Letter to the Editor - The Bible tells us so

Editor,

Anyone who denies the government’s, any government’s, right, let alone obligation, to impose rules and regulations to safeguard its citizenry, is ignoring the timeless basis upon which all civilizations were founded.

Pick up your Bible, Talmud, Koran or whatever, and find the Ten Commandments and other tribal prohibitions, such as refraining from dining on cloven-hooved animals and cleaning yourself with the hand that feeds you.

They were not written as some mystical, moral plaudits to gain God’s blessing, though they are attributed to Him. They were written to protect the populace. And they were and still are enforceable.

The Tribes of Israel and the Americas, the Clans of Scotland and countless other societies around the world understood, through trial and error, what was healthy — physically, emotionally and mentally — and what was not.

The United States’ federal, state and local governments are no different than any other in that respect. When sheriff’s offices and other law enforcement agencies say they will not uphold the directives predicated on protecting the citizens they are sworn to serve, they are abdicating their duties. Unless, of course, they have a well-thought-out, legitimate reason.

 “The Role of Law Enforcement in Public Health Emergencies” is a comprehensive guide to law enforcement’s role in preserving community wellness in times of disasters, including pandemics. Pages 18 through 23 of the U.S. Department of Justice procedural are devoted to mass vaccinations and preventive measures, specifically social distancing.

Check it out.

We are fortunate today to have trained scientists, epidemiologists, doctors, nurses, EMTs, lab technicians, pharmacists and public health workers to guide us to safety.

People who choose to deny government’s obligation to protect us put us all at risk. It’s time to quit playing conspiracy games and crying “fake news” as the death toll mounts. It’s time to put the health and well-being of your family, friends and neighbors ahead of your own mulishness.

“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”

Attributed to Herbert Spencer, circa late 19th century

Alan Sorensen

Havre