When you talk about true emotion, the death of a family member elicits its most pure form. How one deals with death, has a tendency to control the actions of that person. The memory of someone who passed may cause us to go through rituals that would seem ridiculous otherwise.
When you talk about emotion, the first column on balloons drummed some up. The reaction I received was way beyond what was expected. Although most of the responses were in my favor, I received a few that were less than friendly. I figured I must have left something out being that I felt I had touched every base, as to why letting balloons go was a horrible idea. The fact that they blow in the wind to wherever it takes them should be enough. Regardless, there were the unnamed folks out there that like to yell before they really sit back and think about what they are trying to protect.
I always laugh when everyone in support of something is happy to put their name on it, but those that want to defy logic tend to stay in the shadows. I will personally be happy to put my name on anything that I stand for. I guess that's what I do every week. Sometimes I get good feedback and others I become the target of confused or guilty people. I have to say it's likely the least favorite part of most people’s job as a writer.
I'm honestly a little bit annoyed with the topic of balloons. How such a stupid act became common, could have only happened one way. I have let them go myself as a child, and regret my actions enough to never let it happen again – move one up.
People feed emotion into the object, which in return places it on a pedestal. I'm just being honest here, but garbage is garbage no matter what you want to fill it with. The act of remembering someone through polluting our earth should seem idiotic, but to some folks it makes complete sense. I can't quote by name the people that don't agree with me because none of them left a name. I can at least include their responses and those of a couple people that feel the same as I do.
To the woman from Norwich that wrote, “My friend showed me your article. You have no heart! My baby died, then we let balloons go every year on her birthday. You are a “expletive” idiot, leave us alone.”
First of all ma’am, I am incredibly sorry for your loss! I do have a heart and mine has been filled with pain at times as yours has. I have lost many friends and family members, but cannot compare that to the loss you have been through. I understand wanting to honor your child's memory, but my heart says not at the sake of our environment. You see, I find balloons all the time in the wild. Many have chew marks on them from small animals. The material the balloons are made of is indigestible, and a wild animal may also have to watch its young one die through starvation, as a direct result of your actions. Imagine knowing someone consciously did something that caused your child's death. That's what happens when you let a balloon go. Please think of your actions and remember your child in a different way. Something’s life may depend on it!
I also received a letter from Louise Perry. She agrees with me and has attempted to do something about it. Louise shared, “That a group recently did a balloon release in memory of a school employee who passed away at a Chenango County school.” She then said, “She e-mailed the superintendent how she thought it was an especially bad idea when they should be presenting a better example to students.”
She received no reply from the superintendent. Thank you for attempting to stop this latest release! In the future, I think we need to stand up together and right away, if need be, even start a petition. I will be happy to make mention of any future releases in an attempt to stop the littering before it happens.
