Letters to the editor | Sunday, May 17, 2020: Stanislaus reopening puts us all at risk
A price to pay for reopening
Re “Savvy Stanislaus supervisors placate political base, sidestep responsibility” (Page 6A, May 14): Thanks for an excellent editorial reviewing the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors’ decision not to enforce state COVID-19 guidelines. The supervisors tacitly approved business reopening, public health be damned. Enforcement is used for education, not necessarily punishment.
Without enforcement, citizens cannot enter a business confident that adequate sanitary precautions are being taken. Unless the owner makes a thorough effort to comply, a business opening outside state Health Department guidelines may take inadequate precautions to protect customers.
The virus shows up in clusters. Which business will be responsible for the next outbreak?
The decision by supervisors will prolong the pandemic locally, causing avoidable sickness and death. The supervisors gave selfish citizens permission to put others at risk. Expect consequences.
Bruce Frohman, Modesto
We can fight this enemy
Re “Stanislaus County officer amends stay-at-home order” (Front Page, May 14): It appears our battle to defeat COVID-19 and reverse its impact on our community’s health and economy will go on for a long time.
This enemy has seriously wounded our community without firing a shot or dropping a bomb. There is no military draft today but the challenge facing us requires every able-bodied person to enter the fight. The mask is the uniform and social distance is the rule of engagement. You, by joining the team, will determine how many businesses survive and how many people live.
Wearing a mask inside public spaces and maintaining at least 6 feet separation is the only way to show which team you are on. We can do the best we can if everyone is on the team. Anything less enables COVID-19.
Tim C. Ragsdale, Modesto
Politicizing the pandemic
We are all living and dying during the worst health crisis in our lifetime. In two months we have lost more Americans than during the entire Vietnam War. It is a tragedy that will leave its mark on our country for years to come.
In a crisis like this we look to our nation’s leaders to offer guidance, remedies and the truth. Have we gotten that? No. What we are seeing are political hacks mold, massage and manipulate the pandemic to their own selfish use. Why? Because it is an election year. This national election will determine our course. Either we will correct our course and redeem ourselves to the world or we go down the path of autocracy.
How could that be? Because there is a cleansing of America. The Trumpicans want to reduce the eligible voters in this country — reduce the number of African-American voters, Latinos, Asian and Islamic voters and marginalize anyone else who opposes their efforts. How much help they will get from the Russians and other autocrats is unknown. The handwriting is on the wall.
Dennis Thomas, Modesto
Ignoring science is lethal
Pandemic denial kills, and who your president is really matters.
This is not a new lesson. AIDS was first discovered in 1981 and its cause, HIV, was identified in 1984. Unfortunately our Republican president from 1981 to 1989 failed utterly to recognize that it needed vigorous action. At the end of his neglect, by 1990, it had killed about 90,000 of us.
That number blanches compared to Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa 1999 to 2008. Rejecting their scientists’ advice, he chose to believe that AIDS was caused by hunger and other socioeconomic factors. He is credited with more than 330,000 deaths.
Science denial is dangerous; in pandemics, lethal. Years may elapse before it can be calculated how many premature deaths were caused by our president’s science denial.
Richard Anderson, Modesto
Columnist doesn’t get it
Re “I will not die of stupid” (Page 8A, April 28): Leonard Pitts’ column was certainly thought-provoking. For the first time in his kindergarten writing career he actually put words together like an adult. He is absolutely correct when he says he will not die of stupid, the simple reason being that he’s been afflicted with stupidity for more than 62 years and that, over time, he has simply learned to live with it.
Alex Paul Kiehl, Turlock
Not a fan of Ted Howze
Yeah, you bet; just who I want to be my representative — a bigoted, racist coward who does not have what it takes to defend his core values. Howze would do us all a favor if he just went home.
Jim P. Matthews, Modesto
Social media doesn’t tell whole story
I regularly receive videos from far-right conservatives. These videos are supposed to convince me of something, usually that all Democrats are evil and that all Republicans uphold the teachings of the God of my understanding. I have learned to delete and ignore. Occasionally I attempt a witty response. The result is they delete me, which is fine. Those friends of mine who are thinking members of either party rarely, if ever, send me these online rants. For that I am grateful.
I have no idea who posted what on Mr. Howze’s accounts. What I do know is that anyone who makes a political decision based solely on what they read on Twitter or Facebook is selling themselves short.
I joined the American Solidarity Party in 2016 because I read the platform. While not perfect, it is closest to my personal values and allows me to make decisions on individual issues that may differ from it without losing my standing within that party. I am a fiscal conservative who believes in responsible and compassionate social justice. Those two ideals should never be at odds.
Do not judge Ted Howze by his Twitter account. Listen. Discern. Decide. Vote.
Leslie Shaw Klinger, Modesto
Fighting institutionalized injustice
Passive citizenship is the only ingredient necessary for wholesale social injustice. Refusing to report crime indicates distrust in the justice system.
As an unpaid social justice advocate I have reached out over decades to dozens of sheriffs and police chiefs. I’ve discovered the slightest non-complimentary observation is viewed as an attack and they’ll circle the wagons. Overwhelmingly, the discussion of citizen review boards is strictly verboten. Thus far no politician is willing to challenge the powerful, multibillion-dollar police industrial complex.
Yet change is overdue. The anniversary of the Kent State massacre proves white America can speak up, if it pertains to them. Unless it does, injustice will prevail.
Passive citizenship nurtures racially biased vigilantism, as in the case of Ahmaud Arbery who was murdered by self-deputized white men in February while jogging in Georgia. As well as the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida by George Zimmerman in 2012. Thousands of innocent black men would still be alive if the justice system had not adopted an us-versus-them attitude.
Jorge Martinez, Newman
Vintage Faire could host DMV
I think we are in a new normal.
I have an idea – why doesn’t the DMV consider moving to the mall? They have plenty of room there and the empty stores are huge. Imagine going early and hitting the food court. There will be more seating and lines inside won’t look as long. When you finish with your activity you can hit the food court before you head home.
The mall is large, has plenty of parking and is air conditioned. The current DMV offices could be used for truckers and other special groups.
Erwin Parent, Modesto
Questions for the president
Re “Just look what he puts up with” (Letters, May 3): Does Donald Trump really love America?
Why ease environmental regulations, exposing Americans to more toxic substances? Why encourage foreign and domestic visitors to stay at his properties, where our tax dollars benefit his family? Why undermine the backbone of American democracy: a free press?
Why promote the opening of businesses, right now, so strapped Americans do not qualify for unemployment? Why demean Americans with differing political views or cultural backgrounds? Why take away health insurance from millions of Americans?
Why tell so many lies, which are easily proven with videotape? Why fire experts, who serve to protect us, give oversight, and make us aware of global situations like this pandemic, which has killed thousands of Americans? Why not take the time to read memos, reports, and updates, for the safety of those Americans he loves so dearly?
Why call those, who carry flags representing groups who fought against America, very fine people? Why impede the most American of all acts — voting? Why take so many opportunities to use divisive rhetoric, when a unified America makes us stronger and safer?
It’s not love.
Dean Jepson, Turlock
Campaigning with stimulus money
Re “It’s our money, not Trump’s” (Letters, April 29): In response to denouncing Trump’s name placed on the CARES Act checks, I would like to add that I find it insulting and possibly illegal for Trump to spend taxpayer money to mail a letter telling us about the money. It was not necessary.
The envelope says it’s from the Department of Treasury. It also states there is a $300 fine if the envelope is used for private use. The enclosed paper had a letter head saying “The White House,” signed by Donald J. Trump. It is nothing more than a thinly disguised campaign letter.
Trump did not send me this check; Congress did — both Democrats and Republicans — using taxpayer money. In closing, his letters says, “Just as we have before, America will triumph yet again…and rise to new heights of greatness. We will do it together, as one nation, stronger than ever before.”
I consider myself neither on the right nor the left. I am an American taxpayer who analyzes what is good for the whole country, not just one side of the aisle. The next generation will pay for this CARES Act and every penny spent should be used with prudence.
Rochelle Kearns, Oakdale