Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Fireworks displays lit the sky from everywhere, even the neighboring creeks. As my daughter and I settled into our chairs to watch, the fiery moon was rising in the east, making its way across the heavens. Boats slipped from their moorings and made their way to what by now has become known as a serious display of fireworks. Strains of music drifted across the harbor from the band at the marina and, at one point, a family on a neighboring dock began to sing “God Bless America.”

Sadly, at such a time as this, I reflected upon some of the events happening in parts of our beloved country. We are all so lucky to live in America. Why can’t man (all of us created by God/supposedly the highest lifeform on this planet) live in peace with one another? We behave so poorly; we quibble and argue over so many things.

Perhaps we should take lessons from God’s lesser creatures—the animals. They live peacefully with one another and kill only to eat, not maliciously or...