Therehassprungupaheateddiscussionastowhetherfirecrackersshouldbebannedinthecities.Althoughagoodfewpeopledismissitassheernonsense,Ithinkthatitreflectsasensibleattitudetowardstheissueoffirecrackers.
AsatraditionalwaytocelebratetheNewYear,quiteafewpeoplemissfirecrackersalot.TheythinkfirecrackershavebecomepartofourChineseculture.Lotsoffunwillbegonewiththebanoffirecrackers.Buttheseso-calledmeritsareoftenoffsetbyitsundesirableeffect.Forexample,firecrackersoftencausemanyseriousproblemsasbigfires,environmentalpollutionandcasualties.OnNewYear'sEve,inparticular,thedeafeningnoisesofexplosionsaccompaniedwithstingychokingsmokeandhazardoussparksusuallydriveonemanhardlypeaceful.Tomakethematterworse,childrenloveplayingcarelesslywithfirecrackers,whichmoreoftencauseconflagration.Therealsoexistpotentialhazardsinmanufacturing,shippingandstoringthem.
True,tochangeacustomisnoteasy,andpeoplearenotreadyforsuchdrasticaction,butitwillpayinthelongrunifthesettingoffoffirecrackersiseffectivelybannedinthecities.
