Independence Day

 So, I told my cats...this is terrible, I know.  And it's going to continue for at least the next three hours.  You'll start to see flashes in the sky.  I don't know if you see color...do you?  And it will get really loud.  You're all 99.9% safe inside this house.  But fools being fools, I can't promise anything except that I'll make sure we all get out of here if the house burns down.  

Try to relax, I told them.  I don't like this either.  But it's my country, and I love my country, which allows everyone this freedom.  We're all in this together.