Before I get into my New Years annoyance, shall I take care to wish just – Happy New Year! 🙂 Although I personally have my opinions on how New Years is celebrated, after all, most people are satisfied that a number has changed in the year. Now is 2024 just three hours old, and is brand new, snow white, unwritten and fresh before us.
With that said; let me disclose that I spent most of New Year's Eve being grumpy and grumpy. Not on Molly either (cats) hands Boyo, but on humans and their overconfidence in themselves and their place in the natural order.
I talk of course about this fireworks.
I live in Västerås with my animals, and the latest 7 – 10 the years or so, I have been fascinated by the fact that the fireworks have become fewer and fewer every year. Last year was really pleasantly calm, except around 12 o'clock. But even then it was concentrated into about half an hour of banging – then it was calm again.
This year it was completely different. This year, the banging already started around eight in the evening, as sporadic as it gets when people here and there pull off a rocket because it's fun and because they can.
Don't get me wrong.
For my own part I like fireworks. It's great to watch. It's colorful and festive – I agree with all of that.
But that's it, because we have been taught that it should be so. And it is also something invented by humans. We take the right and the freedom to thunder on for quite a few hours, regardless of the impact it has on the environment – not to mention the animals.
It does not exist a single animal that has been involved in deciding that there will be thunder and banging absurdum on New Year's Eve (or any other day). There is not a single animal that thinks it is ok. Some don't care, others think it's a little creepy, others again turn off completely – and some animals die of fright.
And that is here my brain can't get it together.
Who has given us humans the right to harm those who were not involved in the decision? Why do we think we are so awesome that we can rule over just about every other species on earth? Since when is it ok for them to have to suffer because we are so awesome?
I am right sharp opinions about people, because I think we are the most winded species on the planet. It is said very well in the movie the Matrix – that we are parasites that only spread, more and more until there is nothing left. It is very consistent, very much with my own opinion of humans as a species.
Now I have had luck especially with my dogs. Ella didn't care at all, as a young dog and an adult dog. She started getting involved when she was around 6 – 7 years old, but she got angry and would scold all the fireworks. Boyo is a little different. He becomes anxious and finds it difficult to relax. He likes to crawl into my lap, if he could, but is content to be as close as possible, and varies it by wandering restlessly back and forth, or possibly crawl under a table or similar. But it won't be more than that – Thankfully. Molly, she hides when it sounds like the worst. But she doesn't get overly scared either, but mostly think it's a bit of a chore and would prefer it to be quiet and peaceful, the way she wants it.
This is a major annoyance for me. I feel extremely sorry for the animals that suffer from this – and they are many. At the same time, I get really angry at those who insist on continuing, only because they can and because their reality consists of nothing but their own momentary gratification. Not to mention I get angry because society and the world we humans have built is so extremely focused on US, and does not take into account that there are actually other species that were not selected.
I do not think that fireworks must be banned altogether. But I really think that private individuals should not be allowed to either buy or use with impunity. One proposal is that only municipalities may buy and use fireworks, and that the time period they may be used is limited to a maximum of half an hour around midnight.
Now I think that I have vented enough about my New Years annoyance. To my great joy, Boyo has found his favorite toy, which he did not want to play with at all when it thundered at its worst. When the thunder died down, he lay snoring like a drunk truck driver under the table. ♥
And we – we'll hear from you below 2024. 🙂