Be kind when having a blast

I REFER to Jayraj Bachu’s letter (“Fireworks seem to be an issue only in SA”, Independent on Saturday, January 7).

On television many people watch the spectacular end-of-year firework displays in major cities around the world. The displays are obviously carefully planned and controlled.

In our city, there are widely publicised by-laws regulating the use and control of fireworks, but few people adhere to any rules, which is why there are complaints.

Our suburb sounded like a war zone on New Year’s Eve, and many residents in various parts of the city complained about the excessive noise of the fireworks, and the fact that prescribed times were not adhered to.

On New Year’s Day, a neighbour threw a big-bang firework at our fence while we were chatting to visitors. They lit more fireworks later, as did others.

Do we really need this noise pollution in our midst? We have experienced much stressful violence in the recent past, such as the student protests that were traumatic for many residents and their pets in the vicinity.

At the beginning of a new year, perhaps the following words could be considered: “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” (Henry James, AmericanEnglish writer).