By: Daniel Nardini
In an effort to save money, the City of Chicago has decided to cancel its fireworks display for the Fourth of July weekend. It cited the amount of money, the time and resources that its police and fire forces would have to spend in the festivities, and also the money it would take just to organize everything as too excessive. One might excuse all of this as a sign of the times. In a way this is understandable. And yet it is not.
Some things you cannot put a price on. The birth of the United States of America is one of them. Think of all the people who have worked for the City of Chicago and have labored for not only this great city and state but also for this country? Think about all of our veterans who have fought for this country. Do they not deserve some festivities during the weekend? Think about the kids. How can we explain to them that the Fourth of July, which is a sacred holiday, has been more or less cancelled over money? And finally, think about what this means to not honor the founders of this country?
Is there no way that some corporate sponsors can come in to help pay for the fireworks extravaganza? Is there no way to find ways of raising money throughout Chicago to put on a fireworks display but also any festivities associated with the Fourth of July? Is there no way that the City of Chicago can work out something with the state to try and get some funding (now that I think about it, this would not work either since the state is also flat broke)?
There are smaller Illinois communities that believe that the Fourth of July is too sacred a holiday to cancel. And I say bravo for them. One such example is Oakwood, Illinois. The town was flat broke, but its residents got together and raised the money to have not only fireworks but also other festivities. Also, the Town of Rantoul, Illinois, has been working with community residents on trying to come up with ways of raising funds for the Fourth of July fireworks. This is the American spirit at its best. This is something we all can learn from—the spirit of never give up or give-in to cheap short-cuts. I know the City of Chicago is talking about holding fireworks at Navy Pier, but this is no substitute for giving back to the residents of the City of Chicago for all they have done. It is not the same as holding fireworks displays along the lakefront in three different locations that former Mayor Richard M. Daley did–even if an a scaled-back version of previous Fourth of July fireworks displays.
One has to ask what is next? Cancelling all of the festivities for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Cancelling all of the activities for Halloween? Why don’t we just cancel the festivities for the beginning of the New Year and just have everyone go to work as usual? If you can cancel the Fourth of July you can start to cancel all of the rest. Yes, I know things are hard for city and state governments nationwide. But imagine what it is like for the people. With high unemployment, many more poor and many more homeless, they sometimes need something to celebrate, something to look forward to.
I am NOT saying we should cut funding for people who need homeless shelters, funding for city services, nor funding for helping people find work just to fund holiday festivities. But is there no way to fund festivities for the people? This in my view is symbolic of a very bad beginning for the Rahm Emanuel mayorship.
What, No Fourth of July?
By: Daniel Nardini
In an effort to save money, the City of Chicago has decided to cancel its fireworks display for the Fourth of July weekend. It cited the amount of money, the time and resources that its police and fire forces would have to spend in the festivities, and also the money it would take just to organize everything as too excessive. One might excuse all of this as a sign of the times. In a way this is understandable. And yet it is not.
Some things you cannot put a price on. The birth of the United States of America is one of them. Think of all the people who have worked for the City of Chicago and have labored for not only this great city and state but also for this country? Think about all of our veterans who have fought for this country. Do they not deserve some festivities during the weekend? Think about the kids. How can we explain to them that the Fourth of July, which is a sacred holiday, has been more or less cancelled over money? And finally, think about what this means to not honor the founders of this country?
Is there no way that some corporate sponsors can come in to help pay for the fireworks extravaganza? Is there no way to find ways of raising money throughout Chicago to put on a fireworks display but also any festivities associated with the Fourth of July? Is there no way that the City of Chicago can work out something with the state to try and get some funding (now that I think about it, this would not work either since the state is also flat broke)?
There are smaller Illinois communities that believe that the Fourth of July is too sacred a holiday to cancel. And I say bravo for them. One such example is Oakwood, Illinois. The town was flat broke, but its residents got together and raised the money to have not only fireworks but also other festivities. Also, the Town of Rantoul, Illinois, has been working with community residents on trying to come up with ways of raising funds for the Fourth of July fireworks. This is the American spirit at its best. This is something we all can learn from—the spirit of never give up or give-in to cheap short-cuts. I know the City of Chicago is talking about holding fireworks at Navy Pier, but this is no substitute for giving back to the residents of the City of Chicago for all they have done. It is not the same as holding fireworks displays along the lakefront in three different locations that former Mayor Richard M. Daley did–even if an a scaled-back version of previous Fourth of July fireworks displays.
One has to ask what is next? Cancelling all of the festivities for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Cancelling all of the activities for Halloween? Why don’t we just cancel the festivities for the beginning of the New Year and just have everyone go to work as usual? If you can cancel the Fourth of July you can start to cancel all of the rest. Yes, I know things are hard for city and state governments nationwide. But imagine what it is like for the people. With high unemployment, many more poor and many more homeless, they sometimes need something to celebrate, something to look forward to.
I am NOT saying we should cut funding for people who need homeless shelters, funding for city services, nor funding for helping people find work just to fund holiday festivities. But is there no way to fund festivities for the people? This in my view is symbolic of a very bad beginning for the Rahm Emanuel mayorship.