Let’s make sure Independence Day is safe and enjoyable for everyone

The Fourth of July is almost upon us, which is one of the grandest of our nation’s holidays and a celebration of our nation’s freedom.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

In the coming days, people will be having cookouts, parties at the lake and fireworks celebrations to cap off the festivities.

Despite her many faults, this is still the greatest nation on Earth, which provides a great many freedoms to its citizens, and Independence Day is a time to celebrate those freedoms.

To paraphrase a line from Spiderman though, with great freedoms come great responsibility.

While watching fireworks is something extremely enjoyable to most of us, also bear in mind this isn’t the case for everyone.

For instance, there are numerous veterans, who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Individuals, who suffer from Autism, sometimes find loud noises very uncomfortable. Also, many pets are greatly distressed by loud noises, such as fireworks.

I’m not saying don’t go out and have fun on the Fourth of July. I’m not saying don’t enjoy setting off fireworks, if that is something you like doing.

What I am saying is be considerate of others.

Don’t set off fireworks every night for a week.

If you are going to have a Fourth of July party with fireworks and you have a neighbor, who is a veteran suffering from PTSD, then give your neighbor a heads up about your celebration and the time frame when you plan to set off your fireworks. This way they can perhaps put on some loud music while the fireworks are going off or maybe use some earplugs to muffle the sounds. The same goes for your neighbor, who has a child suffering from Autism.

Also, remember that most people have to get up and go to work (many of us early) on July 5 so try to wrap up the fireworks by a decent hour, such as 11 p.m.

In addition, I would urge those of you attending Independence Day celebrations to not drink and drive. If you are going to drink, then please have a designated driver.

There have been far too many times over the years where I have had to write about someone killed by a drunken driver. In many cases, the drunk driver isn’t some hardened criminal. Often times they are just a regular person, who never meant to hurt anyone but did anyway. Please don’t let that become you.

Now let me touch on a few of other topics before I conclude this column.

• Congratulations to Carlos Cameron, who has been named as Congressman Hal Rogers new district director for southern and eastern Kentucky. Cameron is a life-long resident of Jackson County and has been on Rogers’ staff since 2014.

Prior to that I can remember Cameron working for Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Intervention Treatment and Education) for many years. He is a smart, capable guy, who I think will do well in this new role.

I wish the best of luck to his predecessor, Karen Kelly, who is leaving to take a job in the private sector. Kelly spent many years in this region as director of the PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment) program and UNITE before her time serving on Rogers staff.

• Happy early birthday to my dad, Mike White, whose birthday is on July 4. If you have to have a holiday birthday, then this is the one to have. Also, happy early Fourth of July birthday to my buddy Dean Manning.