EDITORIAL:Fireworks, and values we should celebrate

The party is on — locally, that is. And that is because neither fire danger nor financial woes could douse a belief in celebrating the birth of our nation and the values enshrined in the Constitution.

That belief was illustrated this year as a group of local residents took it upon themselves to raise the money needed to keep the La Crescenta Fourth of July fireworks show alive.

And it is a belief illustrated by organizers of the annual Burbank fireworks show at the Starlight Bowl, who after finding out the annual show was canceled because of concern that dry conditions could spark a fire, put together a laser show in its place.

That modified, safe shows will go on is a tribute to the communities of Burbank, Glendale and La Crescenta.

Despite our differences, and the disagreements in our daily lives over the direction our communities are going, people can gather together to celebrate a central idea: the great experiment that is our nation.

The experiment we call democracy has had some big ups and downs, but it continues, and it is not hard to see how.

At the polls, the experiment is carried out every time we cast a ballot for the candidate of our choice.

At City Council meetings, the experiment is carried out as residents offer their grievances during oral communications periods at City Hall.

At local places of worship, the experiment continues when parishioners pray to whomever they want.

It moves forward when an immigrant family can start a business and put their children through school, and when a school district can meet the challenge of teaching those children English.

And it moves on when groups of residents can organize on their own to have a party to celebrate the nation's birthday.

The Declaration of Independence calls it "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," and we all play a role in sustaining it.

Our good fortune comes at a price, though.

The Fourth of July offers up a chance to remember that cost. That price was death for the many who have died for the cause.

So, on the Fourth, as the lasers shoot through the sky and fireworks explode in the air, let's remember the sacrifice that gave birth to this nation and sustains it.

Let's be mindful that the system we live in is a very fragile thing, kept from going under by a belief in the values that it was founded and sustained on: freedom of opportunity, economic, political and social justice, and equality under the law.

It is a lot to live up to. But we should expect nothing else in a nation that we tout as "the land of opportunity."

They are values worth celebrating and reaffirming.