Friday Letters: Enforce ban on fireworks and firecrackers

SHARE Friday Letters: Enforce ban on fireworks and firecrackers
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Sun-Times Library | Keith Hale

Fireworks are meant to be displayed on lakefronts, golf courses, parks, stadiums, and the occasional farm field. They are not meant to be shot off in the alleys near densely populated homes and apartment buildings.

In the last few years, fireworks and firecrackers have started in late spring and continued throughout the summer. Fourth of July festivities seem to last for weeks.

Emergency rooms are busier than usual, animal shelters see a rise in population because frightened, agitated dogs run away, and alleys and backyards are strewn with debris. The incessant noise affects people with PTSDs, the elderly and the sick, pets and their owners, people who must go to work, and young children with sleep schedules.

Why aren’t the bans against fireworks being enforced? ( The city could use the extra revenue). At the very least, there should be a set time for fireworks so that the rest of us who are being held hostage can take our dogs out at 3 a.m. without the random blast that scares our dogs back home. Even trick-or-treaters have a curfew.

Bridget Ozolins, Norwood Park

Simple talk

I’ve noticed, recently, that Donald Trump speaks to his audiences as though they were little children. Example: “There’s something really, really bad going on.”  Could it be that’s because their knowledge of current affairs is so low as to put them in a childlike position? Their minds are so warped with prejudice they unable to relate to reality.  They simply don’t comprehend what’s really going on.  Many of them are so misinformed they have no way of knowing what’s being told to them.  Therefore they think Trump knows what he’s talking about.

Edwina Jackson,

Longwood Manor

Incomprehensible

It is incomprehensible that the FBI did not recommend charges against Hillary Clinton for her obvious breach of security protocol. While I was in the military service, a breach of security protocol from “confidential to eyes only” meant a courts martial, and a possible dishonorable discharge.

Mike Koskiewicz, Portage Park

Where’s U.S. report?

I will be with you, whatever.” – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to President George W. Bush, eight months before the U.S.-British invasion of Iraq.

A shaken, chastened Blair faced the cameras Wdnesday and apologized for the “mistakes” he made in his support of the war, in response to the 2.6 million-word Chilcot Report, seven years in the making, offering a devastating assessment of Blair’s involvement.

The question for the day is: Where is the U.S. version of the Chilcot Report? Unlike the Brits, Americans are still searching the blowing wind.

Walt Zlotow. Glen Ellyn

We’re lucky

Listening to the patriotic songs during the July 4th celebrations, served as a reminder to this writer and I hope to my fellow Americans just how lucky we are. Lucky to be part of this great nation, the light of the world and the hope of the world.

I say this in spite of our faults and our blemishes. We sometimes go off the deep end and suffer through growing pains. We are not always civil to each other and quite often allow racial and religious intolerance to raise its ugly head.

We have managed to survive these turbulent times because the majority of our citizens are benevolent, compassionate and kind-hearted.

Throughout our history, people have sacrificed much to reach our shores because of the belief that this is the land that with hard work, talent and determination, they can raise themselves up and provide a decent life for their families.

We are still evolving as a people and as a country, and even though our principles and values take a hit from time to time, we manage to regain our footing and forge ahead.

It is incumbent on each and every one of us to work hard to make this land of opportunity even better.

Ned L. McCray, Tinley Park

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