Letters to the editor | Aug. 12, 2022 – Eureka Times-Standard
Reader urges boycott of local TV stations
I read in the recent Times-Standard (8-3-22) that Imagicomm Communications is now the owner of our local TV stations, KIEM and KVIQ. Considering Imagicomm was started by televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker as a “religious television network,” this does not bode well for Humboldt County. I proudly live in a place that is energetically supportive of so many rights: a woman’s right to an abortion, of LGBTQ rights, the right to same-sex marriage, the right to read whatever books we choose in our libraries and schools, the right to teach our children about this country’s history of racism and discrimination. The list goes on. These are the rights Christian fundamentalists and Republican legislators are dismantling as we speak, with the help of ultra-rightwing media.
This takeover of our local TV stations is not an innocent “corporate strategy.” Imagicomm has marched into our community to suppress and control the news to conform to their right-wing political and religious agendas. Despite local opposition, the FCC approved the transaction, allowing another media giant to expand its stranglehold on our democracy, our choice and diversity, and on our accepting, tolerant way of life on the North Coast.
There are two ways we can fight back against this monopolistic takeover — stop watching these stations and stop supporting their advertisers. That is what I plan to do!
— Kimberly Tays, Arcata
Responding to the new threat: monkeypox
Here we go again; a contagious virus being predominantly spread by gay men. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The last time this happened health authorities were puzzled by symptoms which suggested pneumonia. Painful sores and a serious downturn in the patients’ vital symptoms also added to the horror of what was obviously a dangerous, contagious situation. This time around we have identified the invader: monkeypox. We know where it originated, how it spreads and, as a result, the warnings to the public have been loud and attention-grabbing. Yet, in spite of all that, we have people who are part of that high-risk, personal behavior whining about the lack of vaccines available to them. And then, to add an additional bit of absurdity and entitlement to the scenario; a fetish, kink fair in San Francisco ( which just “coincidentally” happens to be a monkeypox hotbed). And, no, I’m not a red hat-wearing, red-neck conservative. I’m just another appalled citizen of this Petri dish stating his disbelief and disgust at this degree of self-absorbed, self-aggrandizing, and selectively entitled behavior. The LGBTQ community has enough bias and conservative revulsion to wade through. It certainly does not need this negative attention. Wake up!!
— Anthony Curtis, Eureka
Reader appreciates letter from other reader
I appreciated Dana Quillman’s letter of 7-31-22. She is trying to address just one of the “woke” trends in society.
I had seen the articles decrying the use of the symbol of the Holocaust in the service of decrying vaccine mandates. I can understand why people wouldn’t appreciate their horrible history being “exploited” for another cause. However, I can’t help identifying also with the folks that lost their jobs etc. because, after looking at the risks vs benefits of the mRNA vaccines, they decided that it was “their body, their choice” not to take it. Some people think it’s selfish not to take it, as it ostensibly protects others. However, if you are like me, and are reading ALL of the available science, you now know that the vaccinated are four times more likely to catch COVID-19, and to “pass it around” (The Lancet PMID: 35659687 ), and other crucial information that the public should have — and no-it’s not “disinformation”; it’s science. I have read enough science to know that the forcing of the vaccine, and the cruel sanctioning of those that refuse it (even for legitimate health reasons) is not actually supported by science (please ask me for more resources), can be seen as a totalitarian act by our government, and is creating a “sub-class” of people that are being treated with hatred by the public — thus, the identifying with the yellow star.
— Jean Damon, McKinleyville
First responders are exposed to toxics too
Reading Sunday’s August 7th, Page A4 article, “Another view: U.S. burn pits’ other victims: Iraqis, Afghans”: The same respiratory problems are affecting U.S. first responders, firefighters when near a burning building whose materials are releasing harmful chemicals.
My paraphrase of the burn pit article.
Ailments that soldiers and civilians and (firefighters) are experiencing are cancers related to exposure to the chemicals released by a fire. Along with skin problems, asthma, bronchitis, respiratory, pulmonary and cardiovascular problems and neurological conditions.
— Harold McArthur, Eureka