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Letters
RE: CHICAGO’S OUT TO BLOW THE ROOF OFF. SOUND, 8/19
Have loved this band since day 1 (of course, Blood, Sweat and Tears also lead with the horns, but were sort of jazz-rock;-) -- but I have loved most of their stuff, including the softer '70s/'80s and especially their Big Band album in 1995. Great stuff! —B. Lerten via bendsource.com
RE: REDMOND WON’T BAN CONFEDERATE FLAGS. NEWS, 8/19
There is a place for the Confederate battle flag, but not in the same place and flying in the same breeze as the American flag. —Foster Fell via bendsource.com
RE: LIKE A PHOENIX, WE CAN RETURN TO A BETTER, MORE SELFLESS VERSION OF OURSELVES. OPINION, 8/19 I commend your editorial board for trying to reason with unreasonable people here in your article. But at the end of the day you are still trying to convince unreasonable people to be reasonable.......and so far that does not seem to be working with this new form of American. —Bob Erickson via bendsource.com
WHY DO TWO DESCHUTES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OPPOSE A MASK MANDATE?
Here's an email I sent to the Commissioners on 8/17/21: I want to acknowledge the County’s success in achieving a high vax rate compared to our neighboring counties in “greater Idaho.” However,
Letters must be received by noon Friday for inclusion in the following week’s paper. Please limit letters to 250 words. Submission does not guarantee publication. Opinions printed here do not constitute an editorial endorsement of said opinions. Letter of the week receives $5 to Palate! I’m disheartened by Commissioner Tony's stance against the mandate requiring masking in public and indoors. This isn't political; it's PUBLIC HEALTH! No one has the “freedom” to assist COVID in sickening it, killing members of our community! Have courage, follow the science and epidemiology and the Governor's orders! It's just like requiring seatbelts or motorcycle helmets. Finally, thank you, Phil Chang, for being the only commissioner who is reasonable and follows the science and truly caring for the community at large, rather than capitulating to the vocal minority of anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers. True leaders should clarify that ignoring public health measures is antisocial, selfish, and won't speed our recovery from this virus; in fact, it will (has already!) make it worse and guarantee a lousy 2022. Unfortunately, future election cycles may find you on the wrong side of issues like this. Thanks for considering my concerns. —Paul G. Claeyssens
DON’T BUG US, WE ARE WORSHIPPING During this ongoing epidemic the churches are performing somewhere between unevenly and quite badly. Some of the earliest and worst spreader events were at regular or annual-type meetings held almost to spite authorities. Then, when stricter policies were enacted, churches cried First Amendment foul and even sued to be relieved of the large gathering guidelines they were subject to. They wanted to be treated like the God-favorite citizens it has always been clear to them they are. This is a strange record for a western religious tradition linked heavily to high achievement in medicine, underscored by the personal public health leadership of figures like Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. Churches today refuse to let go of theology even for a minute in order to survey
what they might learn from history, law, health, science. In the very old days, before the teachings of the great prophets dried up like dew on a blade of grass, religion made an effort to encompass and explain everything: nature, nurture and nations. But gradually, as the world just got too complicated, the churches narrowed their purview down to a few things whose reality can be known (like love and kindness), and others whose reality is less obvious (like the efficacy of sacraments, the substance of miracles, and the society of the afterlife). How is it, then, that we will ever banish ignorance and violence, given that the state lacks ethics, and the church lacks science? —Kimball Shinkoskey
RE: UP IN FLAMES. FEATURE, 8/19
I worked as a nurse for over 35 years, Medical, ED and Cardiac Care. I have worked as staff for 30 of those years with a stint in management (emergency department). I can say that burnout has been in effect since hospital reimbursements fell off in the late 80s. Working 12s with no lunch, no break was the norm and we didn't have to do it in sticky, confining, hot PPE. Staffing inadequacies have been an ever present factor in healthcare. As an ED manager years ago we switched to 12 hour shifts because you needed fewer nurses! When you add the unbelievable amount of stress to managing a work environment under COVID, I can't even
imagine. Seriously, do we think these caregivers are replaceable robots? This crisis has revealed all the weaknesses in our system of healthcare. From staffing, to equity of care, to access for all citizenry, supply logistics, care delivery systems, the list goes on and on. All facilities are understaffed, professionals are leaving, people still working are left with such a desperate situation that I fear soon there will be hospitals and longterm facilities closing. This is not a good time for that. My heart and my gratitude to all who continue to show up. —Marilyn Hofman-Jones
Letter of the Week:
Marilyn: Thanks for your encouragement and the little window into the world of a nurse. Come on by the Source for your gift card to Palate! (The office is once again closed to the public due to our “friend” Delta, but call when you’re outside and we’ll be happy to bring your card out to you!) —Nicole Vulcan
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5 VOLUME 25 ISSUE 34 / AUGUST 26, 2021 / THE SOURCE WEEKLY
Great story, Richard. My first concert was May 14, 1965 at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium. The Rolling Stones, the Beau Brummels, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Byrds, Mojo Men, Vejtables, Notables, Marauders, Gary Wagner Band. The Stones second US tour and first show in SF Bay Area. —Michael Funke via bendsource.com
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