The Guilford County Board of Commissioners only allowed 10 “speakers from the floor” at the board’s completely virtual Jan. 6 regular meeting – but that was enough for the public to get its message across to the commissioners.
Usually, speakers who address the board address a variety of subjects, however, on Jan. 6 the focus was on a singular topic: the mask mandate Chairman of the Board Skip Alston had ordered for unincorporated Guilford County three days before. On this night, every speaker spoke on the mask mandate. Every speaker was opposed to it – and every one was impassioned about that opposition.
The “speakers from the floor” portion of a commissioners meeting isn’t a scientific poll, however the anti-mandate consensus from speakers may have given some food for thought for the board that, on Thursday, Jan. 13, will likely decide whether or not the current mandate extends to all the cities and towns in the county.
One woman speaking on the subject said wearing a mask is actually harmful because the cloth masks most people wear allow COVID-19 to get through but trap disease-causing bacteria inside.
Another woman argued that the mandate tramples on her rights and the rights of other county residents.
“Rights are inalienable and only God can take them away,” she said.
One man cited a number of studies regarding the effectiveness and wisdom of mask mandates.
“If we were really following the science, there wouldn’t even be a vote,” he told the board.
That speaker went on to talk about the negative psychological effects on children of forcing them to wear a mask all day at school.
“Suicides for school-aged girls is up 51 percent,” he said.
Others argued that the current mandate didn’t make sense on any level because, even if one assumes it’s effective against the virus, the existing mandate doesn’t have to be followed by the vast majority of people who live in Guilford County because Greensboro, High Point and other towns in the county didn’t go along with Alston’s mandate.
After almost every speaker, Alston offered the same remark when they finished.
“Thank you for sharing,” the chairman said again and again.
One woman who spoke was even worried about what recent masking moves made by the board will mean for the commissioners’ spiritual future.
“May God have mercy on your souls for what you have done to our children,” she said.
The beatings will continue until morale improves, AND I WILL SHOW MY ARSE AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING,
Ew
I wanted to speak at the meeting, but was not given the opportunity. I stayed to listen, and I soon realized that there was little I could have added to what should be VERY apparent to the Board: North Carolinians don’t want or need the Unconstitutional and useless Mask Mandates.
DO NOT PARTICIPATE. Forget your mask make them ask. And let them know you are medically exempt!
did not wear one during the last Skippy mandate, not wearing one for this Skippy mandate. In the rare instance you need to put one on, i recommend the rhinestone mesh masks for the ladies (completely mesh but look solid and breathe freely) and for the guys, the “unmask”. Make them ask. don’t comply
It’s good the people spoke up.Unfortunately,I perceive that our local government doesn’t give a damn what we think.
Most politicians don’t care what We, the People, think.
Judging by the all the anti-science BS seen in the comment sections under covid articles, I don’t blame them. I didn’t listen in on the comish meeting but here all I see is mostly just a bunch of emotional rants that add little to the real conversation that is needed.
chris your ticket to leave for Russia is bought and paid for
I sent emails to ALL the commissioners, asking that they end this unnecessary mask mandate. It will do no good, and I doubt that I hear back from any of the Democrats. Why do only Democratic run areas have mask mandates? Covid may not be political, but the way our elected officials deal is nothing BUT political.
Thank you to the citizens that voiced their opposition. Unfortunately I don’t think the majority of the commission cares what the people think and will blindly follow skippys instructions. I did not follow that last two and most businesses did not actively either. It’s time to step it up. Make it hard for any organization that actively tries to enforce. Make the manager come out, tell them your exempt, cancel memberships, take business elsewhere. It only persists because weak people allow it to.
Exactly! The only way we will face down these neo-fascists is through civil disobedience en masse.
That’s always been the only way to destroy authoritariansm.
100% correct! Stand up now, or be put down later.
Politicians are supposed to work for, and answer to us. We don’t answer to them. We are not beholden to them.
BE UNGOVERNABLE!
Or you can authoritarianism like the Dems did when the beat Trump. Get out the vote.
Chrissy, your English matches your intellect – that of a five year old.
chris it’s not hard to beat someone when you steal the election just like bush 2 did to Al Gore
YESSSS
“lockdowns were too severe to sustain. the damage was too great and not even the fear raddled leaders could maintain them or had the inclination to try again.but masks are a lesser ask. they are highly visible, performative, require personal action, and provide visible evidence of government governing and public health “doing something.”
https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/covid-policy-and-the-topology-of/
All masks are good for is virtue signaling, and one more tool for demoralizing and dividing us further. They are nothing but trash to be blown around in our parking lots, on our streets, and in our waterways.
NO MORE MASKS! NO MORE MANDATES! NO MORE B.S.!!!