It is 11 p.m. on July 3. I am unable to sleep because I am attempting to comfort my lovable little dog who is a quivering, whimpering mass of jelly, all because of the horrible, destructive, and totally senseless bombardment of fireworks coming from the Tulalip Reservation and booming across the water. It has been going on for a month and will continue for another month or more on any night the weather permits, often continuing into the early morning.
I respect the rights of Native Americans and their sovereign (domestic, dependent) nation but I think they need to respect the rights of the sovereign nation surrounding them and stop the contamination or, at least, limit it to one night of the year.
The native culture is founded on respect for all living creatures, but anyone who lives near the reservation or near the waters surrounding the reservation must be distressed.
I hear the wild frenzy of hundreds of birds for minutes after every especially loud bang. I can observe what it does to my dog who is inside a house and being comforted in my lap as I write this. I can only imagine the terror of the millions of wild and domestic creatures that are being subjected to the barrage for miles in every direction.
Why do we tolerate this? Is there nothing that can be done? Does the Tulalip Tribe not feel the distress? I know it is a great financial boon, but they already have huge profit making businesses in place as well as support from the federal government. I also know that many of the people love the fireworks as do many off the reservation, but surrounding governments have made the decision that the negatives are too great to continue to allow this devastation. I suspect that there are many living on the reservation who share my concern.
It is now 1 a.m. on July 4 and the incredible noise continues…
Barbara Birman
Everett
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