By Patrick Shourd, Stevensville
Shortly after Governor Bullock issued a “shelter in place” order, many Montanans stepped into action. Nurses, police officers, and other essential workers risked their own health to perform the duties Montanans rely on. Non-essential workers stayed home as instructed to insure the health and safety of their fellow citizens. Schools closed down, most businesses severely limited access, and important social and family gatherings were delayed. These actions were taken because we, as Americans, had a compassionate desire to protect one another.
While on a walk I was astonished to see an elderly woman knocking on doors within the Town of Stevensville. I could not help but overhear the conversation, pleading with my fellow citizen to sign a petition to recall Mayor Dewey. Furthermore, I have spoken with several individuals who expressed disgust that they were approached at their homes during the height of the pandemic by recall advocates. With hate and desperation in her voice this individual risked the lives of citizens in this community.
I am truly appalled by these actions and feel these individuals need be held accountable for reckless endangerment. Regardless of the position you take on the actual recall or the drama that plagues our local government, no one can argue that these actions were a grievous attack on us all.
Roger Mitchell says
“Regardless of the position you take on the actual recall or the drama that plagues our local government, no one can argue that these actions were a grievous attack on us all.” -Patrick Shourds
No one can argue that these actions (public petitioning, knocking on neighborhood doors) were a grievous attack on us all? If no one can argue that position, then why are you doing so? Haven’t you just issued a glaring contradiction?
“These actions were taken because we, as Americans, had a compassionate desire to protect one another.”-Patrick Shourds
That is your opinion, but it is not correct. These actions (school closures, business closures, family and social gathering closures, etc.) were not pursued out of compassion for others, but by the raw, brute exercise of force by government officials issuing orders and edicts for which they had no constitutional authority.
If you have so much compassion for your fellow man, then why were you out walking on a public sidewalk during the height of the Covid-19 outbreak instead of sequestering yourself behind locked doors in your own home?
“With hate and desperation in her voice…”-Patrick Shourds
You are absolutely unqualified to determine whether or not this individual (the elderly petitioner) was hateful or desperate. It would be just as accurate for me to make that judgement about you based on what you have written. In fact, I could easily assume that you sense that your political agenda is losing ground and this is causing you to invoke fear of Covid-19 out of hate and desperation in an attempt to manipulate the situation to your advantage.
Is this what you are doing?
Leanna Rodabaugh says
“I am truly appalled by these actions and feel these individuals need be held accountable for reckless endangerment. Regardless of the position you take on the actual recall or the drama that plagues our local government, no one can argue that these actions were a grievous attack on us all. “(Patrick Shourd)
This assumes that one of the signature gatherers had a disease or talked with someone who had a disease, all while wearing a face mask, using safe pens and gloves. Just another deflection, Patrick, and not a very good one. We were just as concerned with the petition walkers as it is possible to be. We took very good care of the citizens while you hid in the bushes. Did you wear a mask while walking?
Leanna Rodabaugh says
In the Bitterroot Star, Patrick Shourd accused petition gatherers of endangering lives during the covid-19 pandemic. He said he was “appalled by these actions” and felt we needed to be held accountable for reckless endangerment. He said that during a walk, he heard someone pleading with the homeowner to sign the recall petition. First of all, none of us pleaded with anyone. Second, if someone answered the door we stepped way back and then explained our mission. If Mr. Shourd was close enough to hear or whatever was being said, then HE was the one endangering people’s lives Third, he said the signature gatherer had hate and desperation in her voice. Huh? Stupid interpretation of anyone. Hate?, Desperation? That is like anger, panting, pleading, begging all at once. Mr. Shourd apparently likes exaggeration, theatrics. and lies. Once I had someone scream at me that I was childish, but that was the only one who yelled in my presence.. I thanked her and walked away.
Mr. Shourd is part of the front runners who will defend the mayor with lies and exaggerations. He parroted any agenda the mayor wanted during his council tenure (thankfully very short). We will hear more of this exaggeration and lies. We will be told how hateful we are. But these accusers are the hate mongers. They want distrust and divisiveness. This is all part of what the mayor will do to deflect from the real reasons he is being recalled.
Do not get mad, do not engage and do not care. It is all part of what the mayor’s few supporters will do. We are looking at two months of this. It will be like Christmas when you are a child. It takes too long to get here but when it arrives it will have been worth the wait.
Jim Crews says
First off Patrick Shourd, there is no such thing as a non essential worker.
Every single job out there is essential.
Every job that provides food, clothing, gas for the car, car payments, shoes, socks, everything you need is an essential item.
To classify someone’s job as non-essential is like saying you are not important, you should just be ignored, placed in a box or closet, you are a worthless human.
That is what you are saying Patrick Shourd. You must be some sort of elitist to be able to classify people and their jobs as non-essential.
You ever hear the term, Flotsam. Perhaps you need to look it up. Because that is what you are saying by calling someone’s job non-essential.
flot·sam
the wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on or washed up by the sea.
Similar: wreckage
lost cargo
floating remains
people or things that have been rejected and are regarded as worthless.
And you want to be part of the Council?
NO!
And eaves dropping on other’s conversations is not an essential activity while you are taking yourself for a walk.
C Fry says
Patrick nailed it! Putting others at risk for their own agenda was lawless.