Letters to the editor | Sunday, July 12, 2020: Never have we been more divided
Whatever happened to centrism?
I believe the overwhelming majority of police are professional, impartial and reliable. I also believe a minority are lawless rogues who should be identified, removed and prosecuted. Both sides hate me.
I believe the statues of Confederate “heroes” erected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are abominations and should be removed. I also believe assaults on the statues of Serra, Columbus, Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln reflect politically correct insanity run amok. Both sides hate me.
I believe a person brought to this country as a young child deserves at least a path to legality and even citizenship. I also believe a nation needs strong border controls and close scrutiny of those who are allowed to enter. Both sides hate me. I could go on.
Years ago I believed there was an 85% solution to almost every issue. The wackos on each extreme would never agree, but the vast majority of Americans could agree to some reasonable middle ground. These days I wonder if even a 50%-plus-1 solution is achievable on anything.
Douglas Brower, Ballico
Fearing COVID science deniers
Re: “Newsom’s shutdown order includes Stanislaus County” (Front Page, July 2): The governor is starting a shutdown in Stanislaus County. It has come to this because our local politicians are afraid to stand up to the non-believers. Supervisor Terry Withrow said, “We are waiting for more clarification from the state. If the state intends to do it, we will let the state do it.”
Take responsibility! If county officials would have enforced the proven COVID practices of mask-wearing and safe distancing, it would not be as bad. Law enforcement kept quiet; all these officials are paid with our tax dollars and like in Washington they should lead by example, but they are also non-believers.
Yes we all have rights and if we would just follow some simple requests businesses may stay open. If you choose not to, we will revert back to a quarantine. Look around the world; other countries are living it up but our non-believers are locking us back down.
While you may not get sick, you may pass it on to someone who does.
Coy Cross, Modesto
Refusing to enforce coronavirus rules
Going back to March, county dignitaries including Sheriff Jeff Dirkse and the supervisors affirmed that they would not enforce the governor’s shutdowns. Why did they finally change their minds? Maybe the spike in cases that have made this a COVID hotspot and has brought our hospital ICUs to near capacity, as well as potential loss in funds, brought about a sudden epiphany.
With a turn that will make those supporting the defunding of law enforcement jubilant, the county announced that they will not use police to enforce orders, but will instead rely on code enforcers. It has become obvious that our county leaders are gutless.
Elmano M. Costa, Turlock
Questioning leaders’ hypocrisy
We have all made sacrifices for the sake of public health. It has ripped us apart, isolated us, filled us with anxiety and left us with questions that remain unanswered. As a concerned citizen, a mother and a member of your community I have looked to our local officials for guidance and advice on how to keep my family and yours safe.
Keeping up with these practices and living in limbo has exhausted me, but seeing photographs of Stanislaus County Director of Communications Amy Vickery and Police Chief Galen Carroll’s wedding (attended by Modesto Council members including Doug Ridenour and Mani Grewal) that completely disregarded any public health safety guidelines put out by the same people who were present has not only wounded my spirit, but it has made me question the integrity of the leadership of my city. It is insulting to the frontline workers, the health care workers, the small business owners that are the heart of this town and to each and every family that has suffered.
They have failed to rise to the occasion and should not be trusted.
Hannah Barron, Modesto
Out of patience for the selfish
We are past “please.” Time for everyone to wear a mask in public. Stop shopping in stores that don’t protect their employees and customers.
Steve Ringhoff, Modesto
Do it for those you love
I love to hang out with my grandparents. Now, with extra precautions, I can.
But when I go to the store, I see people not wearing masks and I get scared. I if I were to get coronavirus, then give it to my grandparents, they could die. I would like stores to enforce masks. The employees are safer, you are safer, and the people around you are safer. If you don’t mask, the people you might infect can infect other people who could give it to people who could die from coronavirus. So please wear masks.
Kai Sturdy, Modesto
A twist on Trump’s wall
The European Union recently announced that most of its members will no longer permit Americans to enter their nations due to a coronavirus infection rate that is totally out of control. For those who view the pandemic as a hoax or media hype, please consider that the EU is foregoing billions of tourist dollars in order to keep the disease contained. Apparently, they know something we don’t about the costs associated with COVID-19.
Closer to home, Canada continues to restrict cross-border traffic to essential workers while Mexico is considering a similar restriction along its border with Arizona.
It appears that an unexpected byproduct of the administration’s abysmal handling of the COVID-19 crisis are border controls similar to those on which Donald Trump based his 2016 presidential campaign. Only instead of keeping foreign nationals out of the U.S., other countries are keeping Americans out so as not to spread the virus to their citizens. Maybe we should call this new virtual wall the Ironic Curtain.
Terry Gray, Modesto
Reliving the Revolution?
Every year on the Fourth of July, NPR’s Morning Edition host reads on air the Declaration of Independence. This year I was struck by all the reasons the Founders felt they needed to separate. This list is long, and detailed. Trump claims he is promoting the Founders’ ideals. Let’s look at how the president matches up with the Founders.
He’s not responsible for threats without or within (bounties, or when a pandemic hits). He is anti-immigration. Obstructs justice. Desires to make judges dependent on his will. Cuts off trade through tariffs. Sends swarms of officers to harass us. Incites domestic squabbles, dividing the people (“good people on both sides”). Does not allow governors to act on their own. Refuses to pass laws for the domestic good (coronavirus). Wants military to be superior to civil authority.
Trump’s positions are akin to the reasons the Founders separated from England. When the streets fill with people, understand that they are the ideological descendants of the Founders, not the “love it or leave it” crowd.
Gary Kinard, Gustine
This story was originally published July 12, 2020 at 5:00 AM.