A4
THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, AuguST 7, 2021
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
Founded in 1873
SHANNON ARLINT
Circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
A cautious
return
A
national newsletter recently captured
a nuance of the coronavirus pandemic.
“While much of the nation tiptoes
toward normalcy, coronavirus cases are again
overloading hospitals in areas with low vacci-
nation rates.”
That is particularly disturbing. And it is a
reminder that we must not rush to return to
normalcy.
Usually, having extolled the virtues of last
week’s Clatsop County Fair, we would be
gearing up to highlight the efforts of Asto-
ria Regatta organizers to stage another of the
brightest events of the summer calendar.
As well as music, carnivals and activi-
ties showcasing talented exhibitors, the fair is
essentially a social occasion — people meet
acquaintances they don’t see the rest of the
year.
The curtailed activities announced for the
Regatta sensibly acknowledge the unsafe times
in which we live. The Regatta has a specialness
because it’s a community event that reminds us
of our rich maritime heritage.
Like the fair, it is central to our usual enjoy-
ment of summer. It’s not surprising organizers
have been anticipating these two events as a
sign things are significantly better.
But are they?
When the global pandemic emerged from its
early stage secrecy, the government restrictions
started in March 2020. Since that time, much
has happened.
Since we realized we had a crisis, our lead-
ers have faltered, moved ahead with vigor,
then occasionally taken steps back. Front-line
health professionals’ pleaded for help. Epide-
miologists and virologists spoke — often, their
warnings fell on deaf ears.
There has been progress, however.
Masks became a staple of everyday life, and
should continue to be in coming months. The
governors of Oregon and Washington state
both insist that staff and children wear them
this coming school year. They recommend peo-
ple continue to wear them in most indoor pub-
lic circumstances, too, as a precaution to stop
the spread.
One apparent success story has been the
manner in which, as the nation’s virus death
toll hit the hundreds of thousands, scientists
raced to produce vaccines. When their story is
fully told, we anticipate the barriers they over-
came will make compelling reading. Federal
agencies hurried to give tentative approval,
promote the vaccines, and tried to put in place
a plan to distribute stocks to the states.
Residents everywhere stepped forward to
receive the vaccines, first the most vulnerable
among our population, then others who deter-
mined it was their duty to themselves and their
neighbors.
And then what happened? The situation
changed. Increasingly dangerous variants of
the virus threatened our world once again.
Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian
The Clatsop County Fair featured rides and attractions.
This happened exactly as the irrational phe-
nomenon of vaccine hesitancy morphed from a
rare religious scruple to a widespread political
statement. Distrust of government has become
associated with opposition to masks and vac-
cines. Western governors’ restrictions — now
significantly changed from 2020 — continue to
be viewed as an attack on our free-market econ-
omy itself. Similarly, mask mandates have been
characterized as a restriction on civil liberties.
If the coronavirus experience has shown
the world anything, it is that the dangers can
quickly become a moving target. Today’s head-
lines about the delta variant likely will be
replaced in the coming months with revelations
about other currently unknown health dangers.
Experts have said that vaccinations and
safe behavior around others are the two most
important factors to surviving the pandemic.
More is being learned about the specific vac-
cines. One or more may require a booster shot.
That doesn’t mean the original jab was useless,
just a reminder that medical science is a pro-
cess of discovery.
We commend those who are treading with
care.
Precautions should continue, even as our
communities open up and events like the fair
and Regatta return. Masks and distancing can
all lessen the chances of catching or spreading
a potentially deadly virus.
So that wording we mentioned at the top of
this editorial signals a strategy.
America’s biggest public health danger isn’t
the virus itself. It is complacency.
The pandemic isn’t over. We must tiptoe
toward normalcy.
That means:
• Get vaccinated.
• Follow mask guidelines.
• Stay safe.
We are all in this together.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Played
T
he article about the Oregon Golf Invi-
tational tournament on page A3 of the
Tuesday edition of The Astorian failed to
state where the tournament was played.
I could be wrong, but I think it is one of
the basic “who, what, when, where, why”
questions that should be answered by a
journalist.
ERIC OLSON
Warrenton
Asking
F
or over two months, I have been ask-
ing the Clatsop County commission-
ers to repair the beach accesses at Fal-
con Cove/Cove Beach as required by the
Beach Bill of 1967. They have done noth-
ing but stall and pass the buck to the Ore-
gon Parks and Recreation Department.
At their meeting July 28, once again the
county manager gave information that did
not even relate to my request. The public
and first responders should have access,
not words! I have two minutes twice a
month to try to get some answers.
County Manager Don Bohn talked
about two beach accesses that are already
open at the meeting, not the ones I am con-
cerned about.
REBA OWEN
Warrenton
Shame
O
n Tuesday, The Astorian ran a front-
page headline stating: “Conservatives
more likely to decline vaccines.”
The essence of the story was based on
a survey showing a comparison of large
population cities in relation to rural areas.
It is a well-established fact that the state of
Oregon is very progressive in its politics,
as shown by most recent election results.
I view this headline as intended to anger
conservatives, when considered in relation
to how few details were included in the
article to explain how this conclusion was
reached. I view this story as a way that
appears to shame conservatives publicly.
I dislike any survey using percentages
rather an exact counts. Meaningful surveys
need to include many questions, covering
all sides of an issue. I feel this story had
a bias it was attempting to sell that was
unfair by leaving out specifics — report
everything or nothing.
If a specific political class is mentioned,
the reporter should be required to show all
of the facts, such as how many people par-
ticipated locally, and what political party
these people claimed.
The company conducting the survey
claimed it included 1,464 people. I would
be very interested in the number of each
party that participated in the survey.
Many people do not trust any media
reporting survey results because of insuffi-
cient information included in stories. Bias
narrative is a constant problem from most
media, and I resent all stories with incom-
plete information.
SCOTT WIDDICOMBE
Warrenton