Off The Editor’s Desk – 4-22-2020
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Not another six weeks!
“Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”—Abraham Lincoln
Over the last week, as I have watched television news, people that we know, including Mike Rowe, saying that having us stay at home is over played and should be lifted. Last Wednesday protests erupted in Michigan and several other states with citizens upset about being quarantined in their homes.
I too wish, that things could get back to normal, but it is better to be safe and not sorry.
But, our Governor Evers has extended the state’s “Safer at Home Order” another six weeks until May 26, 2020. He released this new order just before President Trump’s video conference call with thenation’s governors Thursday afternoon. Trump’s plan is to reopen the American economy after a near total shutdown due to the pandemic. The plan consists of three graduated phases.
The state’s leaders were instructed that they could move through the guidelines at their own pace and the guidelines are not formal orders from the feds.
Part of Governor Evers’ new order relaxes some of the orders issued back in April including public libraries may now provide curb-side pick up; golf courses may open with restrictions; a complete list of the new order can be found on another page of this issue.
First, I agree with the order of the governor, and for the safety of everyone, so let’s all adhere to them and hopefully in a week or two the pandemic will be a thing of the past.
Secondly, local officials are making arrests for violating the order. But the constitution is very clear that we as citizens have the right to assemble, attend religious services and other freedoms and as far as I know the constitution is still the law of the land.
The first sentence of the First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The rest of the First Amendment is: “Or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
A piece written by Miranda Suarez and Alana Watson for Wisconsin Public Radio, pointed out several cases of arrests over the governor’s order including that in Fond du Lac County, the district attorney’s office has filed charges against 10 people so far for allegedly violating the order. A supper club in the town of Taycheedah allowed a guest to eat in the restaurant. A non-essential shop in Fond du Lac allegedly stayed open for business after the order was passed down and hosted a party of more than 20 people.
The Milwaukee Police Department announced they will pursue charges against individuals who violate the order.
“There’s a fine line between the government overreaching and trying to keep people safe,” said Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney.
In other parts of the country, arrests have been made that have been brought to my attention including a Pastor James Moffatt of Riverside County, CA was slapped with a $1,000 fine after he held a Palm Sunday worship service. He was fined even though he and his congregation followed all the social distancing regulations.
Worshippers in Louisville, KY, were threatened with arrest while they stayed in their vehicles.
The Temple Baptist Church in Mississippi, where attendees are facing $500.00 per person fines in spite of the fact that they followed all the state’s recommended social distancing guidelines.
Let us all do our best and follow the guidelines set by the governor and hopefully this will be over in a short time, because I don’t think I can go another month without a hair cut.
Thanks for reading! ~Carlton
P.S.—“Keep Calm and Stay Home” We have some 13 x 19 inch signs that read keep calm and stay home and if you would like one, just stop by the newspaper office and pick one up. No charge.