Worshippers came to Redding's Sundial Bridge on July 22, 2020. The crowd put the community 'at risk' for COVID-19, Shasta County health officials say. Redding Record Searchlight

I am appalled and dismayed at thegathering at the Sundial Bridge earlier this week. First, it's unconscionable to gather hundreds of people during a pandemic, no masks or distancing in place.Second, no permit was issued for this gathering, nor was one applied for. The lack of responsibility for this event is amazing.Did no one know about it?Well, all those attendees certainly did, so it seems unlikely that the higher-ups at Bethel didn't, and apparently they made no effort to stop this travesty.Sean Feucht, the alleged organizer, has had events like this recently in other counties in California completely disregarding the health of the communities he gathers in.Christian?I think not.The disregard for local citizens and our community is quite apparent. We live in a rural area.It's helped us stay off the State Watch List, so more businesses can stay open.There are so many small businesses struggling to keep afloat and then a stunt like this is pulled that jeopardized everyone's health.Where were the police?Did no one in city government know about this? When the spike in COVID-19cases comes, it will be because of this unlawful, unnecessary gathering.

Hazel Hughes,Redding

The GOP has long sustained a frontal attack on the ultimate value of science to society. In 2016, national alarms sounded as science marches rang bells with gangs of teachers, liberal arts sympathizers, and mobs of parents, kids, scientists, librarians, researchers, and servers marching to protest. Fiftyyears ago Richard Nixon established the EPA. He put weight behind the GOPs previous value of an old Greek proverbs essence - A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. And then the Republican party changed. Again and again. From creationism, opposition to embryonic stem cells, attempting to link abortion with breast cancer and mental illness, rejecting contraception while absolving itself of millions of unplanned pregnancies for society to absorb, to global warming, the GOP became something new. Today it is the spectacle, foolishness, and mockery displayed almost daily. Science isnt infallible. But it always gives the best odds towards truth in all it seeks in earnest. It is always playing the best odds. Carl Sagan called science a candle in the dark." Dont let the light go out. Restore scientific integrity to the federal government. Insist upon representatives who richly value science.

Max Walter, Redding

Regarding the recent Back the Blue rally: I think it was a great idea. I think most of us have great respect for the police, just not those few who make them look bad. I support Black Lives Matter and peaceful protests.I am against using riot police, mace, clubs, and shields against peaceful protesters. I am against police brutality and brutality inflicted by citizens against each other and the police. I am against police disguised in camo hauling people into unmarked vans like is happening, as I speak, in Portland, Oregon. I am against rioting and property damage by individuals who scream their support for a cause but are using it to engage in disruptive and damaging behavior and are behaving in a way that justifies police action. I believe that the use of deadly force should be exceedingly rare. I believe police unions are allowing bad police to stay on the job.All of these beliefs are not mutually exclusive nor should they be politicized into for or against police or protesters.

Joyce Lively, Redding

The key to stopping the COVID-19economy from turning into a major depression is what President Trump has already started: reducing government regulatory control of the economy and letting thefree market self-correct. This is what President Harding did during thedepression of 1920-21. The economy roared back.Contrarily, President Roosevelt instituted every Marxist and unconstitutional control on the economy as possible during the depression that started in 1929 and the downturn lasted 13 years.If it were not for the huge increase in output for World War II, who knows how long it would have lasted. Secondly, I see nothing but COVID-19ignorance caused by pronouncements from our politically corrupthealth agencies. First, masks worn by everyone will not keep anyone from contracting COVID-19 only properly fitted respirators will. And that is the problem with dictating mask use. It makes the few who are vulnerable to death from COVID-19 come out from self-quarantine where they should stay.

Carl Reed, Igo

Have we become a nation of anger? Reminds me of a 2-year-old throwing a tantrum, and then the parents give in to the child's demands. What happened to counting from one to 10 to calm down? If you feel you've suffered an injustice, does that give you the right to burn, loot, and injure anyone and anything? And who pays for the destroyed police cars and burned buildings? The hard-working taxpayers in this country. Take positive action. If you feel the police are not doing a good job, why don't you become a policeman and show everyone how to perform fairly. President Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." Martin Luther King Jr.'swords were "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. How is your character?

Miriam Johnson, Redding

We have a national pandemic that has killed 140,000-pluspeople nationwide and 7,697-plusin California and all State Sen. Brian Dahle is concerned about is the governor re-shutting down small businesses in the state because the coronavirus infection and death rates exploded. The governor had to do this because people did not practice the recommended safety measures that minimize spreading the coronavirus and businesses did not enforce them.Dahle tells us that people should be able to decide for themselves what is best to prevent catching the coronavirus and that wearing breathing masks should be left up to personal choice according to a July 14 Record Searchlight story.If everyone had practiced the recommended safety measures the impact on business would have been significantly lower. Dahle doesnt understand this simple concept. Dahles ideas are making matters worse. This November we need to get rid of Dahle and replace him with Pamela Swartz who has the ability to find solutions to important issues.

Tom Laurent,Yreka

On July 17, I loaded my car with items bought from Walmart and left my purse in the cart, realized about 10 minutes later after driving off, what I had done, returned to Walmart and checked with customer service and they had my purse. I want to thank the good person that did this kindness and turned it in.

Polly Thomson, Redding

There's this constant push from President Trump along withSecretary of Education, Betsy DeVos,to fully reopen our schools just as they were before the pandemic. If my biology teacher were still alive, I can hear her exclaiming, "You'll not put my studentsin a petri dish!"Before this latest push, our president had led the way to demand that businesses return to normal so we got the wild and crowded beach parties along with bars fully open and serving up drinks, etc.As predicted by the experts,these moves were followedshortly by a stunning increase in the spread of the virus. If we follow Trump, we will literally be drinking away our kid's futures. If we all succumb to the Trump-DeVosSyndrome,it's very likely that our country will be hit with permanent damage

Parker Pollock, Redding

The Roman Empire survived for 2,500 years, plus or minus, America has lasted 250, plus or minus, and are there any comparisons to be drawn? The madness on our streets and those who are the perpetrators have the same M.O. as those of Rome. There are also the rioters that led to the Russian Revolution, The Red Army revolt, and most hostile takeovers throughout history. Stir up the youth with propaganda and false promises and let their Utopian lusts do the rest. What is taking place in America today had warning signs for the last 100 years as our government started dismantling our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Using the same "Cosmic Morality" that is being used today we were slowly led down the "entitlement" passageway until it firmly coupled with the Marxist promise of "Equality for all through communism." If you don't like America now folks you will hate what is waiting in the wings. Why are they destroying your past, your language, your ethics, your faith, your future? Because people without a past cannot learn from or dictate their future without a past.

Vernon Packer, Redding

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Letters to editor: Sundial Bridge gathering, Donald Trump and COVID-19 - Record Searchlight