Fireworks An Explosive Morality Issue Essay Research

Fireworks: An Explosive Morality Issue Essay, Research Paper

Courtney Hughes

Change and Tradition, Summer I

Walsh

June 2, 2000

Firecrackers: An Explosive Morality Issue

“Pop! Bam! Boom!” These are the sounds one hears passing by a Chinatown around February of every year. Indeed, these are the sounds of firecrackers, which are distinctive features Chinese people use to welcome a new beginning on Chinese New Year. According to older generations, firecrackers are considered not only a sign of getting rid of the old and welcoming the new, but are also believed to be able to dispel the evils. As a result, Chinese families deem the activity as an important one, and in turn, the moral debate continues to arise. However, it appears that this tradition is kept at the expense of innocent people.s lives. However, can anyone imagine how many people have died or have been injured by these explosive devices. An event of happy celebration frequently ends up being a tragic one. This leaves questions that need to be answered: Should people.s lives be sacrificed in order to keep the tradition of a New Year celebration. Does a ritual time of joy outweigh the grief it causes.

Ling is a Chinese man who happens to be a Taoist. Taoism is one of the great philosophical and religious traditions that originated in China. The goal in Taoism is to be one with Tao, to find “the way.” Ling respects the long-held Chinese tradition of setting off fireworks in celebration of the Chinese New Year, no matter what the consequence. As a Taoist, he seeks to become one with the celebration (the New Year) itself, and becoming one includes a traditional fireworks display. This quest for oneness with the fireworks stems from Ling.s Taoist belief in the importance of ritual.

For Chinese people, both in China and in ethnic communities around the world, the New Year is the most important and most festive ritual holiday of the year. Throughout centuries of China’s agrarian tradition, this was the one period when farmers could rest from their work in the fields. Family members from near and far would travel to be with loved ones in time to usher out the old year and welcome in the new, with great celebratory flourish. The Chinese people have, for thousands of years, been building on ancient customs of New Year celebrations. Although they may vary from region to region and even family to family according to social position, many of these customary rituals are still observed. Today, shops do a flurry of business selling gifts, new clothes and festive foods, kitchens are bustling with preparations for elaborate feasts, and streets are filled with the sounds of firecrackers and New Year.s greetings (Cayton 4). This emphasis on ritual is a primary focus for a Taoist like Ling, enabling other worldly concerns to be insignificant.

Specifically, the potential for human harm does not distress Ling, for he is not concerned with his individual needs. Death is obviously not an issue, as exemplified by the Lao-Tzu.s words in the Tao Te Ching: “Tao endures. Your body dies” (16). It is only when Ling rids himself of all worries that he can achieve true wu-wei (oneness with Tao). In the writings of the Tao Te Ching, Tao is described as formless, standing alone without change and reaching everywhere without harm (Lao-Tzu xii). Ling uses the light that is inside of him to revert to the natural clearness of sight, a value described in the Tao Te Ching. By divesting himself of all external distractions and desires, he achieves wu-wei (Lao-Tzu xiii). Such a meaningful ritual as the fireworks celebrating the Chinese New Year unites people in their joy. This is the heart of the flow of the Tao.

Together, the Chinese are one with the ritual of celebrating the New Year. The following translation from the Tao Te Ching best summarizes the theory behind Tao and how a Taoist like Ling can achieve wu-wei: “The Great Way is very smooth, but the people love the by-paths. . . The wearing of gay embroidered robes, the carrying of sharp swords, fastidiousness in food and drink, superabundance of property and wealth. this I call flaunting robbery; most assuredly it is not Tao. . . He who acts in accordance with Tao, becomes one with Tao. . .Being akin to Heaven, he possesses Tao. Possessed of Tao, he endures forever. . . Being great (Tao) passes on; passing on, it becomes remote; having become remote, it returns (Lao-Tzu 79). As a Taoist, Ling seeks this inner light, and is not distracted by the extravagance of fireworks display itself. This notion is a part of The Tao Te Ching and is stated, “The path to Tao is individual, it comes from within” (Lao-Tzu 24). No one defines a path for the Taoist; it is internally aroused according to the way. Taoists believe there is an inner light evolving from past experiences, which guides a person in the right direction towards intuitive unity. By shunning every earthly distractions and “living in the moment,” Ling is able to concentrate on life itself. Statistics on injuries and deaths related to fireworks presentations are not relevant at this time of festivity. In his case, fireworks are not distractions, but the anxiety of fireworks protestors is hindrance to Ling.s harmonious life. In essence, Ling takes a total non-confrontational, non-involved outlook on this issue of whether or not fireworks should continue to be displayed.