Well, folks, the joke's on us. The tents you might see popping up in parking lots ("House votes to give Minnesotans more bang in their fireworks," April 24) will belong to the same fireworks houses you see in Wisconsin, from Hudson to Milwaukee.

And guess which store will have the most fireworks for sale? That's right: Wal-Mart.

So while our police and fire departments are responding to errant fires, severed digits, damaged eyes and severe burns, the profits from fireworks sales will be floating right back across the river or down to Arkansas.

As for patriotic displays? Well, just like most things at Wal-Mart, the sticker inside the fireworks wrappers will read "Made in China."

I guess that's the new American way.


STEPHEN A. MILTICH, MOUND