Recent editorials from Tennessee newspapers:
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April 20:
The Crossville Chronicle on being calm and respectful toward others:
Tensions are starting to flare.
While so many people are trying to take the current situation in stride, there’s been some bad behavior observed in our community.
Some of our essential workers in our stores have been verbally berated and subjected to rudeness as they try to enforce limits that help ensure everyone can get what they need.
Online commenters apparently expect school administrators to use a crystal ball and predict when photos ordered through an independent company (also closed due to the stay-at-home orders) will be delivered or what will be done about graduation and prom.
Everyone, stop. Take a deep breath. And remember -whether standing in front of you or on the other side of a computer screen - there are human beings doing everything they can in the midst of an unprecedented situation.
No one alive right now can remember the last time our country was as impacted by a contagion. The situation changes almost daily as new information or new orders are announced.
Extend a little grace to the people around you. They’re dealing with the same struggles you are, and probably a few you don’t know about.
Offer a smile instead of a grimace. Try a kind word instead of “screaming” online with all capital letters or multiple exclamation points.
We will get through this. Soon, we’ll start having offices open back up. Slowly, we’ll see a return to a new normal that allows us to have a bit more certainty to make plans for events and activities.
Remember, a little kindness goes a long way.
Online: https://www.crossville-chronicle.com/
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April 19:
The Johnson City Press on the 2020 graduating class:
Social media outpourings of sympathy for the graduating Class of 2020 have been appropriately prolific in recent weeks. Many have posted their own senior pictures - bad hairdos and all - to show solidarity.
All area school districts followed Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s necessary request on Wednesday to close their buildings through the academic year’s end as the state continues to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state is essentially in homeschool mode with online support from teachers.
So unlike generations before them, this group of high school seniors will not finish their senior years enjoying the traditional rites of passage. They will have no proms. They will have no senior awards assemblies. Even standard commencement ceremonies seem far fetched at this point. College transitions have been made tougher. Perhaps the hardest aspect of the shutdown is the lack of bonding time. After 13 years together, goodbyes will be hard to come by.
Parents of all schoolchildren, not just seniors, and their teachers likely are just as troubled by this makeshift situation’s potential effect on academic progress.
All are justifiable concerns, and we share them.
Let us offer some perspective here, though.
During World War II, senior classes saw many of their classmates leave to don military uniforms and head off to battle. Many volunteered. Many were drafted into service. A large portion of them returned with life-altering injuries or never came home at all. The average serviceman was in his mid-20s.
Meanwhile, the nation was in rationing mode. Because certain commodities were necessary for the war effort, the federal government took steps to conserve essential supplies. Each person was issued a limited number of “points” used alongside money to buy goods made with such items. Gasoline, fabrics, sugar, coffee, meat, butter and cheese all made the list. Manufacturing needs for military vehicles meant rubber was in high demand, so only certain people could buy new tires.
This was soon after the Great Depression, when many American families were forced to live in shantytowns and to wait through breadlines just for basic sustenance. This was not akin to wearing masks and staying 6 feet apart in supermarkets filled with unlimited choices.
Decades later, the classes of the 1960s and early 1970s also lost peers to the Vietnam War soon after graduation. The average serviceman was in his early 20s.
We share this not to dismiss the unexpected social changes high school students - and all of us - are experiencing during this pandemic but to add a little context to the levels of hardship. The experiences of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were hard life lessons, much harder than those young people are experiencing in 2020.
Nonetheless, COVID-19 offers members of the Class of 2020 lessons of their own. Life is not always as you expect it. Sacrifices must be made in times of crisis. A challenge means rising to the occasion. Necessity brings new ways of doing things.
We trust that with the support of their schools and parents, many members of the Class of 2020 will find ways to parlay this experience into something meaningful. Regardless of which paths they take in life, they will have weathered a unique period in American life, perhaps with new tools in their belts.
Inspiring teachers, academic rigor, supportive parents, social interaction and personal commitment remain the keys to success in American education. Hard knocks, though, can be just as illuminating.
To the Class of 2020: Use this experience. Use it wisely.
Online: https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/
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April 16:
The Crossville Chronicle on stimulus scams:
Stimulus payments have started to arrive in checking accounts, but with these payments comes the risk of scammers trying to separate you from the help the stimulus program was intended to provide.
Be wary of anyone asking for information about your banking information.
If you filed a tax return in 2018 or 2019, the IRS, which is distributing the stimulus funds, probably already knows where to send your money. The same is true of many Social Security recipients. Veterans, you may need to contact the IRS to provide information, but you can do this without a stranger’s assistance. Go to IRS.gov and click “I don’t have to file” to start the process.
And, if the IRS can’t find your banking information, they’ll eventually mail a check to your last known address. They won’t contact you by phone, email or mail asking you to verify information.
Emergencies often bring out the best in people, but they also invite bad actors who prey on those who are hurting or vulnerable. Watch out for scams claiming a COVID-19 cure or at-home test. No such things are currently approved or available.
It’s best to stick to the online retailers you know and you trust, even if a site offers a great deal on hand sanitizer.
While there are many legitimate work-from-home opportunities, and more becoming available during this time, do your research of any company offering at-home work opportunities.
Scammers often promise high income for a little amount of work. They may ask you to pay a fee for training or special equipment, or request your bank account for payment purposes - only to use the information to take your hard-earned money.
The same is true of many debt-reduction scams, increasingly popular as people feel the pinch of being out of work a few weeks. Instead of turning to these scams, reach out to your lenders and creditors directly. Right now, many are offering hardship assistance. But you can’t know what’s available from your lender until you talk to them directly.
With recent tragic storms impacting our neighbors across the state, we also need to be wary of scammers trying to take advantage of our giving nature. Make sure charities are registered with the state by calling 615-741-2555 or checking sos.tn.ogv/charitable.
Take your time and ask questions. Resist pressure to give on the spot, and ask how your gift will be used. Avoid giving cash and always ask for a receipt. Pay close attention to the name of the organization. There are many with similar names, not all of which are reputable.
Don’t forget, there are many ways to help others, including giving your time and volunteering.
Many of us are feeling the stress of the current situation, but don’t let people take advantage of you. Ask questions, be suspicious and reach out to trusted sources whenever possible.
And when in doubt, just hang up the phone.
Online: https://www.crossville-chronicle.com/
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