Views from readers: the Mary C + wearing a mask + COVID-19
Delay the decision
We respect that the city leadership of Ocean Springs has taken a very difficult decision on the future operations of the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center and understand that it has been done with the best of intentions.
We strongly support the role of the Friends of Mary C, and we believe the growth and caliber of their programming have been exemplary. It is our hope that the city will reflect on and reconsider the process for reaching this decision as well as the course of action proposed.
If the decisive issue motivating the city leadership was a criminal or civil impropriety, we request that it be publicly referred to the appropriate federal, state, or local authorities so that, ultimately, specific individuals can be held accountable.
The citizens of Ocean Springs would certainly understand the gravity of the matter in such a scenario and how it may have justified the decision you have taken. As matters stand now, the integrity of the entire Friends of Mary C organization has been impugned.
If the decision was grounded in the caliber of programming and/or fulfillment of contractual obligations, we request that the city please release its analysis, audit or evidence of grievances (anonymous, anonymized, or formal) so they can be understood and addressed concretely. Innuendo and speculation now poisons reasoned discourse.
If the decision of the city leadership was a straightforward matter of reallocating resources to optimize delivery of cultural programming for Ocean Springs, this of course is a budgetary matter and should be available for public input through the normal budgetary process.
In any event, we request that the city please delay the decision regarding the Friends of Mary C and rescinding of its management contract, and hold a public hearing so that all sides may be heard and a more inclusive solution might be found. There is no compelling reason to act until such time as the public has a clearer understanding of the city’s rationale for a change and a reasoned, deliberate, and transparent debate can be held.
A non-transparent process will further erode public goodwill, incur the risk of dampening attendance at future Mary C activities thereby reducing revenue and raising operating costs (which is antithetical to the city’s goal), and raise uncertainty over the handling of future donations.
All citizens of Ocean Springs want a vibrant, creative, and efficient Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center. We respectfully ask that the city carefully consider and act on the options outlined above to continue progress toward that end.
Melanie Allen
Nancy Duckett Allen
John Anderson
Leif Anderson
Dave and Heather Denison
Ron and Misty Shaw-Feder
Henry and Heather Furr
Margaret Gambrell
Patricia O’Grady Green
Shannon Magee Hackney
Adele Anderson Lawton
Scott and Barbara Lemon
Fred and Stacey Moran
Fred and Angela Mohar Moreton
Linda Nagel
Jeff O’Keefe
Joe O’Keefe
Mary Anderson Pickard
Jamie Magee Richards
Paige Riley
Brian and Marie Sanderson
Donald and Leigh Ann Scharr
Alex Scharr
Travis Scharr
Bob and Barbara Smith
Chris and Susan Snyder
Chris Stebly
Linda Roberts Steffey
Pat Joachim and George Sustendal
Kathlyn Van Buskirk
Daniel and Ann Whyte
Alexis Williams
Mickey and Karen Williams
Nancy Wilson
Jamie Magee Richards
Paige Riley
Brian and Marie Sanderson
Donald and Leigh Ann Scharr
Alex Scharr
Travis Scharr
Bob and Barbara Smith
Chris and Susan Snyder
Chris Stebly
Linda Roberts Steffey
Pat Joachim and George Sustendal
Kathlyn Van Buskirk
Daniel and Ann Whyte
Alexis Williams
Mickey and Karen Williams
Nancy Wilson
(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story included Pat Pinson’s name as one of the signers of the above letter. That was in error, and Pinson’s name has now been removed.)
Dangerous president
Trump’s performance as president is appalling.
His tendency to put his own, unqualified opinion above those of experts is a danger to the nation.
He did so for global warming and in connection with the global virus. What would he do if the intelligence branches, whom he distrusts, warned of an imminent attack?
As unqualified as he has proven to be, the bigger question is why the Republican Party has continued to support him and is campaigning for his second term. It’s a clear case of putting party ahead of country.
They should have used the impeachment to rid themselves of him, which would have put Vice President Mike Pence in charge. Pence would have a better chance of winning in 2020 than Trump has.
The House did its constitutional job in bringing impeachment. The Republican Senate seems to have forgotten that it is a separate branch of government and does whatever the president tells it to do.
Bruce Emerick
Biloxi
Know the risks
I am an infectious disease veterinary epidemiologist who has written to the Sun Herald in the past about the danger of seeking “herd immunity” as a strategy to combat COVID-19. This time I would like to make a point about the gravity of the decision to re-open the economy, and especially the schools.
First, I would like to dispel the notion that, “thousands are dying because the schools are closed.” But the schools haven’t been closed more than their normal summer break, so this is just an argument for eliminating the summer break.
The real decision making problem is that infection with the coronavirus may have long-term consequences, even if the infection is mild or asymptomatic.
We know that about a third of the victims of related diseases, SARS and MERS, end up with chronic lung disease. We also know that this new virus, SARS-CoV-2, is capable of causing lung damage, especially to the microscopic blood vessels around the lungs’ tiny air sacs, or alveoli. If the disease process continues after the infection ends, the affected person may develop serious lung disease such as pulmonary fibrosis.
This is one reason many baseball players have opted out for the season. Some thought that if they didn’t play this year they would never play again, whereas others thought that if they played and became infected, they would never be fit enough to play again. What a position to be in. Likewise, parents need to consider the possible long-term consequences for their children.
Albert Sollod
Diamondhead
Unintended consequences
I recently saw in the news that Mississippi’s top health official is warning that “it’s gonna get worse” as our state’s largest hospitals hit ICU capacity as a result of the surging spread of the coronavirus.
Also in the news were numerous tragic stories of the soaring rate of death from the virus spreading among us. Spouses are losing their spouse, children are losing their parents and parents are losing their children as too many of us are unnecessarily falling victim to the virus.
Our health leaders state we need to maintain social distance and wear masks to protect ourselves and those with whom we interact. Some refuse to follow this advice and continue to socially interact in close quarters without wearing a mask.
Many of these people will likely survive but will unintentionally infect others who are following the health guidelines.
As I read about these otherwise good, decent people who value and respect life, I realize most are misled into not socially distancing and refusing to wear a mask. I can’t help but wonder how many of them will get the virus and infect others in turn.
We all agree driving while intoxicated can lead to our accidentally killing others. Yet how may of us agree not wearing a mask and not socially distancing can also lead to our killing others?
Harold Dawley
Diamondhead
This story was originally published July 26, 2020 at 12:00 AM.