We shouldn’t be letting off fireworks while innocent families and their homes are being blown up

[Banfire]

“When the F-16s come, it is really scary and traumatic. You hear them and then the hiss of the missile and then the big blast, and then you can smell the gunpowder.
“The children are there, terrified, saying exactly this: ‘Let them just kill us for this to end.’

The quote above is an excerpt from an article in the Guardian this morning.

Is it just me or does it seem insensitive that on the 5th November, and for many days either side, we will be lighting up our sky for fun while innocent people, a large proportion of whom are children, are being blown up as if their lives meant nothing.

There are also people in this country who may find the sound and noise of fireworks traumatic. They may have been victims of war, have lost loved ones in this way or are currently fearing for the lives of their families and friends.

Fireworks aren’t fun for everyone.

If you do chose to let off fireworks for entertainment then when you watch them I hope you remember how privileged you are and the impact this might have on the people around you.

Looking at it another way, they could be seen as a time for reflection. Whilst we are hearing the bangs and seeing the skies lit up with fireworks, over in Gaza they are experiencing them same things for a different reason. We could use it as a moment to reflect on how lucky we are.

There is no reason to be rude to the OP for her insightful comment. She is not calling to ban them just that we spare a bit of thought for people less fortunate than ourselves. The majority of people on this thread sound like a bunch of selfish babies threatened that their toys might be taken away.

@Iwishyouwould

You really shouldn't have a dog.
Children
Wild animals
Anyone else who might be frightened or upset by them like people with PTSD.

Well it is only in the UK on or around 5th November that this would happen, so not sure why you are posting. I only know that fireworks in Germany and Austria happen on New Year's Eve/Midnight.

5th of November is not the UK, its marked in England (possibly Wales).

Only time I (in northern Ireland) directly came across it was Max on EastEnders saying "penny for the guy".

Since 1605, 5th November is England, Halloween is Ireland and Scotland.

We have bonfires and fireworks on Halloween.

When DC were young where we live local RoundTable group on easily accessible to whole town council site put on a huge display with fairground - it was much cheaper and safer than any you could do at home and raised a small fortune for good causes.

When we moved found there's really not anything similar and a lot more home displays that can be more reckless and spread the noise out over longer time period.

It's a 417 year old tradition - that I would say locally is increasingly losing out to Halloween - but I couldn't see a ban sticking in somewhere like Lewes.

A lot the of traditions in my childhood are on way out or gone or changed as happens with time - I'd be sad to see it go completely but organised displays I do think are the way forward.

Exactly this. And may I remind the OP that in the other wars several hundred times more civilians were killed.

What's so special about this war? I mean apart from the obvious, that Jews are involved?

No "million mummy march " in London for them though. Not the right race or religion you see.

Oh give over, you did not nearly vomit because you saw kids in fancy dress.

This site sometimes 🙄

Bonfire night has been celebrated for centuries in the UK. It is part of our culture. Traditionally, it was a family or local community festival. Organised fireworks are a relatively recent thing.
The reasons why we burn a guy and set off fireworks are lost on many.
As for the fireworks there have always been pets, animals, people with PTSD. People know that there are festivities at this time of year. They can make contingency plans for it.
As your linking this with the awful situation in Gaza and Israel I think you are being rather silly. What about the children in other conflict zones or do they not count?

Possibly you could spend your energies doing something useful like help out at the Red Cross or Red Crescent.

Many people get enjoyment from Bonfire Night it is part of our cultural heritage.
It doesn't mean that we forget about areas of conflict.
I find it more offensive that people have so much food waste when children are dying of starvation.
Let people have fun.

But you're unable to explain why not having fireworks will help the people of Gaza.

What? 😄

@RealOP ah but but it's not antisemitic to criticise Israel...etc.

OP is being sanctimonious, pompous and ridiculous, the calling out is well deserved. Grown adults do not need to be lectured to like we're children. It's entirely possible to feel terrible for the situation and the people in Gaza, and also to have a bit of enjoyment ourselves. The two things are not related.

This ^^

I had to laugh at You sound like a thoughtful and compassionate person.

🙈😂😂

Bonfire Night (5th November/Guy Fawkes Night) is part of English culture, not British culture. Unless of course you think England represents the UK?

There's over 100 armed conflicts going on in the world. Does that mean we can never enjoy ourselves?

I can see N.I not being big on bonfire night TBH given it's origins.

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/guy-fawkes-night-in-scotland

National trust in Scotland has it being celebrated in some areas and says how serious it is varies between towns and areas and I've been to firework displays in Cardiff castle and Caerphilly castle - though think covid did for that one - but while there are displays I'd agree Halloween is if not bigger currently in this bit of wales yet is very much starting to take over.

Guy Fawkes just the trigger man not the brains of conspiracy apparently likely involved due to his hatred of Scots.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/17200668.guy-fawkes-hated-scotland-scotch-beggars/

He wasn't only one being killed but Guy Fawkes did jump of scaffolding and died so they couldn't do the whole hung drawn and quarter bit with him alive - so we brunt an effigy of him for over 400 years - though I think that's rarer in most displays now.

I agree with your post, op and have been thinking about this very thing myself. At the very least they should only be let off at official displays. We can hear them round here already. I hate it. Kids have also started throwing them around etc.

It's not misery guts to point out the negatives of something.

We can hear them round here already. I hate it.

Sounds like you're just leaping on this argument to suit your own likes/dislikes. Do you want to explain how not having fireworks would help the people of Gaza?

I didn't say that either. It is misery guts to tell people they should not enjoy things which is literally what OP said.

For the first circa 230 years (up to the 1830s catholic relief act) guy fawkes night was an anti catholic event. It was English Protestants who marked it (and a smattering of Protestants outside it). It completely lost its religious connotation in the 1850s.

Naturally it was never marked by catholics. I don't know why Scotland remained with Halloween (as Ireland did)...iirc it was to do with the Scottish Kirk seeing it as a rite of passage.

Anyway, 5th of Nov is English culture, not Scottish or Irish.

Where else is it marked other than Britain?

It's not misery guts to question whether we should always proceed without ever changing our view or questioning if something is still appropriate.

Well so what- you say that like it is a put down.

The Lewes Bonfire society always polticises its burning effigies so it will be interesting to see who that is.

Of course it is, when you're being patronising towards people.