About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2020)
11A OPINION ®he £ntics gainesvilletimes.com Midweek Edition - September 2-3, 2020 Shannon Casas Editor in Chief | 770-718-3417 | scasas@gainesvilletimes.com Submit a letter: letters@gainesvilletimes.com The First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; 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. LITERS Bill will shine light on Alzheimer’s Over the past several months, Georgia’s seniors, especially those affected by Alzheimer’s and demen tia, have faced a whole host of obstacles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increased vulnerability to abuse, neglect and exploitation. My family has been ravaged by Alzheimer’s disease and I currently have loved ones in care facilities. I can think of nothing more tragic than someone or some organization try ing to take advantage of my family in these most vulnerable times. Thankfully, the Increasing Alzheimer’s Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act, which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously on Aug. 6, is an important step in protecting all seniors, especially those with demen tia, from elder abuse. Police officers, firefighters, social workers and others will receive train ing and information on how to look for the signs of elder abuse and how to prevent it. Legislation like this ensures that families like mine can have more peace of mind knowing that our first responders will have the tools they need to intervene and pre vent elder abuse. On behalf of Georgians with dementia and the Alzheimer’s Association, I want to thank Rep. Doug Collins for co-sponsoring of the Increasing Alzheimer’s Aware ness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act. Together, we are taking important steps forward both in the fight against Alzheimer’s and in the fight against elder abuse. Rob Polak Flowery Branch Member, Board of Directors, Alzheimer’s Association, Ga. chapter Dems will erase atmosphere of hateful speech, dirty tricks The Times did a great job of cover ing the story of the Hall County Dem ocratic Committee’s virtual forum with the Rev. Raphael Warnock, a candidate for US Senate. Before he began to address the attendees, the Zoom session was hacked by racist “trolls” who shouted the N-word. In a well-planned attack on the Rev. Warnock’s appearance, others spouted Q-Anon conspiracy theories and showed pornographic images. While the host worked to block these hackers, they continued to disrupt the event. Finally, the Hall committee had to close the Zoom meeting. Candice Dyer described it as “a cacophony of the worst of human awfulness, in response to a dignified public servant and person of faith.” She added: “I feel broken-hearted.” As a longtime resident of North Georgia, I am appalled that the politi cal divide in Georgia has come to this. Why can’t conservatives, liberals and moderates of any political party sup port candidates who reflect different values without resorting to vulgar, racist rants and efforts to silence free speech? Why do racist trolls feel emboldened to disrupt a democratic meeting? I believe it is because of our lead ers’ tacit approval of such behavior. Maybe it begins when a president describes anti-Semites and neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville as “very fine people.” Or when he calls the free press the “Enemy of the People.” Maybe it was indirectly enabled by our own state Sen. Steve Gooch, and two other North Georgia senators, who were among only six senators who voted against the hate crimes bill that was adopted on June 23. Maybe it’s because of the language and violence we see on TV against Black Americans or the rhetoric from Fox News, divisive politicians and social media. How should we respond? The Rev. Warnock said, “It is more important than ever to hear each other out.” I think that’s good advice, but listening is not enough. Vote for Democrats and take back the Georgia House and Senate. This will help erase an atmosphere that enables hateful speech and vile dirty tricks. In this election, there are 37 Democratic candidates on the bal lot in the 9th Congressional District. Vote for change. Richard Krise Sautee Nacoochee Desperate Dems support malicious strategies It will be a miracle if the desperate Democrats capture the 2020 presi dency based on these mindless, mali cious strategies: Model hypocrisy Democrats think it’s acceptable for thousands of people to protest in numerous American cities during this pandemic, but they forbid everyone else from participating in church services, sporting events, music con certs, beach vacations and other pub lic outings. A double standard exists on “follow the science.” Stay silent when convenient When anarchists loot businesses, destroy property and commit acts of violence against innocent people, most Democrats don’t condemn such behavior and the media is mysteri ously mum. More revealing, Demo crats don’t denounce the senseless black-on-black gang murders occur ring daily in Chicago. Interfere with federal agents Disgustingly, some liberal mayors object to the deployment of federal agents charged with protecting fed eral property in their cities. Clueless Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, called these agents “stormtroopers” — a reference to the Nazis of WWII Germany. Regarding the rioters, she said: “People will do what they do. ” Is Pelosi living on Pluto? Defiind police departments Yes, there are some bad cops out there and, when warranted, they should be disciplined, retrained, ter minated or imprisoned. However, it’s foolish to defund police depart ments and prohibit law enforcement officers from doing their jobs. Conse quently, we’re witnessing more vio lence and blatant disrespect for law and order across our nation. Foment identity politics Democrats love to divide Amer ica by calling conservatives racist, xenophobic, homophobic, deplor able, irredeemable, judgmental, insensitive and especially intolerant. For example, liberal speakers are welcomed on college campuses, but conservative voices are frequently prevented from sharing with these students. So much for tolerance. Control the biased media Most journalists stress the liberal narrative and conveniently overlook any news that espouses conservative views. For instance, numerous media organizations reported untruths about Nick Sandmann, a Kentucky high school student, when he visited Washington, D.C., with his classmates in 2019. Well, Sandmann has won two substantial lawsuits and six more are pending. Moreover, why is Jonathan Capehart, a Washington Post editori alist, still employed at this newspaper after attacking Sandmann with two columns? Offer a radical agenda If you want bigger government, higher taxes, overregulation, stock market turmoil, unfair trade deals, open borders, unlawful sanctuary cities, gun confiscation, limited law enforcement, free health care and college tuition for all (including illegiggsal immigrants), increased abortion-on-demand, activist U.S. Supreme Court justices, environmen tal hysteria, more secularism and the disappearance of the American republic as we know it, vote for Biden on Nov. 3. Hide Bide(n) Undoubtedly, the Democrats are in trouble when Sleepy Joe is the best presidential candidate they can offer. Biden hides in his basement and avoids interviews. When he conducts one, Joe is given easy questions in advance. During the rare times when Joe is asked tough questions, he’s rude and confrontational. “Mr. Gaffe” confuses his wife with his sister and thinks he’s running for the U.S. Sen ate. Assuming there are presidential debates, Joe Biden will be a colossal calamity. These delusional Democrats must not prevail. Your vote matters! Dick Biggs Gainesville Smoking data should be available for COVID deaths If you watch much TV these days you have seen many gut-wrenching infomercials concerning smokers, and in some cases, the terrible life the smokers lived before they passed. We are told that 94% of the people who died from COVID-19 had pre existing conditions. I think the public should be made aware of how many of the 94% were smokers. It just may convince some young people smoking is not some thing they want to do. Bruce W. Hallowell Clarkesville Whats love got to do with it? Remember the Tina Turner hit, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” In the lyrics, love is referred to as a “second-hand emotion.” That song popped into my head as I watch what is hap pening to our country. Love has got a lot to do with it, and, unfortunately, it seems to be a second-hand emotion these days — second to a lot of hate. We see that hate on television, hear about it on the radio, read about it in the newspa per and watch as hate is fanned with irresponsible social media postings. Hate seems to have gotten its impetus from well-publicized examples of highly questionable police tactics and spread into something approaching anar chy in cities across the nation. Some people are demanding law enforcement agencies be defunded. Others wonder how we can stop the rioting and looting without the police. Kneeling at the playing of our national anthem is seen as a heroic gesture by some and patently disrespectful by others. We hear that Black lives matter — and they do — but many whites perceive that statement as a wholesale indictment of all white people who, in turn, wonder why no one brings up the killing fields in places like Chicago, where Blacks are killing other Blacks in alarming numbers. Yet, many white people don’t seem to understand or appreciate the inherent frustration of Blacks. I can’t imagine how I would feel today had I grown up watching parents who I loved dearly having to sit in the back of the bus, being denied service in a restaurant because of the color of their skin, serving their country in war and yet being prohibited from voting when they returned. Many would say we are long past those days, others would say we have a long way to go. As for this day, we seem to be at an impasse in race relations in this country. We aren’t talking to each other. We are yelling. It is only going to get worse as election time nears and politicians pander to their supporters on either side of the racial divide. What is keeping us from reach ing out to each other? Amie Sid- man, former senior vice president at RJR Nabisco and an Atlanta tax attorney is author of “From Race to Renewal: It’s Not All Black & White.” In a recent opinion piece in the Atlanta newspapers, he says, “Any plan to improve race relations between Black Ameri cans and white Americans must be voluntarily implemented out side the political realm” and that “the initial goal should simply be making Blacks and whites more comfortable with one another in a social setting. ” If we get to know each other up-close-and-personal, we might find out we have more in common than we realize. Sidman suggests that white churches and Black churches pair up with an agreed-upon minimum number of congregational pairs that could meet and “discuss fam ily stories and items of mutual interest or concern in a less threatening and confrontational medium than protest marches. ” I could not agree more. My Christian faith espouses that we love everyone. So, why don’t we? The answer is that churches — Black and white — are composed of human beings who bring their prejudices in on Sunday, hear a rip-roaring sermon about turning the other cheek, walking the extra mile, getting the mote out of our own eye and then revert back to business as usual on Monday. Sadly, I speak from experience. My own. If our houses of worship aren’t willing to make the effort, who can? I believe racism is a learned behavior. I have told the story pre viously of our birthday bash last November where great-grandson Cameron Charles Yarbrough and I celebrate our respective birth days with family and friends. As everyone was preparing to leave, 5-year-old Hayden and 4-year-old Kayden gave each other a big hug. Hayden is my great-granddaughter. She is white. Kayden is the grandson of Carla, who has been an important part of our family for the past year. Kayden is Black. Obviously, nei ther of them seemed aware of their differences and just as obvi ously, didn’t care. Over the coming years, will they learn to hate and distrust each other? If so, our society is going to have to teach them that. I pray that they and their genera tion will find a belter way to deal with their disagreements than what I am seeing today. We can’t continue down this path of self- destruction and survive. What’s love got to do with it? Everything. Dick Yarbrough is a North Georgia resident whose column publishes Wednesdays. Contact him at P.0. Box 725373, Atlanta, GA 31139; online at dickyarbrough.com; or on Facebook. DICK YARBROUGH dick@dickyarbrough.com Getting in shape for November JIM POWELL I For The Times Details matter in this election This column is going to get into some picky computer details, because this year, picky computer details could decide some elections. If you Google “Georgia absentee ballot,” the item you’ll see at the top of the list that Google spits out is a paid ad from the Trump campaign, urging his supporters to register to vote. At least that was true for me, when I did this a few hours ago. Next on the list this morning was one of those Google-gener ated info boxes, which gives basic information and a link, “mail bal lot application.” That takes you to a georgia.gov page. Another click, and you’ll get to an application for an absentee ballot. To be clear, this isn’t the new online absentee ballot request portal that you may have read or heard about in the past few days, which lets you apply for a ballot online. This link takes you to a PDF of the paper application form, which you can print, fill out and mail, fax or deliver by hand. You may have received a copy of this form in the mail, already filled out for you, from the Center for Voter Information or the Voter Participation Cen ter, related nonprofits that are seeking to increase voter turnout across the country. There should be nothing wrong with using one of these completed forms to apply for a ballot — although there is one picky little thing. My sharp-eyed wife noticed that an application she printed out from the secretary of state’s site has a line in the upper right corner for a voter registration number, which the Center for Voter Information form doesn’t have. Nor does the current PDF form you get through georgia.gov. A spokes person in the secretary of state’s office said last week that the requirement for a voter registration num ber was added to the 2020 form but didn’t know why that line isn’t currently on the form on their website. Again, picky. But at a time when distrust is one of the few things both sides have in com mon, you can be sure that some of these very small questions could mushroom into very big deals. As of last Friday, when the absentee ballot request portal, ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov, got up and running, you don’t have to worry about paper forms. I tried it Monday and quickly worked my way through the brief online form.“Success!” said a message that flashed on my screen, informing me that my application had been received. This was followed immediately by another message that said “Error! While submitting your Absentee Ballot Request, please try again later!” Fortunately, the second mes sage was wrong. I got an emailed confirmation that the request had been received, and the sec retary of state’s My Voter Page www.mvp.sos.ga.gov, shows that I’ve applied for an absentee ballot. That last error message notwithstanding, applying online was a fairly easy and straightfor ward process. But there is a fine line between the obvious and the baffling, especially for older vot ers finding their way online. Fulton County Registration Chief Ralph Jones said Friday the county has already received 54,000 of the paper-form requests for absentee ballots. Presumably, people asking for ballots this early also plan to mail in their completed ballots early as well. But for those who wait, U.S. Dis trict Judge Eleanor Ross gave a little more breathing room Mon day, extending the deadline so that ballots postmarked on Elec tion Day and delivered within three days must still be counted. That’s expected to mean that thousands of votes who wouldn’t have been counted now will be. It also virtually guarantees that it will be days, at least, before a final result will be announced. For all the attention focused on absentee voting, due to the pan demic and President Trump’s vocal opposition to it, the big story in this year’s election may be on the ground, and on Elec tion Day. The parallel efforts by More Than a Vote, LeBron James’ group, and the Election Super Centers Project to convert the nation’s sports arenas into giant, socially distanced polling places could have a big impact in November. State Farm Arena has already been used success fully for early and same-day vot ing in the Aug. 11 primary runoff. Professional teams are lending support to similar efforts across the country. It would be an irony if this year’s campaign ended with Republicans beseeching their voters to send in their absentee ballots, and Democrats directing their voters to big stadiums. But that could happen. Tom Baxter is a veteran Georgia journalist who writes for The Saporta Report. TOM BAXTER tom@saporta report.com (The Srtnes Founded Jan. 26,1947 345 Green St., Gainesville, GA 30501 gainesvilletimes.com General Manager Norman Baggs EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in Chief Shannon Casas
