but when you put it in those words.. I guess you`re right.

Samantha Hollywood

"I fail to see how setting off a large volume of explosives and pollutants into the atmosphere of your nation is an act of patriotism"

I do, it's called having fun.

Picking up litter comes with the whole patriotism package. You look after your country. Which, incidentally is another thing the United States has over the United Kingdom, everyone puts rubbish in the bins provided.

Guy Fawkes night is supposed to be ironic. Why do we blow s#!t up on November 5th? Because the Catholics failed to do it themselves*. It's just like our two finger salute derived from Agincourt (well the whole French invasion thing). We're British and sarcastic and ironic. If you're British and you don't get it, you've been brought up in the wrong household.

*But they only need to get lucky once.

"Which, incidentally is another thing the United States has over the United Kingdom, everyone puts rubbish in the bins provided."

Clearly San Antonio, Tx, and Sunrise, Fl, aren't part of the USA then. I've never seen such litter-ridden cities. San Antonio actually rates up there with the most shit-infested places I've ever been, and I've been to third world Africa.

And as for having fun: yeah I can have fun with fireworks. But let's be honest, a 5 minute display incorproates essentially the same ballistics experience as a 20 minute display and can quite often be a much more enjoyable experience.

Still, at least with a longer display you always have the possibility of one going off at low altitude so you can maybe get what's left of your face on an episode of America's Most Amazing Videos. ;-)

Very true. Usually them video shows are rather dull, but the odd crowd dispersing device is a boon.

I've lived in Atlanta (north and central) Ga and Panama City Beach Fl. Both are far cleaner than anywhere I've been in England barring Windsor.

Calgary, however is the cleanest city I've ever been to. Wonder what the fireworks are like there.