Voice of the People, June 17, 2020: Wearing a mask should be mandatory in Ohio; apology for racist text shows maturity; Akron needs Sojourner Truth…

Insist on masks

As Ohio begins to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been dismayed with the arrogance, willful ignorance, and just plain lack of common decency of many I see not wearing face masks in businesses and public spaces.

And those who wear masks that are loose or leave the nose exposed might as well not be wearing one at all.

Perhaps it is because they do not understand the concept of asymptomatic transmission: People who show no symptoms of sickness can transmit the disease exponentially. One person can infect hundreds and each of them can transmit the virus and so on.

Perhaps they do not understand that the people with whom they come into contact may have underlying health issues related to cancer, other diseases, weak immune systems or to aging.

Perhaps they are making a political statement; yet viruses dont have political affiliations.

Wearing a mask can literally protect others from sickness and death. Numerous studies have been released demonstrating that universal face mask use may be the single most effective act to stop the pandemic.

I call on Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Assembly to pass legislation to make the wearing of face masks in public areas mandatory. I also call on businesses to deny entry of anyone not wearing one or not wearing one correctly.

If people wont live by the Golden Rule by doing a simple thing like wearing a face mask during a pandemic, then they must be called out. Lives depend on it.

Greg Brozeit, Fairlawn

Apology seems sincere

This is regarding the June 10 article Woman fired from job apologizes for texts, which is about (I assume) a Caucasian young lady who at the age of 14 or 15 sent out some racist text messages and was fired from her job. My husband and I are proud African American parents who reared three wonderful African American children into adulthood. Thank God they grew up to be fine, God-fearing, contributing young people. When they were young teens, they did a lot of stupid, immature things that they are not proud of and neither are their parents.

I was impressed with this young ladys sincerity. I think she has matured and realized that her actions were hurtful, immature and childish. She can maybe be able to influence the views of some of her friends, relatives and acquaintances concerning the existence of racism in Americans.

Young people deserve another chance when they try to do the right thing. We all make mistakes, but it takes a mature person to admit it and apologize. I pray that her employer offers her job back and gives her another chance. She deserves it.

Helen V. Sanders, Akron

Honor Sojourner Truth

Yes, Akrons rubber history is important. But the next statue unveiled here will be yet another man. Formerly enslaved, itinerant preacher, abolitionist and womens rights activist Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) gave her most famous speech in Akron on May 29, 1851 nearly 170 years ago. Yes, there are Native American images, but none of named African Americans or women in Akron. The Aint I A Woman! crocheted mural, a temporary installation unveiled in 2018, was removed from Lock 3 last year.

Woodrow Nashs unfinished Sojourner Truth sculpture, commissioned in 2000 by the late Faye Hersh Dambrot, remains unfunded a symbol of our unfinished commitment to eradicating racism.

Nancy Rose Foye-Cox, Akron

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Voice of the People, June 17, 2020: Wearing a mask should be mandatory in Ohio; apology for racist text shows maturity; Akron needs Sojourner Truth...