Is July 4th evil

[wellwisher]

The 4th of July is a celebration connected to when humans were no longer under the thumb of a monarchy. Why would being free and not perpetual serfs and peasants, to an entitled few, be considered evil? This must come from the Big Bother Socialists types who wish to bring it back. I think celebrating human freedom is good. Fireworks have been a part of the 4th of July celebration since the beginning. The first mention of it was by John Adams in a letter to his wife after the Continental Congress declared Independence, but before England declared war and sent an army to put the thumb and boot back in place. It would take many years of war to seal the deal.

John Adams's letter to his wife, Abigail, informing her that the Continental Congress had declared independence: “[This day] ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other."

I like fireworks since I was a boy. They are illegal in my state, but it is short drive to the next state, where it is legal and tax free and you can stock up. The police in my state will set up road blocks at the border to intercept but there are plenty of back roads. What is nice, the police in my city, do not enforce the fireworks law on the 4th of July; nation's birthday. The 4th was about protesting repressive regimes and the police understand. The police more or less come by to make sure everyone is being safe and are picking up their mess.

We would launch our fireworks in the middle of a four way intersection, often holding up traffic. At first, all the neighbors would have their own display near their house. We started a tradition where all the neighbors would bring their fireworks to the corner, and we would light them off at the same place, so we would have a huge lingering community display. It became a tradition for the police to sit nearby and watch and then come by at the end to critique this year's show, as we swept the streets.

 

[Spice]

I think it's time for a refresh of the OP.

JWs don't celebrate any holiday or special occasion day for they believe all days are of equal importance and gifts of God. This came from a Watch Tower Magazine I read as a child, and was confirmed by an active JW I worked with as young adult, long ago.

I have recently discovered from conversation with a JW friend, that the WHY of this tenant of faith isn't necessarily known by active JWs today. My friend got very, very passionate about Christmas being an evil time of adults lying to children about Santa Claus. Everything else about the holiday was completely overlooked, including the "everyday should be a celebration of God."

This is a great example of why we should research, question, look into "beliefs" and "traditions" of religious organizations -- even our own. So I went to JW(dot)org to see what today's "guidance" is.

The site list all kinds of things to look into before one decides whether or not to celebrate a holiday, so the basic tenants of everyday being equally special doesn't even come into play anymore. However the site does state:

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses tell others not to celebrate certain holidays?​

No. They believe that each person must make his own decision. (Joshua 24:15) Jehovah’s Witnesses “honor men of all sorts,” regardless of their religious beliefs.—1 Peter 2:17.

I understood the 60 year old explanation from a magazine much better than all the particular complexities I discovered on the internet. I like simple.