On this very page, you will find four letters to the editor.
You will also note that the top of the page reads “Opinions.”
As an editor, it is quite troubling when your community is suffering. We are 18 months into the only pandemic the majority of us have ever had to power through, and there is no doubt in my mind that it is bad.
There is far too much information out there to ignore the dangers of COVID-19. It’s here; of that, you cannot deny.
But whatever side of the vaccine/mask/social distancing debate you find yourself on, I believe the most troubling part of this entire mess is how far we have removed ourselves from simple respect and kindness.
You want to get the vaccine? You are limiting the effects the coronavirus will have on your body – should you encounter it – and doing your part to limit the spread. Great!
What if you do not want to get the vaccine? You don’t believe it’s necessary, proper research was not performed before it was released or you choose your faith over fear? Great! That’s your prerogative, no matter how you define it.
Yet, we are all having to define it. Every. Single. Day. As a society, we are having to defend our personal beliefs, stances, etc., on a daily basis. Simple, everyday conversations rarely begin anymore without the hot-button question being asked: “Have you taken the vaccine?”
So now I present to you the moment so many of you have clamored for. Pull out your highlighters, Sharpies, gel pens, colored pencils, etc.:
Here is my personal stance on the debate (and there’s no way I can win, but here goes): you do you.
The virus is very real and spreading rapidly, even as I type this column. We suffered two losses to our county within two hours of each other last week from this horrid monster and for that, we pray for the loved ones of those that are grieving.
Perhaps it takes a wake-up call like that for you to pick a side in the safety debate. Perhaps you move forward and continue to live your life as you wish. Hey, maybe you have opinions (read: interpretations) of what the right thing to do is.
Since I took over The Graham Star more than two years ago, my philosophy has been – and will continue to be – that this publication will present both sides of any issue.
Sure, we have detractors who attempt to decry and pick stances for us, but at the end of the day, I feel like this publication is balanced.
As a result, we will continue to remain neutral on this topic, as we do with everything else. We present arguments and facts, then you, the reader, do the rest. Do your research. Be content in your belief.
There is plenty of good in the world. Stop infighting, respect that everyone has their own beliefs and try – just try – to remember that once upon a time, we were not in the middle of a pandemic. Now is not the time to turn on each other and escalate an already-drastic situation.
When you get out of the bed, just do you. Don’t worry about what they’re doing. After all, you’ve protected yourself and others, or you’re keeping the faith.
Or both.
Right?
Kevin Hensley is publisher/editor of The Graham Star. He can be reached via phone, 479-3383; email, editor@grahamstar.com, and on Twitter @KevinHensleyCNI.