Letters: Trump, Pence sending wrong messages on masks; The time has come to evolve from ‘Red Raiders’

Trump, Pence sending wrong messages on masks

The lead headline in the June 28 CDT reads “Feds’ mixed message on masks still sows confusion.” This headline couldn’t be more wrong.

It’s not some nameless “feds” who are still sowing confusion. It’s Trump and Pence who are still sowing confusion, especially among their gullible “base.”

There is no confusion about the wrong messages they are sending about wearing masks, practicing social distancing or listening to the experts. Trump and Pence are wrong. Dead wrong.

As someone wrote recently: “Wearing a mask is not a political test; it’s an IQ test.”

When the story of this pandemic is written Trump and Pence will suffer the judgment of history as guilty for failure of leadership. No “mixed message” about it.

Wearing face masks must continue in Centre County

Dismay, disbelief and disappointment were words that immediately came to mind seeing the June 28 CDT photo/article about Centre Hall’s yard sale. The caption read “…yard sale goes on despite COVID-19.” I saw no face masks let alone six feet of social distancing.

I had felt proud of Centre Countians’ common sense that has kept COVID cases just over 200. We show care and respect for others’ well-being by wearing masks; lack of caring and respect when we do not.

Recent reports of entire families being infected as they attended social gatherings shout reality. Will they live with the feeling that the death of a parent or grandparent was preventable? Waiting until summer 2021 for family reunions may save many lives and is a small sacrifice.

Early openings in many cities resulted in sharp increases of COVID-19. Rising numbers in 36 states and declining numbers in only two states shout reality.

Sadly, we get mixed messages from the White House and see NO face masks being worn. Scientists, like Dr. Anthony Fauci, consistently speak reality — vaccines are months and months away.

Please respect your family and others. Wear face masks, keep social distancing and wash your hands frequently. Wearing a mask is such a small inconvenience. We hear these recommendations every day — believe them and do them!

The time has come to evolve from ‘Red Raiders’

I am a 30-plus year resident of Bellefonte and an enrolled member of the Bad River band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. My children are also both enrolled tribal members and Bellefonte alumni. As a long-term resident, I understand people’s reluctance to change the name/mascot of their beloved school. I believe the current name was not meant to be intentionally racist. However, the time has come to evolve and consider a change.

Synonyms for raiders are: thieves, robbers, attackers, invaders and looters. With “red” in front of raiders, you depict the natives, who inhabited this land (long before the “white raiders” came and pushed them away) as the invaders and thieves.

Perhaps the board could consider a name that links the school to an animal native to this valley, Bellefonte bobcats or red hawks. Like the hawk (sacred to native people), the time has come to spread your wings, fly higher, and expand your vision.

I sincerely hope they do not change the name to something that represents/honors the “white” man, like the Bellefonte governors. Removing all reference to indigenous people or animals of this valley serves as another insult, another effort to erase all essence of the original people of this valley.

The board should also consider creating a district-wide land acknowledgment statement, for websites, public materials, and spoken daily (like the pledge). This practice acknowledges in gratitude that the lands we are on have deep histories, recognizing that indigenous communities called this land home long before we came here.