The thought that bothered me the most was that there was going to be boxing... How barbaric!

This has to be my least favorite holiday. I know that we're supposed to be celebrating the freedom won, but it seems that people focus more on blowing shit up. I see so little celebrating and so much re-enacted warfare.

Maybe it's just me. I've been bitter the last few days.

Hope you had a better holiday than I did!

I have to agree with Pollux. Personally, I don't eat pork products anymore whether the pig is roasted in front of me or not....however, I am not a vegetarian, and I certainly don't have a problem with other people eating pork. I have eaten it in the past, and it tastes good.

I have eaten lobster several times where the whole lobster was on my plate, and I had to break open the shell. And my first taste of raw oysters was on the dock in Baltimore, Maryland. I knew they were fresh.

I haven't had to do it, but I wouldn't hesitate picking out a live lobster at a fancy restaurant. (Even if I ended up hearing it scream from the kitchen.)

I'm not sure how I would handle a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy type scene, where the cow I was about to eat actually introduced itself to me before the meal, asking me which part of its body I wished to eat. That might feel strange, but at least I'd know the animal wanted to be my meal.

But I don't like boxing as a sport. It makes no sense to me. I don't see the sport in watching two people punch each other. Similarly, I don't like wrestling much as a sport either. Though I see more strategy in that. (And the professional, staged version has a lot of drama too. I've heard it termed Rope Opera, and it's appropriate.)

I don't have a problem with fireworks. They're rather fun to watch...and as long as those who set them off do it safely...

However, I have heard that in some sections of the country...including portions of St. Louis... people actually fire off guns in celebration of the holiday. That bothers me. Beyond the danger, that's just making noise, for the sake of noise....or firing a gun for the sake of firing a gun.

John... I LOVE the term "Rope Opera!" GREAT!!!!!

The problem with fireworks is that it's usually a bunch of kids who have no common sense, or an adult who has killed all of his common sense with alcohol.

And I just resent picking up all of those bottle rocket sticks in the backyard.

Pollux

I'm probably about to put my foot in my mouth, but I worry less and less about the results of that these days..

If I were a decisive person, I'd say I see nearly everything in infinite shades of gray. How's that for being decisive?

Boxing turns me off on many levels, yet I got a weird sort of high out of watching men on skates knock the snot (and teeth) out of each other at the one and only hockey game I attended. I'd go to more games now and then, as long as someone else buys my ticket. I could count on one hand how many times I've watched it on TV...

Oh my, how varied the hues of gray become when I think of war and who and what I would eat and the circumstances involved.

#1 the world would fare wonderfully without war.

#2 Ain't gonna happen. Ever.

#3 My definition of murder is subject to frequent change, tho I used to think I knew what it meant.

#4 The world would fare wonderfully without the killing and eating of flesh.

#5 Ain't gonna happen. Ever.

#6 My definition of participation and sanction of acts that repulse me confuses the living shit out of me.

I was a vegetarian for a long period of time. I don't think it saved any lives or reduced suffering and it complicated my life immensely. So I eat meat now. not much, but the amount has no bearing on the guilt level. I grieve about the unnecessary slaughter while enjoying the taste.

Hunting as a sport enrages me.

There are certain animals (includes humans)I'm not sure I could eat even if I were literally starving. but this area is VERY gray.

I AM certain that if I'm not starving, I can't select an animal to be killed, listen to it scream and then eat it. I'm also positive that if I visited a slaughterhouse I'd be unable to eat ANYthing for quite some time. (this happened many times as my family drove past these places when I was a kid. I saw nothing, but I could hear and smell..)

I'm certain that if I'm not starving I can't kill an animal to eat. I can however kill an animal to end its suffering (from whatever cause).

I need to go eat dinner now...

wow, I never realized how tasty my foot was! *sluuurp*