GINORIO: Position doesn’t recognize history

Ralph K. Ginorio is an educator in Coeur d’Alene and a former columnist for this paper. In a recent Letter to the Editor, Ginorio condemned government efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 as a “regime of restricted freedom” based on “propaganda and censorship.”

Ginorio alleged without evidence that the government politicized science, manipulated the public, concealed facts and exercised unwarranted control over the population.

It’s worth noting that Idaho did not mandate mask wearing during the pandemic, nor did Idaho close its schools. Actually, Idaho attempted to outlaw mask mandates.

What would Ginorio suggest that a responsible government do to protect citizens from a new and poorly understood virus that causes wide spread morbidity and mortality? He does not say.

Ginorio only says the next time a viral pandemic rolls around people should engage in “total Civil Disobedience.”

This is lazy thinking, especially for an educator. It’s beyond disturbing that someone purporting to be a history teacher ignores the history of pandemics that have decimated populations around the world for centuries and which — if left unchecked — will continue killing untold millions.

It’s easy to criticize the government in retrospect, especially if you don’t have to take any responsibility for the lives of American citizens.

Coeur d’Alene students deserved better.

CAROLYN F. MATTOON

Hayden