Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber’s ‘Path Forward’ deserves kinder reception | Letters
In a matter of months, COVID-19 has changed virtually every aspect of our lives, disrupting how we work, play, learn and worship. From one end of the globe to another, people are coping with the challenges of living with a pandemic that shows no signs of abating.
I was dismayed by Rabbi Brad Bloom’s recently published negative opinion piece, “Overzealous pastor not the only one who needs to repent for COVID-19 errors.”
In addition to criticizing a Texas church for reopening, he used the column to attack his fellow neighbors and their work on the Path Forward Readiness Plan saying they need to “repent” for their efforts.
Spearheaded by the chamber, the plan involved input from more than 150 volunteers, including representation from the business community, residents, government, nonprofits, churches and childcare leaders. He denounced their “zeal for business profits,” and accused them of putting “economic interests over the health of the community.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
The goal was to develop safety measures so residents, visitors and workers could feel safe as our community reopened. The plan has now been used as a model in other communities around the country.
Rather than criticize those doing their best in unprecedented times, Rabbi Bloom should show empathy to his neighbors who are struggling with the economic and mental health consequences of this pandemic. What he deems “economic interests” are real families who need to feed their children and pay their bills. What’s needed is less judgment and more kindness and understanding.
Raymond Warco
Path Forward Readiness Plan Steering Committee Chairman
Hilton Head Island
Beware new Democratic socialism
A recent letter got me a bit upset.
I grew up in the same Denmark as H.C. Andersen and always cherished his wise fairy tales, one of them being “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” It’s mocking the fairy tale to compare it to President Donald Trump, who has brought much prosperity to our country despite being hated, lied about, and worked against 24/7. It took a pandemic to stop his progress for our country for the time being.
Denmark is a socialistic country, but its version has little resemblance to the socialism preached by four “sisters” in the Democratic Party they have overtaken. Green New Deal is but a distant Utopia. Don’t they know that most transportation these days use fossil fuels for propulsion? Even big merchant ships have diesel engines to bring to us cheap-labored goods from China and other low-paying countries in Asia exploiting even child labor. Hate for Trump seems to overshadow even the obvious.
Danish socialism does not hate its history either, nor feel obligated to practice looting, rioting, murdering, vandalism or other destruction.
That’s the new Democratic version of socialism. May God keep blessing America.
Janette Lund
Beaufort
Questions for DeVos, Congress
What if ...
What if we had a Secretary of Education who cared more for the health and safety of our nation’s children, teachers and support staff than promoting the political agenda of the president?
What if we had a president who cared more about the needs and health of our nation than his own ego and political agenda?
What if Republicans in Congress were less fearful of being called out by the president, made fun of, or given and “insulting” name, and more interested in being legislators and acting like a viable, third branch of government doing what they are constitutionally mandated to do?
What if ...
Richard White
Sun City