‘Your rights stop where mine begin’
As an older and somewhat immune-compromised person, I could not wait to be fully vaccinated so that I could function as normally as possible. Masking is not always comfortable, but it sure beats getting sick or infecting someone else.
This all seems so sensible.
That said, I’m totally blown away by the large numbers of people who seem to believe it’s inherently acceptable to do whatever they please. I have not found in our Constitution anything about this kind of “right.”
Back in eighth grade, while studying the Bill of Rights, one of my classmates stated that this was a free country and he could do whatever he wanted. Our teacher addressed him with an icy stare and said, “Young man, your rights stop where mine begin.” I’ve never forgotten that pearl of wisdom.
Ellen Hrabovsky
Morgantown
Hard to ‘keep calm’ when faced with misinfo
I would like to publicly commend Hoppy Kerchival for not only being a gentleman but also for having the patience of Job.
When I was listening to his radio talk show Tuesday, Aug. 31, I could not believe what I was hearing. The number of people who called in spouting misinformation about masks, vaccines, etc., absolutely blew my mind! But Hoppy kept his cool.
I hate to name names, but I would be willing to “bet the farm,” as they say, that the majority of those with like beliefs were receiving their information from Fox News on TV.
Preferring to check things out for myself, I have, on occasion, tried to watch some of their newscasts. However, knowing what the actual facts were and then hearing the broadcasters’ interpretations was, to say the least, jaw-dropping. Is it any wonder that so many misguided souls are still refusing to wear masks, get vaccinated or practice social distancing?
Thank you, Hoppy, for following Sir Winston Churchill’s advice when he said, “Keep calm and carry on,” during London’s disastrous bombings. Good advice for all of us to remember.
Charlotte Taylor
Morgantown
If Manchin is ‘pro-life,’ he’ll support $3.5T bill
I ask Sen. Joe Manchin to get behind the spending bill pending in Congress that he is reluctant to support, having recently penned an op-ed expressing grave reservations as to its effects on the national debt.
Please think of it in these terms. Manchin is considered to be a “pro-life Democrat” as he opposes abortion. I’m not arguing that issue, but there are important parts of this spending legislation that are very much pro-life as they aim to assist the living human beings that fetuses become.
In particular, one provision would reform Supplemental Security Income, SSI, by increasing benefits and expanding eligibility that would help lift millions out of poverty. Another would increase Medicaid spending for Home Care.
Both programs benefit the disabled, but the former’s monthly benefits are capped at way below poverty level, and the latter is vital to the example provided of a young man with cerebral palsy pursuing his education to achieve his dream of becoming a teacher. His Home Care enables his parents to keep working, but with a shortage of Home Care workers, combined with low pay, it is increasingly difficult for him to find the help he needs in order to attain his master’s degree at Vanderbilt while using virtual means to attend classes remotely. It is next to impossible to get such care in Tennessee so he could attend classes in person.
Tens of thousands of Manchin’s own constituents receive SSI and nearly one in three state residents is enrolled in Medicaid (as am I). So while it is not improper to consider overall budget implications for this bill, the people implications are even larger and recent polls show a majority of Americans favor the bill.
I urge Manchin to rethink his position in this light.
David Hammond
Morgantown
If COVID were an army, U.S. would lose the war
Let’s pretend COVID is an insurgent with fighters in the field. Their invasion is worldwide. We have a federal government, 50 state governments, and thousands of local governments.
Let’s put ourselves in the insurgents’ shoes: We are the commanders of the COVID insurgency. Would we rather be opposed by a coordinated defense, led by an authority having jurisdiction over the whole battlefield, or would we prefer to do little battles in thousands of little jurisdictions having fewer resources and with multiple sanctuaries into which we can retreat, recharge and then emerge somewhere that has chosen not to employ the best defensive means at its disposal?
Terrorists do it all the time. They emerge from their sanctuaries, kill people, dominate valuable resources and, when endangered, seek sanctuaries. Among their separate local jurisdictions, they find places to bide their time and adapt to their opposition. Insidious viruses do, too.
Is this a war between species? It certainly acts like one.
COVID behaves as if it has a command/control system and armies in the field. It advances, ravages its targets, retreats when it must into sanctuaries provided by those who do not arm themselves against it, mutates and then returns to attack the overconfident and disarmed targets of opportunity. We have insurgents “in our wire” and they are abetted by an apparent “Fifth Column” within our citizenry.
Our thousands of local jurisdictions can be defended only if battlefield commanders use their constitutional authority over the full scale of the conflict. And the state and federal authorities having jurisdiction have demurred. And the thousands of local jurisdictions cannot cover all the sanctuaries.
In a society of people, where does a responsible citizen’s individual freedom merge with a responsible government’s duty to protect in a bona fide emergency? We seem unable to decide in the face of this insurgency.
Bill Wyant
Morgantown
Manchin’s chance to prove he’s pro-worker
Last April, Sen. Manchin publicly supported the PRO Act, legislation that provides much-needed protections for employees’ right to organize for safe working conditions and living wages. On Sept. 2, as our state celebrated the centennial of the Battle of Blair Mountain, he went back on his word in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, requesting that Congress hit “pause” on the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. That package includes many provisions of the PRO Act he promised us last spring.
The reconciliation package is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen the labor rights that West Virginians have fought and died for since the Mine Wars. It ensures future generations’ living conditions by investing in physical and human infrastructure: the transportation, water, health care and education systems that our lives depend on.
The reconciliation package also provides an opportunity to implement the Green New Deal for Public Schools. Written by a former teacher and middle school principal, this bill creates thousands of new union jobs addressing one of America’s most important infrastructure projects: our public schools. It includes funds for tangible safety measures, like removing mold and asbestos from classrooms, as well as investments in carbon-free infrastructure and additional teachers and staff.
Sen. Manchin must make good on his promise to support this state’s workers and address the urgent need to make our state’s infrastructure more climate-resilient, starting with our public schools. We demand that he support today’s and tomorrow’s West Virginians by proceeding with the reconciliation package and sponsoring the Green New Deal for Public Schools. The water crisis in Clarksburg, flooding from Hurricane Ida and wildfires in California remind us that we do not have time to hit “pause,” Joe. It’s time to keep your promise.
Rebecca Wallis and Grace Smith
Morgantown
Westside Senior Center welcomes everyone
Friday night, Aug. 3, had beautiful weather — nice and cool, just right. I was at Westside Senior Center for their tailgate party to kick off WVU football. Everyone was invited, whether you were a member of the center or just wanted to come to the party.
The food started at 5 p.m. We got a free ticket for our meal. We had a choice of hamburgers or hot dogs, all kinds of homemade salads, pretzels and nachos and cupcakes. All the food was prepared by volunteers. Everything was delicious. After everyone got their food, there was a lot of food left over, and it was offered to anyone who wanted to eat at the center or to take home.
At 6 p.m., we all went out to their pavilion and Pam and Barry with his band-in-a-box did a 50s show. Everyone was singing to the music and dancing. Pam and Barry did a fantastic job of singing and band-in-a-box that Barry designed sounded like the stage was filled with real band members. Many times I had to look up at the stage because I thought there was an actual band performing. The performance was fantastic and most enjoyable.
Westside Senior Center has these dinners once a month. Thank you, Westside Center, for making my Friday night most enjoyable.
There is no charge for these dinners, however donations are greatly appreciated. The center is staffed by all volunteers, and they raise all of their own money to fund all the activities in their center. They have a wonderful group of volunteers and you will always feel welcome at their center. They have many daily activities, mornings and evenings.
If you have never been there, stop by and say hello. They welcome everyone and anyone who would like to become a member. You will have a most enjoyable and relaxing time at Westside Senior Center.
Carol Ann Miller
Morgantown
