Over the past week or two I’ve made some observations about the way the COVID-19 pandemic affects various segments of our society.
First, it is obvious that in certain areas there has been a selective enforcement of stay-at-home orders, especially as it applies to churches. Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had state troopers put 14-day quarantine notices on the cars of parishioners who had gathered for an Easter service at Maryville Baptist Church, and nails were sprinkled at parking lot entrances. (Was there a shortage of spike strips?) In Greenville, Miss., police broke up a drive-in service where social distancing and other precautions were observed. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio threatened to permanently shut down churches and synagogues violating his edicts.
One commentator observed that stay-at-home orders disproportionately affected those adhering to the Protestant work ethic because they identify strongly with their jobs, while those without strong religious convictions seemed less bothered by the thought of not working for an extended period.
Another commentator said that if you like the rigid constraints imposed during the pandemic, you’ll love the Green New Deal, which will surely be characterized by an inability to fly, restrictions on auto travel (drivers will be limited to the range of electric cars), and acute shortages of meat and dairy products, because flatulent beef cattle, dairy cows and hogs will disappear due to their emitting carbon dioxide and methane. Oh, and you won’t be able to heat, cool or light your home in traditional ways and you’ll be subject to a host of other restrictions. It promises to be a dystopian “utopian” experience for all of us.
WILLIAM A. WITTIK
Hartford
Here are four stories that appeared in the news in recent days:
On May 1, in Flint, Mich., a security guard at a Family Dollar store refuses to let a woman enter the store because she is not wearing a protective mask for coronavirus, as per the governor’s order. Police said two family members later returned to the store and one of them shot the security guard in the head, killing him.
On May 3, in Manchester, N.H., a man intervenes in a couple’s argument in a Walmart parking lot. At one point, three people have weapons drawn. The man who intervened is shot in the lower back.
On May 7, in Glynn County, Ga., two white men are charged with shooting and killing a black man who was running (for exercise) through a white neighborhood in February.
And protestors of government lockdowns, notably in Michigan, have openly displayed weapons.
Let’s acknowledge that gun-related incidents happen for a multitude of reasons: poor judgment, accidents, prejudice, anger issues, overreaction to perceived threats, jealousy, mental illness, lack of empathy, perceived slights or injustices — in short, the full array of human weakness and imperfections on display. Humanity is not broken into good guys and bad guys, but, as Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote, “the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”
The math is simple: The more guns you have, the more incidents are likely. The cost: deaths, injuries, mass shootings, grieving loved ones, PTSD from witnessing gun violence, and anxiety caused by overt displays of weapons in public.
Americans are being asked to pay a very high price for the right to bear arms.
ALLAN MacDONALD
New London
First, congratulations to the folks at Best Buy and Applebee’s for filling the potholes in their shared access road a few days ago. Nice to see businesses acting proactively.
Now, for the repeat offenders. Several years ago, there was a large pothole on the road in back of Walmart. After several letters, they did a good job of filling it. Then, last year, another pothole appeared at another place on that road. Eventually, that was patched. Now, there are four potholes, of varying size and car-damaging ability, on the same road. Why does it take citizen complaints to suggest action?
While you’re at it, how about the continuing large pothole on the crossroad from Walmart toward Weathervane and the new New Hampshire liquor store? Surely lots of folks access the liquor store from the south, and using this road would keep folks off Route 12A. Get’er done!
ARTHUR PEASE
Lebanon