Letters to the editor: Masks, civility, school lunches, public art
Wear a mask
As a military veteran, I spent 20 months on deployment to the Middle East. The men and women I served with were all ready and willing to sacrifice for the good of the nation when called for. So it profoundly disturbs me when my fellow citizens refuse to do the bare minimum and to wear a face mask to protect the most vulnerable. We are willing to send our best and youngest to war but we aren’t willing to wear a mask when we shop for groceries? This is not about personal liberty, this is about being selfish. A nation willing to spend trillions of dollars and thousands of lives going to war but refusing to wear a mask in public is a nation in serious moral decline. Wearing a mask is not a political statement; it’s common sense. Do it for your fellow citizens. We are the only advanced nation on the planet that is having such high mortality rate, and it is because of selfish people putting themselves before others. To veterans like me this is beyond offensive.
Steve Sharber, Kuna
Use local artist
Boise Arts and History department is unable to find a local artist for a project downtown? I am sure there are local artists that would be happy and motivated less by money than a Guggenheim Fellow. The locals would rather see a local produce the artwork than a Guggenheim Fellow. Art is in the eye of the beholder, do you really think a New Yorker could capture the spirit of Boise? I think not, and how much does a Guggenheim Fellow charge for his work? If this is privately funded, go ahead, but taxpayer dollars should go to a local artist. Support the local artists. A Guggenheim Fellow, so what. Not impressed.
Nick Fenton, Boise
Coarseness
On Sunday afternoon a man was standing at the corner of State and Veterans Memorial Parkway holding a very large sign that read, “F--- Trump” (the expletive was spelled out). I would have preferred Boise Kind and not Boise Crass, standing FOR something and not standing AGAINST someone, useful description and not vile slur, respectful and not hateful.
Today, It seems like those people who are so quick to take offense and make demands are so unconcerned about offending others. I suspect that there was a parent or two, a churchgoer or two and even an average Joe or two who did not appreciate this display of coarseness. The presidential election will only make emotions run higher. I hope Boise can do better.
Don Grayson, Boise
School lunches
As an Idahoan, I’m well aware of the many special attributes of my native state and its people. However, several Idaho issues are of very serious concern. For example, funding of K-12 education per capita is the lowest in the nation, our post-high school “go on” rate is at or near the lowest in the nation and has not changed significantly in the past decade and our physician per capita rate is at or near the lowest in the nation. Could there be a connection between these issues and the report that “Idaho is the only state in the U.S. to skip school lunch relief program” in this morning’s Statesman. Why such a decision and who, specifically, is responsible for making such “unique to Idaho” decisions at the cost of thousands of hungry children during a pandemic.
Charles Robertson, Boise