Irresponsible county
Editor, The Commercial:
A recent and accurately presented editorial in The Pine Bluff Commercial touting the generosity of Jefferson County people ended with this paragraph, “It has been said that Pine Bluff is one of the most generous cities in the state, based on the level of giving by its residents.”
That quote is empirical, not anecdotal. A look at comparative numbers will bear out the claim. That’s the good news. The bad news is that, so to speak, the numbers giveth and also taketh away.
A few pages earlier in the same edition of the combination Arkansas Democrat Gazette and The Commercial, it is revealed that Jefferson County, regarding the coronavirus, is No. 8 in the “Top counties with the most cases in Arkansas,” with a staggering 782 active cases.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
To make matters worse, in the number of deaths, we move up to No. 7 with 125, and The New York Times identifies Jefferson County as one of the nation’s “hot spots.” To give you an idea of the deepening issue, on July 21 there were 234 active cases and 32 deaths in Jefferson County.
Now, we depart from provable numbers to opinion. I seriously doubt there’s a method for calculating, nor numbers that quantify, the incidence of personal irresponsibility in a community. That said, I’m guessing that if there were these data, the curve for Jefferson County would run parallel with or overlay the curves expressing the total number of coronavirus active cases and/or deaths.
The methods to stall, slow down and/or improve on these deplorable and shameful coronavirus numbers are as commonly known as stopping for traffic signals or flipping a switch up to turn on the lights.
Despite their simplicity, it is apparent the concepts of masking, hand washing and social distancing have entered the respective left ears of a goodly number of our population and have picked up speed as they exit the right ears. If this statement angers you, good. It should.
Masking, hand washing and social distancing are not impositions on your freedoms as American citizens. These voluntary actions are manifestations of respect for the well-being of others. If you cannot understand how that works, your Momma should make you go cut your own switch.
Joe Dempsey,
Pine Bluff