So Dorr Twp. Board doesn’t take Coronavirus seriously

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.

“Plug ‘we take’ and ‘very seriously’ into a Google News or Yahoo News search. You’ll get hundreds of hits, albeit some repeats, where some big institution — corporate, educational, government, whatever — makes a giant blunder and then issues a ‘we take (insert the violated policy) very seriously’ statement…

“You can take something seriously – sort of, kind of acknowledging the mistake – while avoiding a hint of actual guilt.” — Dan Gilmore, PR Week, 2007

Indeed, taking something very seriously has become the go-to phrase of most corporatespeak, even surpassing, “He resigned to spend more time with his family.”

But the Dorr Township Board need not worry about such an accusation. It proved convincingly Thursday evening that it does not take the Coronavirus (COVID-19) very seriously.

The Dorr board is the only group in this area that has met physically rather than virtually since the COVID-19 rules were issued statewide. All other august bodies that I cover have met in some kind of virtual setting.

But that’s not really what prompts my criticism.

Among the six Township Board members who were present (Trustee Terri Rios was in attendance via phone), only one, Trustee Dan Weber, bothered to put on a mask. Granted, they all were distanced at least six feet apart, but the lack of masking up would have even concerned Planning Commission Vice Chairman “Army Bob” Traxler.

I suppose Dorr officials will maintain that the World Health Organization has said masks don’t really help healthy individuals avoid getting or spreading the virus. However, donning the mask actually is a show of respect from public officials to those they serve.

There were 10 people inside the township hall Thursday night. The only four who masked up were me, Chandler Stanton, Weber and Fire Chief Gary Fordham.

The other six, whether they meant it or not, showed a lack of respect for the health and well-being of others in the room. Their actions were less objectionable than those of the “protesters” in Lansing earlier that day, but lacking respect nonetheless.

To those who might retort that it’s no big deal, I could remain seated while everybody else stands and recites the Pledge of Allegiance, which I insist would be met with scorn and derision. Look at what was done to Colin Kaepernick for kneeling for the national anthem.

I have had friends not stand and recite the Pledge, and when asked why, the friend replied that he had done so plenty of times and didn’t see why he had to keep doing it over and over.

I wouldn’t have the guts or disrespect to do such a thing. I stand and recite the Pledge every time as my show of respect for the flag and what it supposedly stands for.

Five Dorr Township officials did not show that respect. Trustee John Tuinstra went even further to say that only people who are old or with other health problems are at great risk, contending Americans are overreacting to the pandemic.

I believe Bill O’Reilly got into some public relations trouble for saying something like that. He was accused of showing callous indifference to the potential suffering of others.

I know not whether Dorr Township’s next public meeting will be held physically, but I would urge local officials to show some respect by masking up.

COVER PHOTO: Vice President Mike Pence got into some public relations trouble when he did not “mask up” in the Mayo Clinic. The excuses were as lame as the demonstration that he’s too important to follow the rules that apply to everyone else.