General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJudge Branick writes letter to citizens explaining mask order
[link:https://kfdm.com/news/local/judge-branick-writes-letter-to-citizens-explaining-mask-order|]
I recognized when I entered the mandatory mask order that there would be people who would not like it. What I didnt expect was the level of pure hatred and profanity laden messages that would make a sailor blush. Thats okay, it comes with the territory. What has been most disappointing to me has been the level of insistence by many that my orders are a direct affront to their constitutional rights. The U.S. Supreme Court, since 1794, after the Whiskey Rebellion, and times since has repeatedly held that these types of orders are allowed in certain circumstances and are, in fact, constitutional. Those who say otherwise are misinformed or are depending on Natural law, not Constitutional law. I have not asked people to lay down their arms, surrender their right to free speech or to be subject to having soldiers quartered in their homes, Ive asked them to suffer the inconvenience of placing a 4x6 piece of material over their mouth and nose when in a business to protect their friends and neighbors. Individuals who seem to have no problem with a restaurant requiring shoes and a shirt go ballistic over a business asking them to wear a mask.
Eighty years ago, the greatest generation planted victory gardens, collected tin, rubber and steel, had food ration books and endured black outs, all to support the war effort. Their sacrifices were significantly more weighty than the inconvenience the present order requires. I want to thank a fellow county judge for reminding me of this. Today, a small minority is screaming that this is some kind of communist plot to overthrow the nation. When did it happen that we all became so focused on our rights and not our obligations to our fellow man and woman? Jesus said Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Im not directing anyone to lay down their life. Galatians 6:2 says Carry each others burdens and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ. I love you, because that is what Christ teaches us to do.
I wear a mask not because I am afraid but because it is one way of showing that I care about my neighbors. There is a lot we dont know about COVID-19 but all the evidence suggests that wearing a mask helps to prevent the spread of the virus. If wearing a mask prevents one person from dying, then isnt it worth the minor inconvenience? If wearing a mask helps us get our country and economy back to normal, then isnt it our patriotic duty to do so? I received this in an email from an Orange County resident. It is a note he keeps in his pocket which he gives to people who make snide remarks about his wearing a mask in stores.
Based on my conversations with numerous physicians, directives from the president of the Texas Medical Association, the thoughts of the head of the Department of state health services, and many others in the medical field, masks can prevent the spread of the virus. Might we find out next year after peer reviewed studies that such is not the case? Can I find a YouTube video from an OSHA inspector that supports the opposite view? Yes to both questions. But we are in the midst of the largest spread that we have seen thus far, and to prevent another shutdown of nonessential businesses and to keep our hospital system from becoming overwhelmed I am acting on the best available information. Those nonessential businesses have families to feed and mortgages to pay and I want them to be able to do that without having to worry if they are at some point going to have to depend on unemployment benefits, if they are even available to them. I will lift the order as soon as I possibly can, but in the meantime I pray for your cooperation.
Jeff Branick
County Judge
Jefferson County Courthouse
Great letter. Excellent points. I don't think it will reach the people attacking him and his order.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,112 posts)now it means to OWN the libs even if that means killing everybody
elleng
(130,964 posts)has repeatedly held that these types of orders are allowed in certain circumstances and are, in fact, constitutional. Those who say otherwise are misinformed.'
CurtEastPoint
(18,649 posts)jbranick@co.jefferson.tx.us
samnsara
(17,622 posts)...caught my eye. It was entitled: 'Love Thy Neighbor..Wear a Mask'. Since I'm bored these days I even read the want ads. So, I read it and it was wonderful. I didn't know what the bible passages were he kept referring to, but the general idea was..Love Thy Neighbor.. Wear a Mask. So simple.
I'm glad to see someone practicing what they preach for once.
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)This is why I told everyone that Gov. Abbott left restrictions to the mayors and county judges after taking away their ability to impose restrictions after he opened the state early. Abbott knew the Repugs would be pissed so he left it to the cities and counties to take the heat.
Judge Branick used to be a Democrat but switched to be able to stay in office. He was always a conservative though, but not one of the modern ones. He was a partner in a law firm with my boss for years.
Our area 90 miles East of Houston used to be mainly Democrats, but with Reagan it started to change. Now we are rabid red with idiots still believing everything Trump says.
Luz
(772 posts)That's when our dads had good refinery jobs and our economy was growing. It was a nice place to live.
After the 80's they started to go repub and have been swirling in the toilet since.
Glad to see someone trying to talk sence into them, but I can already imagine how this was received by the yokels.
dhill926
(16,343 posts)SWBTATTReg
(22,133 posts)the judge's conclusions are spot on (care about our neighbors, keep our hospitals available for all (so as to not overwhelm them), etc.).
I also applaud his correcting others in their mistaken opinion that their constitutional rights are being trampled.
Mr. Branick's wise words indeed. Thanks for sharing this w/ us on DU.
snip...
Today, a small minority is screaming that this is some kind of communist plot to overthrow the nation. When did it happen that we all became so focused on our rights and not our obligations to our fellow man and woman? Jesus said Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Im not directing anyone to lay down their life. Galatians 6:2 says Carry each others burdens and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ. I love you, because that is what Christ teaches us to do.
snip...
Mr.Bill
(24,300 posts)I know he is in Texas and all that, but it makes me cringe a little bit when a judge quotes from the bible to support a legal decision. If it creates a favorable response in his area, though I see why he did it.
Mazeltov Cocktail
(569 posts)I am sure the intended audience will miss it. And he probably lost the evangelicals by accurately quoting the Bible.
I would like to see the " profanity laden messages". I'm no sailor and I haven't blushed in years.
bringthePaine
(1,729 posts)AllyCat
(16,189 posts)niyad
(113,336 posts)I have a short response ready if some covidiot tries to shame me for my mask by sneering, "what's the matter? You scared?" "No. I wear a mask because I am smart and caring, unlike you, who are stupid and selfish"
Either that, or. My 6ft oak staff.
littlemissmartypants
(22,691 posts)I just don't get those who have no regard for anyone but themselves. I feel sorry for their children, who probably have more compassionate understanding than their parents and are forced to go without masks, allowed no say so in the matter, because they're children. I'd call that child abuse/neglect. At the very least I expect some of those children are embarrassed, possibly even terrorized by their parent's behavior.
Mean people definitely suck but stupid mean people leave me sad and bewildered.
Canoe52
(2,948 posts)betsuni
(25,537 posts)is behind everything and will stop at nothing to destroy their way of life. All experts are snobby intellectuals telling them what to do.
Watching some Trump supporters interviewed the other day, it was strange that everything was the government's fault, one of them said "the government and liberals," even though their state and federal governments are controlled by Republicans. It's a religious belief. They will give up everything for their religion, as martyrs do.
live love laugh
(13,118 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,196 posts)Her especially. I said that if everyone wearing masks in public saved just one life, it was worth it.
She said God already knows when and how everyone will die, so wearing masks is pointless, but I bet she wears a seatbelt.
She also thinks people wearing masks are getting sick from lack of oxygen and breathing in their own carbon dioxide. I wanted to tell her that oxygen and carbon monoxide molecules were far smaller than the virus, but why bother?