Why all the fireworks on the 4th of July?

We have just finished our third night of incredible fireworks that lasted three hours in my neighborhood. That's not counting the fireworks that have been going around this area for a week. It was like a war zone.

Fireworks purchases need a permit and must be used by an adult. Handheld devices are illegal for purchase and use. They are dangerous and expensive - money that could be better spent elsewhere, like at a food bank to support our neighbors who have been disproportionately hit by the events of the last year. We have plenty of fireworks displays run by cities. Leave it to the professionals or restrict this to just one night.

Why do we celebrate July 4 with fireworks? And what, really do we have to celebrate? We have more than 600,000 dead, including my husband, from a pandemic that didn't have to be this bad if the government had acted at all to protect American citizens. There is a massive movement of voter suppression by Republicans to deny the right to vote to minority groups. We should be ashamed of ourselves and work to make this supposed "democracy" democratic for all.

As I write this, I am sure there will be an incredible blast off tonight, July 5th, and the days to come. I can hardly wait.

Sandra Wittman

Carpentersville