Letter to the Editor: People no longer respect city laws

Editor,

The other night, at about 9, I heard a loud explosion and then two other explosions. Somebody didn’t realize that the 4th of July was two months ago. It’s not my intent to write the usual anti-fireworks letter, talking about pets hiding under the bed, veterans dealing with various forms of PTSD, the mess in our yards and on our roofs. Although all of those things are important. This letter calls out the people who are still exploding stuff.

What kind of a person waits until late night to set off an explosion? Somebody who gets his kicks out of disturbing the peace of the city. There’s something wrong with this person’s brain. Or, more accurately, with his soul. I’m guessing he’s kinda stupid in his normal dealings. There are several of these people in Battle Ground who take delight in upsetting the rest of us. Where are their neighbors? Aren’t they outraged by that?

So, what to do? The city fathers take a ho hum attitude about this. I am reminded of what Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” We are on a slow crawl toward lawlessness. Don’t think so? How many people did you see today who deliberately ran a red light? I see three or four a day. Watch the late night news. The crimes are more random and often don’t make any sense. The guy who slashed more than 30 tires and the number of cowardly hit-and-run drivers.

Now is the time to do something about it. To turn the momentum back toward “reverence for the law, our political religion” (Lincoln). If not now, when? The point of no return is out there, and we are heading toward it. Who knows what it will be like if we cross that line. Our leaders may not think that is possible, but having studied politics for over 50 years, I know how fast things can change once momentum builds.

But alas, I’m not going to hold my breath.

Rick Hauser

Battle Ground