From Joint Chiefs of Staff  chairman to COVID-19

Gen. Milley deserves our respect
Ron Etchison, Sept. 16, 2021, page A4 of the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter:    
“On June 23 of this year, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley remarked, “I want to understand “white rage”. This was just another futile attempt to make white people feel ashamed to be white. In other words, this was cramming CRT (Critical Race Theory) down our throats.”
Gen. Milley has given 41 years of his life in honorable service to our country, and he does not deserve the scurrilous attack leveled at him by Ron Etchison.   I will ignore Mr. Etchison’s other remarks because in this country one has the right to make insensate remarks, a right Gen. Milley has defended his entire adult life. However, to let Mr. Etchison’s insult of Gen. Milley go unchallenged is a bridge too far.
Mr. Etchison abuses Gen. Milley because the general wished to understand societal issues and conditions that affect the thinking and behavior of the troops that serve under his authority. The general crams nothing, let alone CRT, down anyone’s throat. He tries to do his job to the best of his ability which includes having and showing consideration for his troops, caring behavior undeserving of the scorn Mr. Etchison leveled at him.

Jerry Marsh
Ellsworth
Follow common sense practices
Hello Linda,
Some families in this community are angry. This week, on social media, I’ve witnessed a lot of parents who are angry that their child/children are sick with Covid-19, are sequestered in a basement or an upper floor, being denied family time, and quarantine practices that should be followed, and might not be followed. I see parents who are blaming other parents for allowing their sick children to go to school. Obviously, if your child is sick, keep them home and get tested — your entire family!
BUT, know this — ANY child can be healthy and pass on the COVID-19 virus unknowingly. This means that ANY child who appears to be healthy can pass on COVID-19 to other children easily. People fail to understand this concept. That is frustrating. Children don’t need to be sick. Since I don’t work for any health care agency in town or the hospital, or anywhere in town, I can speak and write my mind without encroaching on another person’s territory, or being insubordinate to anyone at all. Unfortunately, both Dr. Whitmer and Kerianne must deal with medical and county politics and they are careful in what they say — it is part of the life they lead. They have no choice.
I work for and answer to myself, so I do have a choice, and it won’t impact my business since mine is world wide. I advocate for children aged 18 down to newborn — it’s what I do. I teach as much as I can — it’s what I do. Having been a registered nurse for so many years, it’s hard to NOT teach others.
The Delta Variant is spread easily. If you have a sick child, get tested, the entire family and contacts, and quarantine. It’s that simple. If your child was in a school room with a child who tests positive, then get your child tested. The Delta variant is nothing like the Alpha variant that hit first, in terms of being contagious — Delta is three times as contagious.  
I can envision a parent trying to make ends meet, and have a sick child. I can see a parent not getting their child tested because they can’t afford to take two weeks off from work. This is one example of how this virus can spread. Obviously, all the other ways still apply.
Please be vigilant and careful. Wear a mask to protect others around you. Stay safe and healthy.
Thank you so much!

Mary Schmidt
Ellsworth

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