Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 8-27-20 E-edition

Thursday, August 27, 2020 | A4 | Mid Valley TiMes Editorial & Opinions
Serving the Readers of the Reedley Exponent, Dimuba Sentinel and Sanger Herald.
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
Fred Hall — Publisher
In my OPINION Don't blindly accept
everything told as truth
If ever there were to be a classic
example or a self-evident truth or tru-
ism, this would be it. No emotion hu-
man beings display that is the most self-damaging is hatred. When that is
mindless hatred negative results are
always turned inward. Recently, when
the president's brother died, some
pundit was so ignorant as to state that
“the wrong Trump had died.” Gar-
bage like this is so “over the top” that
it should serve as a life lesson for our children.
There are times when even the worst of conditions can produce what has come to be known as “teachable moments.” No matter which side of the political spec- trum we may find ourselves, we see behavior, actions and attitudes that are just plain wrong — in any circum- stances. Now would be the perfect time, while watching mankind's worst actions and treatment of each other, to explain to your children and grandchildren that what they're watching is wrong and explain to them why it is so. Rioting, looting and the destruction of other people's property is never acceptable!
Academia, the press and Hollywood have their ce- lebrities out front explaining their myopic view that people looting, burning and destroying the property of others is both acceptable as well as appropriate for perceived wrongs.
Although the narrative is often clouded and distort- ed because members of the media have chosen sides — a complete abdication of journalistic standards — we can't blindly accept everything we are told as truth. Blind adherence to a falsehood can never make it so. The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis is gener- ally is assigned the origination of our current wave of madness. The video released and disseminated by the press is misleading and incomplete which seems to be the norm for many of these problems.
I hear from many well-educated people that the free press died earlier this past decade. Advocacy journal- ism has no place in our society and yet between the younger newly-arrived members and social media we observe some of the dumbest people ever loosed on the American public. I have to qualify that a bit because they are probably smarter than the average politician who seems willing to say or do anything.
Upon a more complete analysis, we find that Mr. Floyd was on a cocktail of drugs that made it difficult for him to breathe. His complaints of not being able to breathe began before he was even removed from his car. Doctors will tell you that combining methamphet- amine and fentanyl will create a situation which makes it difficult to breathe. We're not going to say that there wasn't the possibility of the contributing factor of the police with a knee on his neck but we strongly believe that one should have all the facts before a factual deci- sion is reached. Just because someone posted it online does not make it so. Quite often the correct conclusion is diametrically opposed to published material.
That certainly would qualify as lesson number one. Never accept for granted that social media and the press are going to convey an accurate accounting of all the events leading up to and causing an incident. This has unfortunately become the era of advocacy journalism where the truth is often twisted and then extrapolated and distributed to an unsuspecting public. Lesson number one, therefore, would be to verify your sources and make sure the determining factor is not because it agrees with your political agenda.
We would all be better served if children understood what they see and read — especially with social media. There is a time to be skeptical now that there appear to be large segments of the industries established to keep the public informed are falling woefully short and, all too often, tend to embellish a false narrative that fits their personal political persuasions.
Sheriff stresses importance of 'Mask Up Tulare County' campaign
Rick Curiel — Sanger Editor Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
QUOTE
“The best liar is he who makes the smallest amount of lying go the longest way.”
— Samuel Butler (1835-1902)
Fred Hall
By Mike Boudreaux
Guest Columnist
Hello, Tulare County! I hope you find yourselves and your family doing well de- spite the current challenges we all continue to face. Trust mewhenIsayIknowthe times we are living in have not been easy. So many people are struggling with so ma- ny things- their health, how to make ends meet, the toll this pandemic has taken on our mental health. It is over- whelming. I get it.
So often here at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, I like to use the phrase: “We are all in this together.” For me, it is not a slogan. It is a mantra, a reminder that I serve a com- munity that I care about, that I want to protect and that I, myself, live in and raise my children in.
We are in this together and, because of that, I, as your Sheriff, am doing what I can to help those in need anytime, but especially during this pan- demic. It’s why I started our “Mask Up Tulare County” campaign.
The idea behind the cam- paign is to educate the public
on the importance of wearing a mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
So here’s how it works:
When my deputies respond to a call for service and find that people are not wearing masks out in public or in one of the designated areas where masks are mandated, they give those individuals a pam- phlet and a mask if they don’t have one.
What my deputies are handing out is an educational pamphlet. It is not a ticket. It is not a violation. What it is, is a pamphlet with informa- tion on face coverings- who should wear one... why you should wear one... and when you should wear one.
In addition to handing out masks on calls, I, along with deputies and TCSO Explorers and staff, have been traveling to swap meets across the coun- ty to hand out masks to those who need them.
Lastly, the Sheriff’s Office is helping to nourish the com- munities in need. Thanks to a partnership with Seven Oaks Church and the USDA, we have been able to canvass the county to hand out masks, as well as boxes of much-needed
food to those who are going hungry. To date, we have given out thousands of boxes and I’m so grateful we are able to do this.
These Mask and Food Giveaways have absolutely warmed my heart. They are another reminder of the fact that it truly takes a village. And you, the people of Tulare County, are all part of this amazing village.
I want you to know that I am doing everything I can to protect, support and help you during this COVID crisis. And I can assure you that I will continue to make sure that the Sheriff’s Office has its finger on the pulse of your needs.
This pandemic is a shared experience. And if we want to get through it, we must be good neighbors. We must think of others. And we must look out for one another. We are all in this together.
Stay well, Tulare County.
Mike Boudreaux is sheriff for Tulare County.
Mike Boudreaux
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Trump supporters are being duped
For anyone thinking that Donald Trump is on to some- thing regarding his claim that mail-in-voting will result in mass voter fraud, and un- dermine the election, you are being duped. It's bothersome how Trump supporters listen to unfounded accusations, and some already debunked theo- ries that the president tweets as if he couldn't tell a lie. He lies often.
There is a reason that Trump is doing whatever he can to stay in office. Casting doubt on the voting method of mailing in the ballots, and even defunding the USPS post- al service creating a situation
that he hopes will interrupt the election process this year. His motivation has nothing to do with any desire to hold on to power, but rather to avoid fac- ing criminal charges in Man- hattan, N.Y.
Cy Vance, a Manhattan dis- trict attorney, recently filed papers in court that revealed Trump is under investigation for bank and insurance fraud. However while he is Presi- dent of the United States, he won't have to face indictment. Because of a Justice Depart- ment policy of not indicting a sitting president, Trump en- joys immunity. That is until he leaves office. If he were to win another four-year term he likely could avoid indictments altogether due to statute of
limitations.
So to understand Trump's
behavior and absurd and base- less claims that he pushes out to the public, one must see this broader picture and re- alize just how desperate he must be to avoid the humili- ation of being found guilty of such crimes, landing him in prison. It all makes so much sense when you consider all the facts. He's trying to avoid prison by undermining the election himself. Meanwhile, there is a pandemic going on and he's not doing anything about it on the federal level. I don't see how all this makes America great again.
Ray Mendoza Dinuba
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