I was disheartened by a recent local news segment where a customer casually mentioned spending $600 on fireworks for Independence Day.
That amount of money for something so temporary — just noise and light — baffles me. Fireworks sometimes lead to injuries and cause distress for neurodiverse people and those with PTSD and anxiety, especially some veterans, not to mention the impact on pets and wildlife.
I can’t help but think how much good that money could do elsewhere: feeding the hungry, supporting shelters, helping those without homes, or caring for veterans. Imagine the impact if even a fraction of what we spend on fireworks went toward building up our communities.
This isn’t about shaming anyone. We all make nonessential purchases — I’m no exception.
But maybe we could all benefit from pausing and thinking about how we use our resources. Real celebration could mean investing in each other, in lasting ways that go beyond a momentary spark.
J. T. Kohlmeyer, Evansville
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: OPINION | Letter: Baffled by spending so much on fireworks
Reporting by J.T. Kohlmeyer / Evansville Courier & Press
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