The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 1 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on September 18, 2020.
Maryam Javed ’21
Opinions Editor
We are living in unprecedented times. A raging pandemic, persistent political instability, mass protests, and climate change are only some of the issues we as a country are facing. These issues make this arguably one of the most stressful times in modern history. The El Dorado fire in San Bernardino County, California, which was caused by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used for a gender-reveal party, burnt more than 10,000 acres of land, damaged the forest, harmed wildlife, and according to the Washington Post, forced 21,000 people to evacuate their homes. Clearly, the family who hosted the gender-reveal party should have been aware of the fact that they live in an area that is susceptible to forest fires and also should have been wary about throwing a big party in the midst of a pandemic.
Unfortunately, we are living in a time where gender reveal parties are now more important than our environment and the health and well-being of ourselves and others. Even the woman who popularized gender reveal parties, Jenna Karvunidis, has said enough is enough when it comes to gender reveal parties that involve dangerous pyrotechnics. In a viral Facebook post on September 7, Karvunidis stated, “The fire that evacuated parts of California is from a GENDER REVEAL PARTY. Stop it. Stop having these stupid parties.” She later noted, “It was 116 degrees in Pasadena yesterday . . . Just because I’m the gender reveal inventor doesn’t mean I think people should burn down their communities.”
This nation prides itself on being the epitome of democracy and granting its citizens liberty and freedom. We have the right to do as we please on our private property but that right disappears when one’s actions lead to the destruction of the world we live in. I personally believe that gender reveal parties are extremely unnecessary, but if someone must have one, they should take more safety precautions and stop using dangerous devices to prove that they have lavish lifestyles. These parties have gone way too far. This is not the first time this has happened and it certainly won’t be the last. According to the Washington Post, “a similar antic in 2017 started a 47,000-acre wildfire in the foothills of . . . Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains. Last year, another gender-reveal gimmick set off a brush fire in Florida. Gender-reveal parties have caused a plane crash and last year one killed a grandmother when she was struck with shrapnel after a family unintentionally created a pipe bomb while attempting a colorful explosion to announce the sex of their unborn child.”
The way we understand gender has evolved drastically so it seems foolish to celebrate the genitalia of a baby. It makes more sense to celebrate one’s gender when they are older. We as a society have become so materialistic and selfish; truly oblivious to the world around us. Many firefighters who are fighting the El Dorado fire say that this blaze is the worst they have ever encountered. The effect that this fire has had on the wildlife of San Bernardino’s forest is truly devastating, especially because several endangered species inhabit the forest. So far, $8 million of damages have occurred as a result of the fire. This wildfire season is arguably the worst in California’s history. The region the fire occurred in is prone to wildfires, especially because of climate change. This fire could have easily been prevented. The sky following the fire is truly haunting and images after the scene have shocked the world. Every day is unpredictable now; one can only hope that people will think twice before doing something that could profoundly harm their communities and the environment.
