Letters

(Letter to the Editor by David O. Smith of Corbin) History always repeats itself unless we retain what we learn. I have been saying this since the individual everyone thought was a buffoon was elected President. In the 1930’s the world thought Hitler was a buffoon. No one thought in the Weimer democracy in Germany that he would be elected... but, he was. And then people stood silent as his “personal police,” the brown shirts, wreaked havoc on his enemies and the people he blamed for the nation’s problems - the Jewish, Catholic, the foreigners, and the disabled. Think of the hatred being stirred against blacks, Latinos, Mexicans, Arabs, by the buffoon-in-chief,...

(Letter to the Editor by Jerry Whitus of Corbin) What is white privilege? Can it be measured? Is there a standard definition that is generally accepted? If you have it, is it a guarantee of success? If you do not have it, is that a guarantee of failure? Are there any other privileges that have yet to be discovered or discussed? How about athletic privilege? Shoot the three very well, rebound like a demon, throw a 95 mph fastball or run at the speed of sound? If you are in high school and do any of these things, then there is a college scholarship or pro career awaiting you. How about entertainment...

(Letter to the Editor by Jerry Whitus) With extortion, a person or a group makes a threat, often physical or destructive, to obtain something or to force someone to do something. Examples: either defund the police or we will burn down the city. Either let us set up our own political zone in your city or we will come for you or your family. To Bari Weiss (NY Times), either write and walk the far left talking points or be attacked by your colleagues and be forced to work in a hostile environment. To op-ed editors, deliver opinions or print opinions that express the radical far left agenda or be...

(OpEd by U.S. Senator Rand Paul) In 2015, I filibustered reauthorization of the Patriot Act.  My filibuster was not popular with other senators because it kept them in Washington over a Memorial Day weekend. I still remember one or two hotheads muttering and directing profanity under their breath. I have to admit I may have given them right back some choice words of my own. A senior Republican in leadership admonished me that I’d be sorry if terrorists struck the United States while the Patriot Act was expired.  I responded, “Couldn’t we just rely on the Constitution for a few hours, like we did for over 200 years?” Sturm und Drang, fear...

(OpEd by Mark Carter, an executive policy advisor with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, has most recently served as chief executive officer at Passport Health Plan. For more information about contact tracing and the coronavirus, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.) Don’t Stall. Answer the Call. The text alert arrived with a call to action. I needed to verify with my data breach monitoring company that a cable company had my permission to check my financial background, allowing me to consider them as a streaming entertainment provider. Like many Kentuckians who have been Healthy at Home and watching TV, I was happy to provide the verification. This particular text reminded me of another...

(OpEd by Corbin High School Senior Alexandria Stewart) There is so much joy and memories that come along with senior year, from football games to trips. However, due to COVID-19 it’s different for the class of 2020. It seems as though we have been through it all. We were just starting our lives when the attacks of 9/11 occurred. Then we saw the Ebola virus. The development of technology, along with many other events, have all taken place in our youth. My name is Alexandra Stewart, and I am currently a senior at Corbin High School. I plan on attending the University of the Cumberlands this fall with a major in...

(Letter to the Editor by Brenda Bugg) In the month of May many will visit cemeteries to honor ancestors. When walking through the cemetery, take note of the soldiers’ graves. Most volunteered to defend this nation and our freedoms. If they knew how easily we have given up our rights because we are afraid! Would they wonder what happened to the nation they died for?

(Letter to the Editor by David O. Smith of Corbin) It’s clear the first COVID relief bill passed by Congress basically went to big business, except for the $600 benefits to individuals receiving unemployment in an attempt to equalize funds received in each state. Hopefully, the second bill will go to small businesses, not those with $100 million cash reserves. The next big news comes from US Senator Mitch McConnell. He has taken care of big business and proclaimed to help the citizens of Kentucky, so he is finished helping Kentuckians. He says no more relief packages. Let the States bankrupt. That is really stupid. First, there is no provision in the...

(Letter to the Editor by Dr. Kimberly Sasser Croley, Clinical Pharmacist at Laurel Senior Living Communities) All Kentuckians have a part to play in “flattening the curve” of the coronavirus outbreak. Community pharmacists, like all healthcare workers, are first responders to the COVID-19 pandemic, working daily to provide quality, accessible and individualized care. Community pharmacists work in all facets of healthcare: hospital, independent and chain pharmacies and for myself and my partner, Dr. Kyle Harris, long-term care. On April 8 the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services issued guidance authorizing pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests. Last week, Gov. Beshear signed an executive order doing the same. This will allow more...

(In honor of the 2020 National Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8, Kentucky Teacher of the Year Erin Ball sends an open letter to all of the Commonwealth's educators to thank them for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic.) Dear Kentucky Teachers: Thank you for your immediate response to these strange and strenuous circumstances. Practically overnight, you were faced with the unprecedented challenge of facilitating remote learning. The news that our school buildings were closed with remote learning continuing for the remainder of the year has hit hard. Many of us anticipated it, but the reality of not returning to our physical facilities created heartbreak. Non-traditional instruction was never intended to last this...