Reply to Prather

By Helen Sabin, Corvallis

This is in reply to the Guest Comment, by Joan Prather, “Rights, Do We Deserve Them?” published in the September 23 edition of the Bitterroot Star.  

Dear Ms. Prather, to answer your question, “Rights, do we deserve them” in the September 23 issue of the Bitterroot Star, YES, we Americans do deserve any and all rights that the Constitution and “we the people” give to “we the people.”  

Yes, we do deserve our rights which are enumerated in the constitution and especially in the bill of Rights, Articles one, three and five that speak to the issue about “rights.”  

But, NO, we are NOT responsible to care for our fellow man as you state, nor are we responsible for your health by wearing a mask everywhere we go. YOU ARE. 

Take your own advice. If you are fearful of going out where Americans are not wearing masks, stay home! If you are sick, stay home. If you do go out, then wear a mask if you want to, but do NOT try to virtue signal to others that they should wear masks just to make YOU feel safe. You, Ms. Prather, ignore or haven’t researched the information that has shown that the masks may actually be detrimental to your health. https://www.jpost.com/health-science/could-wearing-a-mask-for-long-periods-be-detrimental-to-health-628400

You should know that many doctors and other medical groups state that masks also do NOT typically stop the transmission of the Covid virus so you are relying on something that is ineffective to feel good about yourself while condemning others who choose to not wear a mask. In fact, you called them, “inconsiderate.” Shame on you. They are NOT the ones who are inconsiderate, you are. You want to take away their rights to make a choice on whether to wear masks or not all the while you are being ignorant about the efficacy of masks.  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/data-do-not-back-cloth-masks-limit-covid-19-experts-say  

Sorry, Ms. Prather, we will NOT give our rights up easily just because some corrupt governor issues an illegal order that says we must wear masks or respond to the incoherent virtue signaling by you. We non-wearing mask Americans, that you call “inconsiderate,” will NOT allow you or the government control of our lives and rights.  

You, however, have given up your rights and are allowing this intrusion by government into your life, as shown by your own words: “We can say we did our part and we have been cleared to no longer require masks.” 

“Cleared” by whom? Doctors who say one thing one week and flip flop to say something else the second week? The governor who may now give “dispensation” to not wear a mask?  

Or should we listen to the CDC and Dr. Fauci who is making big bucks off this virus? Both have lied or distorted information about the statistics and deaths resulting from the virus.  

 https://c-vine.com/blog/2020/05/07/follow-the-money-fauci-holds-4-covid-19-related-patents/

 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-cdc-says-americans-dont-have-to-wear-facemasks-because-of-coronavirus-2020-01-30

 https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/04/faucis-many-mistakes-lies-nih-director-said-one-thing-weeks-months-ago-today-tries-blame-president-trump-video/

The one piece of advice that you do give to wash hands and use hand sanitizer is good. I agree with you. The latter works like a charm to keep germs and viruses out of your body!  

 It’s too bad that you, Ms. Prather, think that many non-mask wearing Americans don’t deserve rights and you call them inconsiderate. Consider that you are the one being inconsiderate when you state, “…I don’t want to hear about your rights or mine, it’s called doing what is RIGHT.” That is the problem Ms. Prather you don’t want to hear you just want to virtue signal and tell everyone else what to do just like petty dictators often do.  

You say, “…We need to take a personal evaluation of our thoughts, our respect for others, how we approach things, what is decent behavior, and if our actions are supportive or not.” You, Ms. Prather, need to take your own advice.