Necessary sacrifices

Dec 4, 2020
Dec 4, 2020 Updated Apr 13, 2025
18

Editor,

I am both saddened and angered when I see sentiments such as those expressed in the letter “Defying baseless restrictions” (Dec. 1).

(18) comments

Ray Fowler Dec 4, 2020 6:34am

I hope this letter inspires some robust debate. We'll see.

Tafhdyd Dec 4, 2020 8:16am

Ray,

I am with you on inspiring discussion. The points Brian makes are the basis of my very short rant yesterday. When I settle down a bit I will give you the "rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would say.

Ray Fowler Dec 4, 2020 9:05am

Okey dokey, Pablo.

Jorg Dec 4, 2020 8:02am

We're required by law to wear seatbelts, and will be fined if we don't. So, what's the difference?

Tafhdyd Dec 4, 2020 8:10am

Brian,

100% correct on your letter. I personally would add a few adjectives of a stronger nature but they would be censored. I missed the letter on the first and just read it.

Thanks for bringing it up.

Tommy Tee Dec 4, 2020 8:28am

I agree with Mr. Wright. We had 236,000 (USA) cases and over 18,000 cases (CA) since yesterday. The fact is many, many people with Covid are asymptomatic and could be unknowing spreaders. It's a shame the issue has become political. To me, wearing a mask should equated to wearing a seatbelt, or wearing shirts and shoes in a store or a restaurant. I don't know about you, but I would feel terrible if I had Covid and gave it to someone. Multiple legitimate studies have shown masks work, and if most people wore one for 3-4 weeks, we could see cases drop dramatically. It's not about liberty or freedom, it's about caring for your fellow human beings.

Dirk van Ulden Dec 4, 2020 8:42am

Nice try Brian - but your so-called facts do not add up. Hospitalization and death rates are not related. The overall death rate in California has not increased since the pandemic was announced. I have been wearing a mask since it became a requirement and I have also, along with my family, practiced social distancing since March or so. Please explain why the Covid-19 cases are increasing nonetheless while most folks, if not all, around us have been wearing masks? Your reputable studies were not even validated by the COVID-19 Emperor Faucy himself. Now we learned that schools should be opened ASAP because kids do not transmit the virus after all. The Red Cross is reporting that the virus was already in our systems late last year according to the blood samples that they analyzed. I am just saying that there does not seem to be a realistic and credible way to combat the virus. Even the pending vaccine is of questionable value. Our leaders are just flailing and throwing restrictions around that have not resulted in any mitigation of the spread. But, as a typical Biden group thinker you have also the right to express your opinion.

Tafhdyd Dec 4, 2020 9:00am

And in typical Trumpian thinking you could care less what science and medical experts say. All that matters is what you feel like doing.

Dirk van Ulden Dec 4, 2020 6:11pm

Taffy - you may want to qualify your statement. It has been clear from the beginning of this pandemic that, as a group, scientists and medical professionals have diverging opinions. One thing is clear, the term science is being abused and politicized. I am not refuting the horrible effects of COVID19 but I am seriously questioning the efficacy of our lame leaders' edicts. Mind you, I read the same results in Europe and South America, nobody seems to be on top of it.

Tafhdyd Dec 4, 2020 7:43pm

Dirk,

First I will thank you for wearing a mask and following the guidelines. May I ask why you do when most of your other comments seem to follow the anti conformist freedom and liberty in America attitude of the Trump followers?

As for the science and medical discussion, yes there are differing opinions. I think the majority of them do lean to the mask and social distance guidelines. Trump only likes science that benefits his agenda ala Dr. Atlas. When was the last time you saw Dr. Fauci or Dr. Birx on a news conference other than on what Trump would call fake news outlets?

Terence Y Dec 4, 2020 8:53am

Mr. Wright, if you look at the latest COVID-19 Pandemic Planning Scenarios, you’ll see that the infection survival rates for people 69 and younger are between 99.5% and 99.997%. For people ages 70+, the survival rate is 94.6%. Of the 10% in the hospital, how many are discharged within a day, or a week, or never discharged? Reputable studies have also shown masks do not work. Of note is a recent Danish study showing statistically, masks don’t provide any protection. In addition, a CDC study in September found that 85% of infected COVID patients habitually wore masks. Less than 4% of the infected reported never wearing a mask. Any response to studies that don’t agree with your narrative? Supposedly, we’ve been wearing masks for more than a few months, yet… as long as COVID is out there, people will get infected, while wearing a mask, or not, as the above studies have shown. The CDC has also said schools should open for in-person learning because schools are not a major cause of spreading COVID. Any opinion on schools opening? If you want to wear a mask, please do so. I’ve been called much worse in these comment pages so if I’m selfish for not wearing a mask (unless a business requires it), then so be it.

Tommy Tee Dec 4, 2020 9:13am

Terence, The Danish study you referenced has been proven to be flawed. The authors themselves admitted to limited investigation. The study was underpowered (researchers didn't have enough observations of cases), participants were asked to self-report their usage, with less than half fully complying, and finally the study says masks protect others better than the person wearing them (this conclusion has been known for some time). So again, it's about protecting others.

Tafhdyd Dec 4, 2020 9:42am

Terence,

I see that Tommy tried to enlighten you just before I started to post. I was going to say the same thing, even knowing it is a waste of time. I will add a little of what I was going to show you.

“Mask wearing doesn’t do a darn thing (changed for clean language),” tweeted a conservative talk radio show host in response to the study.

But that’s not exactly what the study found. And the bottom line is that you should still wear a mask.

“Masks bring down the community viral load. There’s less getting out, and that means there is less for you to be exposed to,” says John Brooks, MD, a medical epidemiologist in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the CDC in Atlanta.

In countries where mask use is high, case counts are low. That’s been true throughout history, too. Masks have long been deployed during outbreaks of infectious disease and have been shown to help control the spread of airborne germs.

Terence Y Dec 4, 2020 11:15am

Tommy and Taffy Dave, if someone wants to question a study, they can easily raise questions regarding sample size, methodology, etc. and say a study is flawed or find some other issue as to why results aren’t valid if it doesn’t fit their narrative. As Ray has pointed out again today, there are numerous so-called leaders that ignore their guidelines to “the people” so obviously, they’re not too worried. If you want to wear a mask, I respect your decision to do so.

Ray Fowler Dec 4, 2020 10:03am

Thanks for your letter, Brian.

I understand the premise and I believe we should take responsibility for keeping ourselves safe. But sadly, I cannot explain why a segment of our population think COVID-19 is a hoax… it’s not. So, the rest of us are left with what to do about prevention.

Some restrictions have been too much, and while we struggle to balance safety and liberty daily, it’s not a good idea to set aside liberty. However, there’s another aspect to this issue…

Brian wrote, “If everyone could just suck it up and make the necessary sacrifices for a few months, we could finally get past this crisis.” Who exactly is “everyone”?

What do the Speaker of the House, governors for California and New York, plus the mayors of Austin, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, San Jose, and Washington DC have in common? They have endorsed COVID-19 guidelines but then violated the same guidelines they were telling their constituents to obey. So, if “everyone” truly means everyone… shouldn’t today’s LTE be directed at policy makers, too?

Tafhdyd Dec 4, 2020 10:20am

Ray,

I thought you were going elsewhere when I started to read but I will give you a thumbs up on your comment.

How about the other side of the aisle? Those policy makers that do not believe in the COVID-19 guidelines and do not follow them and tell there constituents to do the same. Are they in the "everyone" category also?

Ray Fowler Dec 4, 2020 11:31am

Of course "everyone" means both sides of the aisle... you are correct.

I didn't want to send my comments on a different trajectory by connecting my examples to a specific political orientation. But I'm sure you would agree, their side of the aisle has received more attention lately re: this topic. Honest gaffes... let's move on. A little too much "do as I say not as I do" is not as easy to forgive... but let's not forget what our good buddy ol' Sam said about forgiveness.

Wilfred Fernandez Jr Dec 6, 2020 3:30pm

Though the "slippery slope argument” is considered a logical fallacy, IMHO it merits some consideration in this instance. People may tire of hearing constitutional rights arguments; it is their civil right to do so. But as Mr. Wright declares, “The limit of individual liberty is when others are harmed, as is the case when people ignore restrictions or don’t wear masks when in the proximity of others”. Mr. Wright says his health is at risk based in what some say is contested science. I will add, not unlike the man-made climate change argument. Folks, the debate is not over because one side declares it so. The media reporting it is ended does not make so either. The media and we are not learned enough to decide which scientists are right or wrong. So, I say respect the needs of others instead of demanding they acquiesce to yours. Until plausible proof is presented by unequivocal scientists, I will not resent the needs of others. I will understand and physically avoid them. But I will not sanction the dictates of illogical politicians nor the ill motivated media.

Remember why Jack Weinberg said in the sixties, “don’t trust anyone over thirty” as well as why the “slippery slope argument” has been used.

https://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2000-04-06/article/759

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/slipperyslope.shtml

What has happened to diversity of thought in this country? Where has civility gone? Where are the grownups?

My wife and I are entertaining three of our grandchildren since yesterday; when their parents left after a belated Thanksgiving meal and get together. Last night, grandma made popcorn, grandpa prepared a home movie theater and Disney’s Mulan provided action as well as topics of historical and cultural conversation. This morning the winter wind was blowing in another storm. Snow covers all. Meantime, we enjoyed homemade buttermilk waffles smothered by syrup. Supplemented by a side of Jimmy Dean sausage patty while watching our Tulikivi fireplace creating our day’s warmth. Life is good. Find a way to make yours good too. With each other if not loved ones. At the very least, can we not be civil? Please.

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