Do you small part

For those of us who risked our lives to defend our country, our mission was more important than our individual desires. The recent Memorial Day (honoring those who sacrificed their lives) re-enforced that message.

In World War II, we overcame shortages, rationing and hardships to support our troops and rid the world of fascism and repression. Today, with announcements that we have lost 100,000 citizens to the virus — more than the total of American lives lost in Korea and Viet Nam — we are in another battle almost as dangerous.

Currently we are asked to make only a few sacrifices to help slow the epidemic, such as social distancing in private meetings, in businesses, churches, stores and restaurants and to track and trace the disease. Following the advice of our medical experts and elected leaders such as our governors doesn’t seem too much to ask. But to listen to our state representative from Blanchard, it seems these small steps are more than we can bear.

And two of our (Bonner) County commissioners have proclaimed they will defy the state of Idaho’s Stage 2 Stay Healthy order designed to slowly open businesses while protecting all of us from the pandemic. (Strangely, that proclamation was advanced the same day Gov. Little authorized the state to move into Stage 3, a further reopening of the economy.)

And to all those not wearing masks, please say to those of us who are wearing them, “Thank you for protecting me.”

James W. Ramsey

Sandpoint