Editor,
This letter is in regards to the hate-filled article that was written by Keith Kappes in the July 17 edition of the OPINION section of the Times. The hatred of left wing liberals always bothers me. The old Southern Democrats did not espouse hatred and sour grapes like the liberals do today. The party has changed. Your remarks about JD Vance were uncalled for. I have heard him speak and he is more knowledgeable about current issues and people than Biden, Trump, and Harris all put together. Also, he served in the Marines in Iraq, so he is a better person than all three.
If you were in the Marines, and there was fighting going on, you probably saw a good part of it.
JD Vance should have our respect, if nothing else. Also, I read the book “Hillbilly Elegy” and saw the movie. I loved them both. I did not see them as degrading KY. As a matter of fact, I saw them as viewing KY as a place where old time, respect for the dead, loyalty to family, and patriotism still existed.
Also, I saw a lot of truth in his portrayal of growing up with a family member with a substance abuse problem. I know. I grew up the same way. It was a living nightmare.
So, Keith, I’ll buy you lunch some time and I respect your opinion, but you should leave the name calling and hate out of your life. You are starting to sound like Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.
Randall McGlone
Grayson
Dear Editor,
I have read with interest your positively glowing report on the July 4 fireworks show at Tres Hermanos. I do not share your enthusiasm for the “nuisance noise” caused by the fireworks. The sound was like a war zone.
Residue from the fireworks skittered across my bedroom window until the show stopped (10:25 p.m.?). I called 911 at around 10 p.m. complaining about the noise. The female 911 operator shut me off quickly by saying, “We can’t do anything about the fireworks.”
I asked, “Why not?”
She said, “Because it’s July 4.”
Your paper stated after the 4th that others had complained about fireworks on the same night that I did. In their case, an officer was sent to address their concerns.
During the fireworks show, my neighbor’s house shook and someone on Second Street told me their windows rattled. Elderly people have reported to me that they had to stay awake and hold their dog who was terrified by the noise.
May I suggest that instead of next year’s show, money spent on fireworks be used to help the poor.
Gery Burchett
Grayson
Readers,
Before I respond further, let’s take a moment to point out some distinctions between the complaints to city council that drew a police response, and the Tres Hermanos show. That instance, reported in our July 17 issue, involved complaints about private individuals letting off fireworks as late as midnight.
The July 4 celebration sponsored by Tres Hermanos, on the other hand, was a special event, with all appropriate city permits, permissions, and support. We even checked to make sure after getting your letter. It also ended well before midnight.
Is it frustrating to have fireworks exploding when you want to go to bed, or just enjoy some quiet? Absolutely. As someone who has often had unconventional work schedules, I sympathize with that quest for quiet time.
However, fireworks can only really be appreciated after dark. In the summer however, which is when the July 4 holiday takes place, the sun sets much later in the day. That means you can’t get started until later. It also means a fireworks show is going to last just a little longer than some folks bedtime.
It’s also going to frighten some animals. That’s a perennial complaint. Unmentioned in your letter, but just as important, is the impact on service members suffering with PTSD and trauma responses to explosions.
But it’s just one night a year, and we know it’s coming. That means that those bothered by it have time to prepare. Whether that means earplugs, headphones and a favorite podcast, or taking their dogs for a quiet drive in the country. Obviously these won’t work for everyone, but you might find you discover another annual ritual that, for you, drives home the importance of community and compromise to keeping this American experiment alive and vibrant.
There is never going to be any solution that makes everyone happy. Cancel the fireworks, and you make some dog owners happy, and disappoint a ton of kids. Continue with them, and folks will continue to complain about the noise and vibrations. Even if you found a completely silent alternative (some communities are turning to synchronized drone displays), some folks will complain they miss the old fashioned boom that follows the brilliant display – like thunder following lightning. There is no perfect answer. There is never going to be. But at least it’s only one night. (And if it isn’t, you can always call the police.)
Jeremy
