America’s cruel irony: Freedom for me, bombs for thee
The United States is the world's largest weapons exporter and fireworks importer. While sounds of explosions bring us joy on the Fourth of July, they bring terror to others around the world.
On July 4, 1776, almost 250 years ago now, the United States of America declared their independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. As we mark this grand occasion in 2024, I find it hard not to reflect on a few truths absent during our celebrations.
For days before and days after Independence Day, bombs explode throughout the country. America hasn’t seen or heard or smelled this much gunpowder since the Civil War. We are fortunate to not have experienced wide-scale warfare on our doorsteps for over 150 years. And god-willing it stays that way forever.
However, while fireworks burst through the air in Wheeling, W.Va., I can’t help but consider what it is like for these sights, sounds, and smells to be signs of death and destruction rather than patriotism. I thought of the civilians in Gaza, Haiti, Sudan, Syria, Somalia, Ukraine, and all the places in the world where explosions signal conflict, not commemoration.
I thought of how America is the world’s largest arms exporter accounting for 42% of the trade and sending weapons to roughly 100 countries. Bombs made in ‘my country ‘tis of thee’ sent to the ‘land where [their] fathers (and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers, brothers and sisters) died’, not mine.
The United States is also the world’s largest importer of fireworks. We’re so obsessed with manufacturing bombs that decimate we can’t supply ourselves with bombs that delight. Instead, we call upon a country we’re told is our greatest enemy–China–to sell us nearly every pound of firework we light during our Independence Day festivities.
Before I am accused of being anti-American, I want all to know I celebrated the Fourth of July along with my fellow citizens in Wheeling. I enjoyed the fireworks as much as anyone else; however, these thoughts ran through my mind. I believe they should run through yours, too.
We imitate war with Chinese-made bombs and export war with American-made bombs. Those receiving our weapons are, overwhelming, countries who wish to make their people or other people less free. For our sake, our children’s sake, the sake of the world’s children, and the sake of the world itself, I sincerely hope we awaken to this cruel irony sooner rather than later.