I'ts a rainy day in the neighborhood....inside and out.......

Have I mentioned how much I detest fighting? This past week or so in my neighborhood has been a cross to bear. There are two families who have outdoor fire pit/chiminea devices. Both of their properties adjoin the yard of a man who is confrontational. This man ordered both families to stop using their devices. He went to the Board of Health who did not think it was a town nuisance but advised him that he could file complaints of them as a personal nuisance.
This is what I find so distasteful about the whole situation. The man has children. He is trying to claim that smoke puts his daughters at health risk. He just stopped smoking recently and exposed them for years to second hand smoke. NOW he is claiming they have allergies. The pollen count has been the highest in twenty years but his windows are wide open. All the warnings tell you not to open them this time of year. If his windows were shut the children wouldn't be exposed to pollen OR smoke. Incidently I have allergies and asthma and I sit next to the fire with no problem because it's clean wood. I recently heard that he was complaining about the SMELL of burning wood from a fireplace hundreds of yards away. Apparently, it is my belief, that he does not like the smell of burning wood. There are many smells I do not care for but others using PineSol as their cleaner is hardly a legal nuisance. I remember one day when I accidentally breathed it in from neighbor's garbage and coughed for twenty minutes. At one point does someone else's right not to like something entitle them to stop others from enjoying their home and property?
About a week ago I was sitting next to the chiminea which had been used earlier but now was no longer burning. Mr. Confrontational came up to the fence and began to verbally assault the other neighbor. FOUR times it was pointed out to him that it was not lit but he would not stop. He was asked to leave but stated he would stand there all night because he could.
Most neighbors where I live strongly feel that Mr. Confrontational is in the wrong. Still, they are hesitant to become involved. This frustrates me greatly. I actually think of the Holocaust. You may think that's a drastic comparison but I ask, at one point does someone step up to the plate and say THIS IS WRONG. For me it was last Friday. I sat down and wrote him a letter. I told him that he should ponder the golden rule.I also told him that what I witnessed was harassment and that I would testify to it if the need arose. I asked him to keep peace in the neighborhood and stop his behavior. I just learned that he went down and filed complaints this morning. Looks like all the people who didn't want to be involved will be drug into court as witnesses. Perhaps that is when this man will finally understand that he stands alone. It's tough taking a stand for what you believe in. One neighbor felt that I might cause problems between who his kids played with. I guess it's a possibility but as long as my brain is still functioning I will never sit in silence and watch another person be harassed. Even though I know I did the right thing I had trouble sleeping last night. You can lead a horse to the water (of brotherhood) but you can't make him drink. I am deeply concerned for his children.