Breaking News4th Annual Membership Picnic Join Us Thursday, July 23rd at 6:00 pm Stronach Township Park Pavilion Water Street & 4th Street -- Stronach Democratic County Commission Candidates to Speak: Allan O’Shea, Rolf Wucherer, Gene Lagerquist, Karen Goodman, & Meg Batzter Brats Served Bring own table service, beverage and a dish to pass. Bring a lawn chair to make Social Distancing easier. Social Distancing and Face Masks Required to Keep Everyone Safe. |
More News Manistee Democrats Open Campaign Office Located in the former Hokanson’s Camera Shop Building 308 River Street -- Manistee Move in date July 15th Campaign office schedule: Wed-Sat 12pm-6pm VOLUNTEER OFFICE STAFF NEEDED CALL OR EMAIL: ELLEN SOMSEL Between 9am to 9pm (231) 392-6679 or ellensomsel61@gmail.com THE OFFICE SHOULD BE WELL STOCKED WITH CAMPAIGN SIGNS BY JULY 20TH -- STOP IN AND PICK SOME UP JOE BIDEN, BETH MCGILL-RIZER, AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, TOO. Volunteers for placing door hangers needed Call or email: Judy Cunningham (231) 794-0005 or jpc4466@gmail.com Social Distancing, Masks, and CDC Protocols will be observed at all times in the office. |
Candidates needed for County Offices
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Comments from the Chair
I am sorry to have missed everyone at last month’s membership meeting in Arcadia. I hadn’t been feeling well and thought it might be wise to avoid going out. Because of the symptoms I was experiencing, it was decided that I should get tested for the COVID-19 virus. Luckily, I tested negative, recovered and doing fine. The experience did, however, bring me to a new, more, personal awareness of how much our lives have changed in the last few months and how vulnerable our country is in dealing with this crisis, especially at the national level. The spectacle of our President, first ignoring the early signs, then playing down the seriousness of the crises, all the while doing everything he could to avoid any responsibility and even politicizing the issue, is a national disgrace.
When we think of the devastating impact that the COVID-19 virus has had on our society we need to be grateful that, while deadly, it did not bring with it the lethality of say, the Ebola virus. Where would we be now if it had? Yet, all indications are that this virus, as with the 1918 pandemic, will be with us for some time to come. Is a society that so strongly values its personal freedoms over the welfare of its collective whole, really prepared for a protracted struggle against this deadly enemy? I have my doubts,
judging by the number of people I see around me, when I go out, not taking the very simple, known effective steps to prevent the spread of this disease. Learning to live with this new reality is going to require us all to recognize our connections to and dependency upon each other and adjust our behavior accordingly.
Fortunately, most of us understand this, but there are many people in our society who still cling to the fantasy of independence. They believe that individuals can and should be completely free of outside controls and infringement on their domain. They feel that being forced to wear a face mask is an assault on their right to live free and independently of everyone. The ridiculousness of this view was made clear to me in a recent piece I listened to on NPR. The speaker described how, during his isolation at home, he decided to keep himself occupied with a special project, by attempting to personally thank everyone who was responsible for providing him with the cup of coffee that he took such pleasure in each morning. This led him to the grocery store where he thanked the workers there. This of course made him realize that the coffee had to be
delivered to the store by someone, i.e. truck drivers, road builders, factory workers, wholesale dealers and on and on. Eventually he was led to travel to Columbia to thank the owner of a coffee plantation who reminded him of all the workers that he employed. It seems his morning cup of coffee that he so enjoys connects him directly to an international network of people!
Of course, we were also reminded of this supply system when we went to Meijer two months ago to buy hand sanitizer, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. and found empty shelves. How really independent of each other are we? So, it seems, that all the clichés we hear every day around the idea of humanity’s connection and unity are really true. We truly are our brother’s keeper, and he is ours. My wellbeing is your wellbeing. What diminishes me, diminishes us all. This is really the idea that is driving the mass
demonstrations going on around the country and the world during this time. It is also the truth that will move us all safely through this current threat to public health. Stay safe everyone and take heart.
When we think of the devastating impact that the COVID-19 virus has had on our society we need to be grateful that, while deadly, it did not bring with it the lethality of say, the Ebola virus. Where would we be now if it had? Yet, all indications are that this virus, as with the 1918 pandemic, will be with us for some time to come. Is a society that so strongly values its personal freedoms over the welfare of its collective whole, really prepared for a protracted struggle against this deadly enemy? I have my doubts,
judging by the number of people I see around me, when I go out, not taking the very simple, known effective steps to prevent the spread of this disease. Learning to live with this new reality is going to require us all to recognize our connections to and dependency upon each other and adjust our behavior accordingly.
Fortunately, most of us understand this, but there are many people in our society who still cling to the fantasy of independence. They believe that individuals can and should be completely free of outside controls and infringement on their domain. They feel that being forced to wear a face mask is an assault on their right to live free and independently of everyone. The ridiculousness of this view was made clear to me in a recent piece I listened to on NPR. The speaker described how, during his isolation at home, he decided to keep himself occupied with a special project, by attempting to personally thank everyone who was responsible for providing him with the cup of coffee that he took such pleasure in each morning. This led him to the grocery store where he thanked the workers there. This of course made him realize that the coffee had to be
delivered to the store by someone, i.e. truck drivers, road builders, factory workers, wholesale dealers and on and on. Eventually he was led to travel to Columbia to thank the owner of a coffee plantation who reminded him of all the workers that he employed. It seems his morning cup of coffee that he so enjoys connects him directly to an international network of people!
Of course, we were also reminded of this supply system when we went to Meijer two months ago to buy hand sanitizer, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. and found empty shelves. How really independent of each other are we? So, it seems, that all the clichés we hear every day around the idea of humanity’s connection and unity are really true. We truly are our brother’s keeper, and he is ours. My wellbeing is your wellbeing. What diminishes me, diminishes us all. This is really the idea that is driving the mass
demonstrations going on around the country and the world during this time. It is also the truth that will move us all safely through this current threat to public health. Stay safe everyone and take heart.
