Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 4-9-20 E-edition

Thursday, April 9, 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 A distorted rationale of
Trump and COVID-19
Who knew?
More precise COVID-19 case information hits home to residents
Rick Curiel — Sanger Editor Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
QUOTE
“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.”
— Harry S Truman (1884-1972)
How could anyone have possibly
known that all it took to shut down the
world's most prolific economy, shut-
ter businesses and result in people
who we assume are adults blaming
one man, would be a tiny microbial
virus that originated in another coun-
try? The fact that a number of college
professors, Democrats and the media
place the blame squarely on our president is absolutely mind-boggling.
This sort of distorted rationale seems to have risen from calls for a new green economy and the belief that mankind can control natural environmental occurrenc- es. Upon due consideration, that really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone since the same liberal groups have been able to blunt the impact of anything that represents any retention or semblance of faith as a part of the American psyche over the past several decades.
Although there can be no doubt COVID-19 has been a deadly virus which should always be taken seriously, much of the panic and hysteria we now are experienc- ing from our media is overhyped and overblown. For them this is a ratings driver — for the general public, the disease, its economic destruction and physical suf- fering are intolerable. Ratings points help determine how much advertising they can sell and at what price. That doesn't even take into account the covey or report- ers who are trying to make themselves “stars.” Sadly, many of them see it as an opportunity to take down a president.
Interestingly enough, Italy has begun to roll back the numbers of deaths which originally were attrib- uted to the virus. It seems that, upon further examina- tion, many of the deaths have been found to have been caused by pre-existing diseases and natural causes. That doesn't mitigate the seriousness of the disease, but it does illustrate that, in times of crises, things in- cluding statistics are often misinterpreted.
Speaking of statistics, one will notice that the press corps rips the president for not listening to scientists and, yet when he does, as with projected number of American deaths, he's chastised about getting it wrong and they want to know where his numbers are coming from. At this point, far fewer deaths have been report- ed in America than anticipated. Thank God for that!
President Trump is vilified for identifying the virus as having come from Wuhan, China — which it did! He seems to have been able to martial every available resource, and yet he is excoriated by our press for act- ing too slowly. Some have even sunk so low as to blame him personally for something that was obviously cre- ated in nature.
Hatred is not one of the infamous “seven sins” but it sure should be. How can supposedly educated people — and that's what were talking about here with politi- cians, academicians and members of the press — feel such irrational hatred toward a man who, from all the indicators, has done an outstanding job?
Those who are willing to give up freedom in the name of security — in the present case, that would be promise of control of a disease — are entitled to, and should expect neither!
Bureaucrats and autocracies have been usurping freedoms and power under the cloak of COVID-19 that we fear will never be returned to the citizenry after this coronavirus pandemic is ended.
The bungling in the distribution of the bailout pack- age has already begun on the part of government. Watch for part to which, if Democrats have their way, will mostly go to the socialistic new green deal.
The COVID-19 (novel coro- navirus) pandemic finally has hit home in a statistical man- ner for residents of Reedley, Sanger and other Mid Valley Times communities.
In the past week, both the Fresno County Department of Public Health and the Tulare County Department of Health took steps to further localize the number of positive CO- VID-19 cases. On April 7, both agencies had posted informa- tion beyond the usual number of cases in the county. In Fres- no County's case, it was a chart showing each city or communi- ty that had more than five cas- es. The fourth- and fifth-most positive cases in the county were Sanger and Reedley with seven and six, respectively.
Since the pandemic began multiplying in the United State a little more than a month ago, readers and residents in the area justifiably have been won- dering why they are unable to know if there are positive cases in their city or community. The area's health departments now are answering those queries in as transparent a way as possi- ble, given HIPAA laws protect- ing patient privacy. There will be no actual addresses release,
only information if there is a case in the city or immediate surrounding area. For Fresno County, smaller communities in our region (Orange Cove, Parlier, Fowler, Selma and Kingsburg would be listed with an exact number of positive cases if they exceed five. For now, those communities fall under an umbrella of four or less, which can even mean no positive tests.
And that's good enough for us to know, as far as I'm con- cerned. If community mem- bers do come down with the virus and they or their families wish to share details, we are open to sharing their stories. But we will guard and respect their privacy as well, and hope the community also follows these guidelines.
Hopefully, this transpar- ency by Fresno and Tulare counties will further open and sharpen our collective eyes. No question, this portion of California has been extremely fortunate compared to other hot spots in portions of the U.S. and the world. I'd like to think it's because of generally re- sponsible behavior and hygiene practices by Valley residents.
The mission remains the
same for all of
us. If you don't
have an essen-
tial job or busi-
ness, keep the
trips outside
your home to a
minimum and
only get out for
necessary grocery shopping for food and medicine. While you're out (and inside, for that matter), cover your sneezes and coughs, don't touch your face and eyes, and wash your hands at every opportunity with soap and warm water. Then wash them some more.
It's been three weeks since Californians have been advised to shelter in place. For some of us, it seems like three months or even years. This weekend will be an Easter weekend un- like any other for us. It's al- ready been unprecedented for students of all ages in 2020, especially high school and col- lege seniors who won't be able to participate in a timely grad- uation ceremony.
All we can do is wait it out. And wait it out we must.
Jon Earnest is Reedley edi- tor for The Times.
Jon Earnest
Fred Hall
If you’re starting to feel like you and your family are wait- ing out the storm in Noah’s ark, here’s some food for thought.
According to scripture, the rains of the great flood began in the second month. And, as we all know, the rains contin- ued for 40 days and 40 nights. All the while, Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives, sheltered in place – all safe within the ark.
But Noah and his family did not shelter in place for 40 days. No, it was much longer than that.
Scripture tells us that Noah and his family first needed to wait for the waters to recede. It wasn’t until the seventh month that he and his family reached dry land, and a new beginning.
If you’re doing the math, Noah and his family were safe- ly sheltered in place for five months.
It’s also interesting that the
flood is said to have began in the second month. Though the months in scripture do not fol- low our modern day calendar, it is worth noting that we too entered this pandemic in, our about, the second month. And, it is not too far fetched to think that we won’t see an end to this, reach solid ground, until the seventh month — or around July.
If you’re feeling like you’re aboard the ark during these uncertain times, sheltered in place with your family at home, consider this: we are still waiting out the storm. But even after the storm, it still may not be safe to venture out. We still have to wait for the waters to recede. And they will.
This Sunday is Easter, a celebration that marks a new beginning for all God’s people. Like the ark that first needed to weather the storm in order to enter a new covenant, we too
are being asked to weather this new storm as we prepare ourselves for the everlasting covenant.
All aboard Noah's Ark
Rick Curiel
Perhaps at the end of this, we will all exit our ‘ark’ and crawl out of our tombs with new eyes, a new understand- ing and a greater appreciation for life.
Rick Curiel is Sanger editor for The Times.
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Letters Policy
MID VALLEY TIMES invites letters from the public on any topic of local relevance. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity or brevity, and we reserve the right to NOT publish them if they could be deemed libelous or profane. Letters should be 350 words or less, and bear the author's name, address, and phone number. Letters can be mailed, emailed, submitted via our website, or personally delivered to: Editor, Reedley Exponent, 1130 G St, Reedley CA 93654.
Sure, this
Easter will perhaps be un- like any other Easter we can remember celebrating. If we continue to follow the recom- mended guidelines, chances are you will be with those who matter most to you in a small yet monumental celebration of new life.
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