Letters to the editor Nov. 26
Opposed to masks
Those of us who oppose the mask mandate do so on the grounds that it violates our individual right to decide whether or not an act is in our own best interest. Mandating the wearing of a mask violates basic due process “we deem you may be infected, so wear the damn mask” as many state.
My right to not wear one supersedes your demand that I do. I am not infected. If you are concerned, wear two, yours and the one you think I should wear.
Last but not least: “mask” has not been clearly defined. What’s next? Full body suit? With freedom comes risk. Mask that.
—Roland A. Godan, Polson
Let’s do our part
The headline Nov. 19 is disturbing: KRH is using National Guard assistance to help fight COVID. If our businesses would accept masking and social distancing our number of cases may be less.
I realize these businesses need customers and income.
Are lives worth disregarding these mandates? I have lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 55 years and adhere to stay-at-home, going out is difficult but now I’m frightened by what is happening.
From a personal view, I think it’s time for us to accept this is a pandemic which isn’t going away unless we all get on board and conform to Governor Bullock’s mandate.
Please mask up and social distance. Let’s do our part to contain this disease. Help your neighbors and family members.
—Charlotte Kaber, Kalispell
We’re all neighbors
Recent letters from Susan Taylor and Ron Albrecht (Nov. 12) are full of divisive lies, insults and conspiracy theories about Democrats that shouldn’t remain unaddressed.
They call Democrats criminals and corrupt, say we are “delivering ballots for Biden in the middle of the night” and that Vice President-elect Harris “supports selling and killing babies for money.” Supposedly Democrats are endangering Social Security and we are “once again headed for no respect in the world.”
Wow, what a bunch of drivel.
There is no evidence of voter fraud in this last election, even according to Republican secretaries of state, and the Department of Homeland Security. Republicans try to scare you that Social Security and Medicare are “socialism” while they try to gut health care in the middle of a pandemic and cut your retirement dollars. And who lost the respect of our allies and the entire world over the last four years?
Even in the very “red” Flathead Valley, over 35% of your neighbors are Democrats. On my rural road alone, the Democrats I know include a Navy veteran who grew up in Billings and used his military expertise to start his own business; a Butte union guy who runs the homeowners group; a volunteer firefighter and EMT; a health care professional who has come out of her retirement to help in the pandemic; a social worker; a plumber worried about young’uns not joining the trades anymore; and the couple that plows our roads in the winter.
Sounds like a bunch of wild haired and corrupt Marxists and coastal elites to me. Just remember, when you insult and demonize Democrats, you are lying about your neighbors.
—Jennifer Allen, Kalispell
Grateful for forgiveness
We commend the Daily Inter Lake reporter Scott Schindledecker on a factually accurate report of the sentence hearing for our nephew, Mason Drake. Scott did a thorough job of recording the information presented at the hearing and reporting it in the paper.
Unfortunately, the cold hard facts miss out on the tremendous account of forgiveness and mercy that took place in that courtroom. Both Barten men, Dave and Dean, who shared how the accident has impacted their families, were very calm and gracious in their presentations. That they were able to look beyond their grief and disappointments and offer forgiveness to Mason is astounding.
A part of the story that the reporter missed was the opportunity our families had outside the courthouse for a measure of reconciliation. Our lives intersected in a most tragic manner, yet we were able to express our remorse and will be forever grateful for their forgiveness.
Another aspect that the reporter does not have access to is how devastated Mason is. The quotes that appeared in the paper make Mason look like a mean-spirited person. He is a kind and caring young man who is proud of his 3 years as a wildland firefighter, his latest assignment being with the Swan Lake district in Big Fork. Mason will forever regret the choice he made July 4th, 2019. May he go on to help others, as those who have chosen to help him with this tragic situation.
The tragedies, the darkness in this world, this was also a story of forgiveness.
Let there be light.
—Dan and Michelle Beuch, Rochester, Minn.
Let the process work
I find it fascinating that the main stream media calls Joe Biden the president-elect despite the fact the Electoral College has not announced Biden the winner of the election.
Because of this, Democrats are demanding President Trump concede and stop fighting the media’s announcement. I’ve even heard a celebrity insist that Republicans “suck it up” like the Democrats have done these past four years. I had to laugh at that! If you call four years of vile comments from celebrities and the main stream media, the Steele Russian dossier, the Muller investigation and then the impeachment proceedings as sucking it up — all I can say is “WOW.”
This leaves me to ask “why?” Why shouldn’t President Trump fight to see who truly won? Don’t you want to know for certain that Joe Biden did? Do you not want to have absolutely no doubt in your mind?
I’ve heard people say, “The apparent loser should concede promptly and gracefully — just like Hillary did.” OK then, why did Hillary concede so quickly and then continually whine about having the election stolen from her? Why didn’t she fight for her presidency if she truly believed she had won? You may argue she was doing the decent thing? Really? Putting this nation through four years of division and hatred is anything but decent. Hillary should have fought just as President Trump is now.
Let the process work itself out so that there are no doubts who is president for the next four years.
—Francis Johnson, Kalispell