Forum contributor Brian Meyette honestly presented his position on why he believes people have been wearing masks (“Masks are just a political statement,” Sept. 28). In his view, Democrats “chose to make the virus a purely political matter” and thus “masks serve only to make a political statement,” so he and others refuse to wear them “and will never get the vaccination.” As 1 in 500 Americans have died from COVID-19, such perceptions of public health decision-making may seem bizarre, but they are widely held on the right.
Opposition to mask-wearing is not unique. It was perceived by some as “political” in the 1918 flu pandemic. Health professionals, then as now, read scientific journals, not political theory, to decide whether masks or vaccines offer protection from a potentially lethal pathogen. A clear scientific consensus now exists on the benefits of masks and vaccines for protection from SARS-CoV-2. These remarkable vaccines were developed during Trump’s administration and Trump himself received one of them. Our response to the pandemic has been undermined by organized disinformation, conspiracy theories and other nonsense.
In 1981, after he was shot, President Ronald Reagan joked with his surgeons, “I hope you’re all Republicans.” He didn’t demand they remove their masks. Many of us remember a time when those who held different political views still shared common narratives and the will to improve our nation’s well-being. We could disagree deeply with other political views, but it was perceived as un-American to disparage the patriotism of those who held them. Disagree as we might, we were not influenced to view those from the opposite political team as existential threats to our way of life.
To have a healthy nation, and quickly move beyond this pandemic, we must work together on countering disinformation and resetting our political discourse.
KEN DOLKART
Grantham
After reading Forum contributor Brian Meyette’s letter (“Masks are just a political statement,” Sept. 28), I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The letter says that those who wear a mask are making the statement: “I am a trembling liberal and I am eager to take orders from the government.” The letter also says “If the liberals don’t like it, they should have thought of that when they made the virus an issue of politics and hysteria, not science and medicine.”
Ummm, what have the scientists been saying about the vaccine? What have the doctors been saying about the vaccine? Look into it, and there will be the answers about vaccines and the necessity of wearing masks. And there are some really fun masks out there with great prints on them!
NANCY PARKER
Lebanon
This is in response to Forum contributor Brian Meyette’s letter (“Masks are just a political statement,” Sept. 28). In fact, it was President Donald Trump who made masks, the virus and the lack of doing anything a “political statement”: The virus was something the Democrats made up. It will be gone by Easter. Just use bleach. If he had done what he should have done, I think he’d have been re-elected. But he didn’t. Then he lost.
Trump got COVID-19 himself. Then he declared he was immune because of his natural antibodies, even though scientists say get the vaccine. But then he secretly got vaccinated at the end of January.
If masks are only “a political statement,” why were deaths from the flu so low last season? It’s partly because people wore masks and took other precautions.
I’ve been vaccinated. I’m still wearing a mask. That’s because 94% effective means 6% not effective and I don’t want to take the chance. I am not a “trembling liberal … eager to take orders from the government.” Do you wear a seatbelt? That’s an order from the government. Did you or your children get vaccinated for polio, mumps and several other diseases to attend school? Another order from the government. What about smoking a cigarette inside a store? Why shouldn’t a smoker have the “freedom” to do that?
I’m tired of seeing anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers take up hospital beds so people who need life-saving treatment can’t get it. I’m tired of anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers forcing health care workers to work more than they should have to because they choose to ignore the scientists and medical professionals. I’m tired of seeing all these people die. If only they’d taken the vaccine. There are way too many deaths in this country from COVID-19 because the pandemic was ignored. Hopefully, more will wear their masks and get the vaccine. I don’t like it that some people seem to be trying to give the virus to others because they don’t care.
PAULA E. LAVALLEE
East Corinth
In reference to the Sept. 10 opinion column “Lebanon fails to address racism in our schools,” it seems odd to me that the school resource officer would still be stationed in any building. Why is the Lebanon School District paying for someone to patrol the halls of the elementary schools? Or any schools? Doesn’t that seem weird?
It would seem, since the school resource officer moves from school to school, that there is only a 1 in 4 chance the officer happens to be in the right place at the right time in case of emergency. Seems like a lot of money for those odds. Why not just have another police officer on patrol in the city and call when it’s necessary? Or just save the money? Even stranger was the argument that we need the officer because he is a “great guy.” Those who may have disagreed were not allowed to speak.
On the whole, it looks like the MAGA crowd really wants to maintain this harmful status quo. The superintendent and multiple School Board members are either in agreement with the MAGA view or lack the character to do the right thing and respect the wishes of the students of color in the Lebanon School District.
MIKE KING
Lebanon
As the GOP cranked up its current “loyalty or else” campaign by using Donald Trump’s social media reach to initiate and spread “alternative facts,” chaos and divisiveness, the ongoing silence from New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu was very telling. It’s not that he supported Trump as a fellow Republican, it’s that he seemed to support everything Trump did or said, no matter how outlandish. He was and continues to be complicit, loyal to the GOP playbook. Two examples come to mind.
I think back to all the fabricated comments, wild accusations and nonsense that Trump spewed over his four-year term. From his lies on immigration, the economy, COVID-19 and the “stolen” election to the personal attacks on and blatant disrespect shown to people like John McCain, Harry Reid, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and people with disabilities. To say it’s just Trump being Trump is a cop out. Sununu’s refusal to denounce Trump’s actions seemed to proclaim his agreement or that it was acceptable. Silent complicity.
Trump gave voice to pockets of his “base” who support racism, misogyny, sexism and hate, embracing them and even inciting them. Yet there was silence from Sununu until it was certain Trump was out of office.
Sununu’s silence over four years seemed to say two things: Either he was fearful of Trump or he thought the votes of that segment of the base were vital for his own politics. His silence contributed to the divisiveness now found in New Hampshire and throughout the country, all in loyalty to the GOP playbook.
Sununu continues to be complicit. The values and beliefs of those he serves certainly don’t seem to be his priority. The GOP agenda and his own political interests are. The GOP itself doesn’t know what’s best for New Hampshire. We deserve a leader who has our state’s values and best interests in mind and doesn’t blindly follow a playbook.
Sununu shouldn’t represent us in any level of New Hampshire government, in my opinion. And neither should anyone who blindly follows a playbook.
I still miss the GOP I know and love.
RON MITCHELL
Claremont