Events in 2021 are being cancelled.
That’s 2021 folks. That’s next year. That’s ridiculous!
Before I go further, I’ll hold up my hand to stop you from replying much like my wife does when I start spouting off about something she knows I know nothing about. I hold up my hand because you don’t know, I don’t know and really no one knows what things are going to be like next week, much less next year.
But this, this is starting to become an avalanche of jumping on a very rickety bandwagon to make everyone feel better about themselves and, heaven forbid, that great American tradition of avoiding a lawsuit, or, an even more American tradition of filing frivolous lawsuits.
As of this writing, we’re planning on holding our Best of Liberty annual event in August. I would say the chances of holding the event, as planned, is probably a 50-50 proposition. The Great Ogoochee Seafood Festival has been cancelled in Bryan County in November and I’m sure the list will continue to grow.
Currently, Major League Baseball, NBA, NFL, college football and the NBA are trying to get their seasons either completed or started. They are moving along the same roads we are, with the exception of course of millions of dollars to help them succeed. I think we need sports in our lives and we will look to their success or failures as a preview to what’s to be expected in the coming months.
What’s amazing is the multitude of different plans we seem to have each day. After Hinesville became one of the many municipalities to order mandatory masks in public and when entering businesses, Governor Brian Kemp (R) enforced his Executive Order which barred towns from making such mandates. See our story in today’s paper.
Of course, the political ball really started bouncing.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson publicly criticized Kemp’s decision tweeting the following message, “It is officially official. Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us.”
Johnson (D), was the first local official to issue a mask mandate.
As a result of Kemp’s Order the City of Hinesville discussed the matter at their July 16 meeting and amended their order to match the state’s Executive directives. The Mayor and Council said the City is still going to strongly encourage that people coming into City Hall and other government buildings wear masks and follow the social distancing guidelines and protocols set forth in each building.
Last week the Liberty County commissioners avoided a conflict with the Governor’s order by defeating a strict proposed county ordinance.
So now I harken back to March when I said the pandemic would be a big enough problem, but when politicians started weighing in we should hang on.
I don’t think any of our local politicians have made moves which are bad, but it seems we could have all been on the same playbook from the start. Ever had water get in your gas tank? You know how the engine starts and sputters? Sure seems like we have been doing that for the last few months?
I don’t think anyone expects our elected officials to have all the answers, but it does seem like we should at least be on the same side and not divided between parties. Much like all our major sports leagues are trying to stage safe starts or resumption of their games, make no mistake that their interests are driven by revenue. At least that I can get behind and understand that stance.
What I can’t understand is why, even though I saw it coming, we find ourselves in a political battle which is more about a future election rather that keeping everyone safe!
If you see me, say “Hey!”
Dee McLelland is the Publisher of the Coastal Courier and the Bryan County News. He can be reached at dmclelland@coastalcourier.com or 876-0156.