MARCH 20, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
Opinion
We’re all in this
together
The Keizertimes, along with ev-
ery other media outlet, is working
overtime to keep the public in-
formed on the constantly changing
information about the coronavirus
(COVID19) pandemic. Information
and news is updating on an hourly
basis.
Though this expand-
ed issue of the Keizertimes
went to press on Wednes-
day, Keizer can keep up on
the latest at keizertimes.
com and our Facebook
page.
The owners and the
staff of the Keizertimes is as worried
as everyone else. These are truly
times that try men’s souls. Gov. Kate
Brown’s order for restaurants and
bars to close their dining rooms as
well as the order for gatherings of
no more than 10 or 25 people (that
number is in constant fl ux), will un-
doubtly cause economic pain across
the board.
Why can the public do? The
most important thing is to follow
the directives of the experts. That
includes staying home. If that is
not an option, then keeping dis-
tance from others is key. For those
not exhibiting any symptoms, it is
important to wash one’s hands, and
not just a cursory once-over. Med-
ical experts from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention say
that vigorously washing hands for at
least 20 seconds is the new normal.
And that is for every man, woman
and child.
Hopefully everyone now knows
of this pandemic. Cases of COVID19
have now been identifi ed in all 50
states, and not just in big cities. The
virus is even appearing in small
towns, miles from population cen-
ters.
Events are being canceled—con-
certs, festivals—any place where
large numbers of people gather. Life
as we know it is changed and we
all need to do our part for ourselves
and our families, and for each other.
More people are staying home
and sheltering in place, along with
all school-age children, since schools
are closed until at least the end of
April. That is not an option for ev-
eryone, especially those who own
small businesses. Restaurants must
rely on take out orders to survive
these uncertain times.
Unfotunately, there will
be some small business-
es that will not be able
to remain in operation
for long. Everyone’s
fi rst priority is the safe-
ty of their family and
their households. When
possible, to help others, ordering
take-out meals from area restaurants
several times a week during this cri-
sis will help our fellow citizens.
The public’s thirst for updated
and correct information is palpa-
ble. This is not a time for opinion,
it is the time for news that is trust-
worthy. Oregon media is working
in collaboration, sharing news across
many platforms to keep the public
informed.
Our website is sharing up to the
minute news from sources such as
The Oregonian and Oregon Public
Broadcasting. This week’s issue of
the Keizertimes has been planned for
months—we are mailing it to al-
most 14,000 Keizer homes. The fact
that it comes in the middle of a pan-
demic allows us to get local infor-
mation out to as many households
as we can. This twice-a-year ex-
panded issue of your local newspa-
per allows us to report what is hap-
pening in your community. We take
our mission of covering the seven
square miles of Keizer to heart. It is
never so important as during a time
of communal distress.
As long as the coronavirus is af-
fecting life in Keizer, the Keizertimes
will do its best to provide readers
the information they need to stay
safe. Any story about the virus on
keizertimes.com is available free to
anyone at any time.
We are all in this together.
—LAZ
our
opinion
Fighting a virus with truth and transparency
By KEN PAULSON
As the scope and threat of the
coronavirus pandemic becomes clear,
people all over the world hunger for
two things: an effective vaccine and
truthful information about the disease.
The former may be more than a
year away, but the latter is
critical to stemming the
pandemic in the mean-
time.
This is Sunshine Week,
a time each year when
people like me write col-
umns about some legis-
lature’s
wrong-headed
move to limit access to public records,
and then try to make the case for
greater access to public information
and transparency in government.
But we’re facing something far
more dangerous than any state legis-
lature could conjure up. It’s a world-
wide crisis worsened by governments
whose impulse is to hide, control and
censor news and information.
When a Chinese doctor shared
with his colleagues his concerns that
a mysterious new virus might be
emerging, he was reprimanded and si-
In case you missed it, Governor session in the next few weeks to ad- lenced. The doctor, Li Wenliang, died
Kate Brown has enacted new rules in dress economic impacts already hit- last month of coronavirus. After Chi-
regards to the coronavirus. All that is ting Oregonians. As a legislator that na mishandled and hid the virus from
posted below is effective from Tues- concerns me with “social distancing” the public, the epidemic dramatically
measures in effect so if we do meet, I worsened. The Chinese government
day, March 17, for four weeks:
1.) The practice of social distancing would hope it’s by teleconference or “is now leading a sweeping campaign
to purge the public sphere of dissent,
is now 25 persons (most stores includ- otherwise remotely.
I absolutely real- censoring news reports, harassing cit-
ing grocers and pharmacies
ize the impact this will izen journalists and shutting down
will be exempt).
have on all Oregonians news sites,” according to the New York
2.) Restaurants must do
but especially those in Times.
carry out or delivery only
Similar suppression has appeared in
the food services indus-
with no dine in or on-site
try. For quick updates
consumption (non-com-
regarding COVID-19,
pliance will lead to a Class
follow my Facebook
C Misdemeanor).
The idea that every cloud has a sil-
page. I will continue
3.) All businesses should
ver
lining can be traced back to the
to do my best to keep
evaluate social distancing
you up to date as I learn writings of John Milton in 1634. It
practices.
was adopted later by many writers
4.) A committee/group
from the more.
President Trump this including Noel Coward in the 1930s
will be formed for mitiga-
capitol
week said 10 was the where he inserted in his plays “There’s
tion of economic impact
social distancing that the a silver lining through the dark clouds
of these decisions. Gov.
By BILL POST
CDC recommends and shining” and “Every silver lining has
Brown says she’s conven-
that he believes this will its cloud.”
ing a council on economic
Meanwhile, the phrase may fi t well
not be over until July
relief for those affected by
COVID19: “We want to make sure or August. So my friends, get used to into the pandemic that has virtual-
Oregon families have the resources spending time with your immediate ly swallowed the entire
they need to pay rent/mortgage, and family, stay home, when out stay six world in 2020. Ameri-
feet away from everyone, wash your cans by the millions do
purchase essentials.”
not have current sports
5.) Metro area hospitals will act as a hands, sterilize everything.
These are scary times. It helps my events to attend or view
unifi ed health system to increase bed
capacity and private entities will be anxieties when I remember to place on TV. That means there
my trust in the Lord. Philippians 4:6- are a whole lot of us not
opened for bed capacity.
doing the usual at this
As for schools: Gov. Brown previ- 7.
Be safe out there and remember to time of year: sitting on
ously ordered schools closed through
a sofa, eating snacks and
March 31. She now says she’s “reeval- be a good neighbor.
cursing at or cheering on our favorite
(Bill
Post
represents
House
Dis-
uating” the length of that, consider-
ing her cancellation of gatherings of trict 25. He can be reached at 503- basketball team.
Instead, the very next clear day we
25 people for four weeks. Also, Gov. 986- 1425 or via email at rep.bill-
post@ oregonlegislature.gov.)
might
want to get out and take a hike,
Brown says she’ll likely call a special
western Oregon provides thousands
of public-access hiking choices. We
can play basketball with family mem-
bers, one on one, two on two, etcetera.
Who knows but that we can put our
cell phones down and get to know
Wheatland Publishing Corp.
each other better. Thereby, we can use
142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303
some muscles that have been idle and
maybe even reduce that mid-body
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bulge that’s been growing for some
MANAGING EDITOR
time. All are “silver lining” stuff.
Eric A. Howald
SUBSCRIPTIONS
editor@keizertimes.com
Then there are the many brain-en-
One year:
$35 in Marion County,
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
hancing games a family of all ages can
Matt Rawlings
$43 outside Marion County,
bring out to play together. There’s
news@keizertimes.com
$55 outside Oregon
Monopoly for learning to count
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PRODUCTION MANAGER
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142 Chemawa Road N.
& GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Keizer, OR 97303
el ship, learning to knit, remodeling a
EDITOR
&
PUBLISHER
Andrew Jackson
Lyndon Zaitz
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Periodical postage paid at
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LEGAL NOTICES
upholstering a chair. What better way
2019-2020 President
legals@keizertimes.com
Oregon Newspaper
to discover “silver linings” than fi nd-
BUSINESS MANAGER
Publishers Association
ing ways in which persons can learn
Leah Stevens
billing@keizertimes.com
a new skill, master the use of tools or
RECEPTION
broaden their knowledge?
Lori Beyeler
Cruise ships are docked. What was
twitter.com/keizertimes
facebook.com/keizertimes
INTERN
at
one
time, four to fi ve decades ago, a
Brooklyn Flint
real opportunity to experience a week
Rules for COVID19 actions
other nations, according to the Com-
mittee to Protect journalists. In Thai-
land, the prime minister has threat-
ened to arrest journalists who publish
“fake news” about the virus and Iran
detained a journalist for posts critical
of the government’s response, accord-
ing to the CPJ.
But even a democracy
is going to be tempted to
manage the messaging, as
the U.S. did by initially
channeling the govern-
ment’s comments through
a single spokesman—Vice
President Mike Pence.
That has improved signifi cantly over
the past week.
When the public is desperate for
information, government needs to
maximize authoritative informa-
tion from scientists and experts on
the public payroll. That appropriate-
ly gives Americans what they need
to know, and counters irresponsible
pundits who have sought to minimize
the threat to score political or ratings
points.
Most encouraging, though, has
been the response of state and local
governments, schools and the private
sector. Governments at every level re-
sist disclosure and scrutiny, but this has
been a refreshing change, with leaders
saying: “Here’s what we need to do,
here’s why we’re doing it and here’s
how you can fi nd out more.”
Sports leagues and private business-
es, not known for transparency, have
been refreshingly transparent. How
many emails have you received this
week that began “Out of an abun-
sunshine
week
dance of caution…”? There are a lot
of institutions making tough decisions
these days, but they’re largely doing
it in partnership with the American
people.
More than anything, else, though,
this crisis reminds us of how wise the
fi rst generation of Americans was in
demanding a free press. Despite the
inevitable accusations by some that
the news media were “hyping” this
threat, traditional media have been
measured and thorough in their cov-
erage, making the most of their on-
air medical and scientifi c consultants.
Closer to home, local newspapers and
broadcasters have devoted extensive
resources to reporting how the virus
will affect the communities they serve.
President Trump told the nation
last week that “we are all in this to-
gether” and that’s exactly what needs
to happen: the government sharing
what it knows truthfully and without
spin or bravado, private and public
institutions engaging constructively
with America’s most pressing chal-
lenge and news organizations keeping
the public informed in a thorough and
even-handed way.
In the end, science will prevail in
curbing this virus. Yet the path to that
victory can only emerge from true
collaboration and collective sacrifi ce,
fueled by a shared understanding of
exactly what we’re up against. That
can only come from the free fl ow of
information.
(Ken Paulson is the director of the
Free Speech Center at Middle Ten-
nessee State University.)
Finding ways to adjust life during crisis
or two of life at sea have now become
behemoth monsters of extraordinary
size that offer enough rooms aboard
to house literally thousands of peo-
ple. They are fl oating cities of near
mountainous size that any more, and
too regularly, provide outbreaks of
life-threatening disease. Nowadays,
they sail our planet’s oceans, dumping
unprocessed tons of garbage in the
form of plastics, paper, spoiled food
and human waste. They
serve to kill species of fi sh
and mammals and pollute at
horrifi c scale. A “silver lin-
ing” would be a return by
them to the smaller vessels
of yesteryear that include the
means of taking disposables
back to shore.
Besides, at present, the
shutting down of the annual NCAA
March Madness basketball tourna-
ment, Disneyland, Broadway shows,
Coachella’s fabled music festival,
Austin’s SouthXSouthwest culture
conference, and an alphabet soup of
sports leagues, the NBA, NHL, MLB
and Major League Soccer we are en-
couraged to avoid large gatherings,
handshakes and close encounters with
fellow members of the human race.
SARS, Ebola and infl uenza are now
gene h.
mcintyre
Keizertimes
generally controlled by immuniza-
tions and a dedicated, when realized,
national effort will also bring a “silver
lining” to COVID-19.
A precursor of the coronavirus was
the 1918 Spanish Flu. It killed 50 mil-
lion globally and close to 700,000 in
the US when our population was less
than one-third of today’s 330 million.
Research shows that responses to that
pandemic varied from state to state
and city to city. Philadelphia offi cials,
for just one example of poor timing,
demanded that a popular Liberty Pa-
rade be held in the face of warnings
about large gatherings. Three days af-
ter the parade, all 31 hospitals in that
city were fi lled with the sick. At least
2,600 died in them.
We’re not doomed by any stretch as
the human race will see the end to this
pandemic and build a means through
inoculation in future to control it.
Meanwhile, it’s a threat to each of us,
our family members, friends, neigh-
bors and fellow workers.
The “silver lining” factor is recog-
nition that this pandemic knows no
partisan politics and will be defeated
through our humanity by caring for
each other and all Americans.
(Gene H. McIntyre lives in Keizer.
He shares his opinion frequently in
the Keizertimes.)