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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 2021)
Opinion A4 Tuesday, August 31, 2021 OUR VIEW Virus isn’t a political entity Y ou can see them only with a microscope. Viruses are essentially an assortment of genetic code encased in a coat of pro- tein. Viruses infect cells, hijack the machinery of the cell and make more copies of themselves. A virus can’t vote. Viruses — as far as we know — don’t belong to any American polit- ical party. They can’t use Twitter or Facebook or Snapchat. A decade ago — even two years ago — the concept that a collection of genetic code could become politicized and used by any number of diff erent special interest groups would have seemed, if impossible, then certainly absurd. Yet, here we are. During the past week a string of county sheriff s across the state have issued missives regarding how they will not enforce mandates from Gov. Kate Brown regarding some aspect of her COVID-19 restrictions. The assorted epis- tles were issued even though Brown, as far as we know, never directed any county sheriff to enforce any type of COVID-19 mandate. But the communiques from the sheriff s con- tinue an ongoing, deep distrust of authority by many Americans and Oregonians that is as American as baseball and apple pie. Part of the American ethos revolves around distrusting government — in any form — and just as important to our national collective con- sciousness is the concept of individual rights. Those two elements of our nature — cou- pled with false information — have combined to create a situation where a microscopic virus has become a politicized issue, not much diff erent than health care, the economy and foreign policy. Perhaps it was inevitable. Hard to say. The nation, the state, the community have spent a large amount of time focusing on the political aspects of the virus and it is time to start asking diff erent questions and do a focus check. The task at hand is a COVID-19 pandemic that is, in many cases, deadly and spreads easily and rapidly. The second issue is the capability of our entire medical system to respond to a pandemic, whether it is COVID-19 or some other pathogen. Hospitals are, indeed, becoming packed with COVID-19 cases. They are running out of room. The key question should be — and until now hasn’t been — why? It will seem at fi rst glance to have an easy answer — because there are not enough beds. Why? If one does not want to be vaccinated then that is one’s choice, but the emphasis now must be on how to stop the pandemic, not politicizing it. It’s a virus. Not a political entity. LETTERS • The Observer welcomes letters to the editor. We edit letters for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. We will not publish con- sumer complaints against busi- nesses, personal attacks against private individuals or comments that can incite violence. We also discourage thank-you letters. • Letters should be no longer than 350 words and must be signed and carry the author’s name, address and phone number (for verifi - cation only). We will not publish anonymous letters. • Letter writers are limited to one letter every two weeks. • Longer community comment columns, such as Other Views, must be no more than 700 words. Writers must provide a recent headshot and a one-sentence biography. Like letters to the editor, columns must refrain from complaints against businesses or personal attacks against private individuals. Submissions must carry the author’s name, address and phone number. • Submission does not guarantee publication, which is at the discre- tion of the editor. SEND LETTERS TO: letters@lagrandeobserver.com or via mail to Editor, 911 Jeff erson Ave., La Grande, OR 97850 LETTERS This virus is no joke Cody Bowen, your position is more of a law enforcement posi- tion than speaking for everyone in Union County. You are elected into that position and can have a pro- spective recall petition fi led for your public offi ce. This isn’t where you can make wild false accusa- tions about the accurate current state of public health and safety, which you are meant to uphold requests by law and ordinance through the position elected into. What you can do and should do is support the medical staff as they are on the frontline of this fi ght. Not you, not yet, and certainly not speaking for all of Union County. Cody, please let us all know when you have received a med- ical degree, one of many that allow you to stand up for our so-called injustices in mask-wearing. Mask- wearing is far from an injustice. What is an injustice is the fact that some families have gone without their parents, grandparents, etc., because they decided not to wear a mask or get vaccinated, and unfor- tunately those persons lost their lives with new variants. My fellow brothers and sisters in blue, I truly have the most love and appreciation for what you all do on any given day. You put yourselves out there with your vests, duty belts and gear, and taking care of things so we can rest peacefully. You all have such a fi ght on your hands. I hear what some of my brothers and sisters in blue are going through in other states. Here is what I have an issue with: When I went into law enforcement we had to make cer- tain our vaccinations were cur- rent with the requirements of the department, and the same goes for our military personnel. So what makes this any diff erent for you, Cody, or anyone else when we are trying to preserve what we have left? Union County, I have already heard so very many medical per- sonnel state that “this virus is no joke.” Please, please take care of yourself. Jeanmarie Warren Elgin Sheriff ’s letter to governor is misleading and reckless Regarding recent letter from the Union County Sheriff to the gov- ernor of Oregon, I applaud the fi rst 11 words but would like a public retraction of the remainder of the letter. I found it to be nothing more than a thinly veiled political state- ment given at the expense of the health and well-being of the citi- zens of Union County. The letter reads like a transcript from a local radio talk show (these are for enter- tainment only, not to be taken seriously). Lacking any apparent corrob- oration with local health offi cials, this letter proclaiming a “line in the sand” from the people of Union County is misleading, divisive and reckless. I expect elected offi cials to adhere to acceptable standards of behavior and make use of reason- able protocols to assess risks to public health and safety. Appro- priate action by offi cials during a crisis can inspire young leaders and instill confi dence in our govern- ment (lacking in today’s environ- ment). Future generations will be facing many challenges for Oregon in the near future and we need to do our part to provide a functioning government. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Subscription rates: Monthly Autopay ...............................$10.75 13 weeks.................................................$37.00 26 weeks.................................................$71.00 52 weeks ..............................................$135.00 Controlling disease is about science, not politics Vaccine shots have been one of the world’s greatest scientifi c accomplishments. Here are sev- eral diseases that vaccine shots have controlled or eliminated: polio, tetanus, measles, common fl u, hepatitis A and B, whooping cough (pertussis), smallpox, chick- enpox, diphtheria, mumps, hives, and the list goes on. Millions of people have had a shot for shingles and pneumonia. There is a history that you can read on each of these diseases. The COVID vaccine and wearing a mask to prevent this dis- ease and sickness/death have been proven. You probably had a DPT shot (diphtheria, pertussis and tet- anus) right after you were born. The recent Observer letter from Krisandra Kellogg was great reading, and I hope thousands read it. Her statements on Sheriff Cody Bowen were so true. He is speaking for himself and not the public. He has some backers that elected him. He does not have the background to make the statements he does. His statements and wishes are political and made for reelection. Gary L. Feasel La Grande STAFF SUBSCRIBEAND SAVE NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50 You can save up to 55% off the single-copy price with home delivery. Call 800-781-3214 to subscribe. For me this letter raises serious doubt about the sheriff ’s loyalties to the best interests of the people of Union County and also his ability to prioritize issues without a polit- ical bias. I would like to see an accounting of the rationale for issuing this statement at this time in the midst of a resurgence of COVID-19 and the county and state medical facilities being strained. Chuck LeBold Union Anindependent newspaper foundedin1896 www.lagrandeobserver.com Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, Oregon 97801 Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (except postal holidays) by EO Media Group, 911 Jefferson Ave., La Grande, OR 97850 (USPS 299-260) The Observer retains ownership and copyright protection of all staff-prepared news copy, advertising copy, photos and news or ad illustrations. They may not be reproduced without explicit prior approval. 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