Fireworks celebrations do not harm dogs and cats

Boulder is full of people of love to pamper their pets. There are many expensive pet supply stores in town, and we boast one of the best animal shelters in the United States. We certainly treat our dogs and cats much better than homeless people.

However, Boulder is also full of people who hate the Fourth of July, what it stands for, and don’t view that as worthy of celebration. Many of these people are also eager to equate anyone who celebrates with fireworks, as has been done for the past 250 years, to animal abusers.

Perhaps it is worth noting that the former Confederate states did not widely celebrate the holiday until after World War 2. They lost, too, but, eventually, got over it, and wanted to be a part of our society again.

I can tell you that my tuxedo tabby, Bosco, had an interesting night last night, but is perfectly fine, and not injured in any way from the event. I live near a neighborhood of largely Spanish-speaking immigrants, and they absolutely love to celebrate the Fourth!

Bosco seemed startled by the louder fireworks, which would sometimes cause him to run and hide under the bed. However, he responds the same way to thunderstorms, the garbage disposal or, sometimes, literally nothing at all.

How many thunderstorms happen a year in Boulder? The Fourth of July fireworks celebration lasts for a few hours, once a year. It’s a celebration of freedom, including the freedom to be loud and obnoxious, within reasonable limits. If you don’t want to celebrate that freedom, that’s fine, but consider the freedom you enjoy to go around bothering people for having fun, and baselessly accuse of them of animal abuse, which is a heinous crime.

— Greg Eckard, Boulder

Reality is independent of human definition

I happened upon the July 1 Camera, and all three letters in the open forum were just excellent.

The first two were clear and polite … but what really needs to be said and done about the killing of Palestinian children, animals and Earth … will not be printed.

To add to the third, about religion and science: Reality, or religious truth, is independent of human definition (neti, neti). But it is internally discoverable. Science sees patterns and relations, then creates theories and formalisms. Then various technologies, including weapons. It seems much concerned with human (only) betterment and power. Much concerned with control of sensory (only) reality. It has been terribly misdirected exactly because of a lack of morality.

— Bob Erickson, Boulder

Floods show government really can be too small

The Floods in central Texas were devastating.

The loss of life incomprehensible.

Most of the death and destruction occurred in Kerr County, Texas.

The region is described as “flash Flood Alley.”

“This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States,” the Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly told reporters.

There was no flood warning system! “… such systems are expensive …taxpayers won’t pay for it,” Mr. Kelly said in an interview.

There are also reports that the local National Weather Service was understaffed in key areas of expertise due to vacancies & federal budget cutbacks.

Maybe government can be too small?

— Bruce Wilson, Longmont

Longmont open space should be left alone

Open space is of high value to the citizens of Longmont as demonstrated by the passage of Ballot Issue 3A last year that extends indefinitely the open space tax paid by Longmont Citizens. That demonstrates the importance of open space to Longmont residents.

When open space has been acquired in the past, location is of primary consideration. To that point, once a location has been established, it is meant to be permanent and not a future candidate for relocation. My opinion is that any consideration of moving or exchanging existing open space property is not what the voters of Longmont want. Longmont voters share a belief that existing open space should be left alone and not be a candidate for any future property exchange. I am one of those voters.

— Roger Lange, Longmont