There’s more than a touch of irony in our most recent liberty lost: the right to celebrate Independence Day — our very freedom — with a municipal fireworks display, safely launched by the fire department.

Well we could, if we’d remembered to pay off Big Brother for permission first.

It seems that the State of Tennessee has passed a new law dictating that the person doing the show has to be state-licensed, having paid $150 to take a test administered by PSI Examination Services (snide aside: any relation to PSI Probation Services?) and having obtained a permit from the State at least 10 days in advance.

Something happened — or didn’t happen, in this case — and we don’t have a fireworks show.

It’s not a total loss; we’ll go to Kingston and watch them over the lake, which is so pretty, and they have a parade and all that stuff.  I wish Oak Ridge still held the display at the marina, as we used to, simply because the reflection off the water is spectacular.  It would be even better if there were a couple of food vendors (Fro’s Fish and a BBQ place come to mind) and maybe even a beer truck, and if the road were simply closed to traffic for the day.  Everyone could walk.

Sure, it’s a long way, but if we’re going to eat and maybe drink, we should walk.

I’m not looking to assign any blame locally for the snafu, because I honestly believe that the state has overstepped its bounds by requiring local governments — the fire chief, for heaven’s sake — to buy a stupid permit for our local fireworks display.  You know, the public display the thing that keeps most otherwise law-abiding people from shooting off explosives in their back yards and the street, simply because the City puts on a good show. 

Ah well.  At least I can pop Independence Day into the DVD player and watch it yet again.  I never tire of it.