Cowardly threats no match for Fourth spirit

Posted 6/30/16

The stripes are on the road, flags and bunting are on buildings all over town, and music fills the air every night from Independence Park. Bristol’s biggest party is underway, and with the Fourth …

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Cowardly threats no match for Fourth spirit

Posted

The stripes are on the road, flags and bunting are on buildings all over town, and music fills the air every night from Independence Park. Bristol’s biggest party is underway, and with the Fourth of July on a Monday this year, an epic long weekend is in the offing.

Yet, despite the excitement and revelry in the air, there are some hateful individuals whose lives are apparently so miserable they just can’t stand to see others enjoying life.

There have been reports of threats being made around town, especially to business owners near the parade route on Hope and High streets. The threats are mostly vague missives dreamed up by some middle schooler in his parent’s basement — or at least by someone with the mentality of a middle schooler. But others are more specific and nefarious, including one from some anonymous wannabe terrorist claiming he plans to throw children in front of horses during the Fourth of July Parade.

It is easy to dismiss such ridiculous threats as the harmless ramblings of a warped, immature mind — and they likely are. But unfortunately, at a time when seemingly every other newscast is filled with images of a ruthless murderer indiscriminately gunning down innocent strangers with a weapon of war no civilian should be allowed to have, we have no choice but to take these threatening cowards at their word. Add in the prestige of the oldest Fourth of July celebration in the country — and the tens of thousands of visitors that brings to Bristol on July 4 — and you can see why a potential attack isn’t necessarily only the stuff of fantasy.

Bristol Police officers have seemingly been more visible in recent days as they oversee the security of the town while preparations are made, and they will be out in force on the Fourth, watching over the crowd and making themselves accessible to anyone who needs help, or anyone who needs to report something suspicious.

This is not to say people should avoid the parade, constantly look over their shoulders, or be paranoid about a fellow reveler they’ve never seen before. Quite the opposite, actually. We should be vigilant and look out for each other. But we should all celebrate to the fullest, if for no other reason than to shove it in the face of those who have nothing better to do but rain on everyone else’s parade.

Bristol Fourth of July, Fourth of July Parade

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.