Time for common sense to rule the day

Posted

This is something I posted on my Facebook timeline early yesterday morning. I’m scolding myself right now for not waiting to put something in the Register first.

I’ve already been chastised by some of my media friends. Oh, the irony of putting something on social media BEFORE you run it in your own newspaper. I just felt something needed to get “out there” immediately and Facebook provided that quick outlet. 

Here was the post:

Happy Humpday, everyone. I try to keep my Facebook feed free of political stuff, so this is about as political as I’ll ever get here. I run a business in Brookings and one in Flandreau that employs about 25 wonderful people total. 

Since COVID started, our business is down roughly 35 to 45 percent from last year. We rely heavily on advertising $$$ to pay the bills, and understandably those dollars have suffered because so many local businesses are hurting and uncertain about the future, so they hold onto every dollar and rightfully so. We get it, and are just hoping things return to normal soon. 

Here’s my point regarding (Tuesday) night’s council decision to mandate mask wearing.

Obviously, this is a divisive issue for our city with people on both sides speaking their minds, which is all part of democracy. I see a lot of people (on Facebook) saying “I’m done with Brookings.” Or “I’ll go spend my money elsewhere.” 

PLEASE, that is the LAST thing our small businesses need. Now, more than ever, they need you to keep patronizing them. Spending your hard-earned money with them whenever you can. The mask mandate decision wasn’t made by any of these affected businesses – it was made by a board of elected officials. 

This is just my opinion, a lifelong citizen and Brookings guy to the core. I love this city and have good friends who talked both for and against the mandate last night. They are all still my friends. If you REALLY want to feel like you have a stake in city issues down the road – VOTE! Have you ever looked at the turnout for city elections? Maybe one in five registered voters actually casts a ballot for city elections. Maybe decisions like the one made last night will make more people realize they should get involved in the process. 

Full disclosure: I am a registered Independent, I don’t have an allegiance to any political party. I HATE the two-party system, and I am an advocate for term limits. I cannot stand a system that allows for lifelong politicians. That needs to change. 

I like to think I am a member of the Common Sense party. Sometimes my common sense fails me, but common sense this morning tells me to please keep supporting the many, many great local businesses we have who support pretty much everything they get asked to each week and month (believe me there are a lot of asks). Have a peaceful day. #love, #unity, #compassion and God Bless you all. (end of FB post)

This is an addition for today’s paper because I think you all deserve to know where I stand on the mask issue. I believe in mask wearing. I will always wear a mask in support of current cancer patients and survivors like myself during times I can’t achieve proper social distance requirements.

At every step in my cancer journey, my care providers were wearing masks any time they came near me because I was immunocompromised. Those were my professionals. My lifeline. I put all my faith in them, and thankfully I wasn’t sick a day with a virus during my cancer journey. That’s enough for me. I wear a mask for all those who need me to. The sports guy in me says TEAM before SELF. 

Any debates about civil liberties, infringement or overreach I’d like to save for another day. To me, it’s simply a kind human gesture, and a simple faith statement by me as a Christian “love thy neighbor as thyself.” Simplistic, but seems about right, although I get the sense a few of Brookings’ faith leaders feel differently than I do. To me, it isn’t about fear. And for those who can’t wear masks because of anxiety issues or other medical issues, that’s valid. I respect that, too.

I know what a hot-button issue this is for so many people right now, and I can appreciate all viewpoints. 

Let’s all just try to keep on healing as a community, come together for common good, and more than anything keep supporting our local businesses whose sales provide the tax dollars that keep Brookings humming.

Billy McMacken is the Publisher of the Register. You can find him on Twitter @billymcmacken or email him at bmcmacken@brookingsregister.com.