Resistance is in short supply around these parts

Two days ago, I noted that someone needs to take the lead in saying, "enough is enough," and move forward to getting life back to normal. The hope was that the annual Woolly Worm Festival held each October in Beattyville would be a solid first step.

Well, it would seem that the desire to stand up to government overreach is in short supply around these parts. Not 48 hours later, the festival committee decided to cancel this year's event.

We have court cases trying to put a stop to executive dictates that have devastated businesses and individual incomes and livelihoods, although there are indications that the Kentucky Supreme Court is slow-walking a decision on the suits that were filed in state courts -- suits that the freedom and liberty movement won at the circuit court level.

But it's going to take more than that. It's going to take some brave individuals and communities to say, "The government has made recommendations, but we trust the citizenry to make its own decisions about whether or not attendance at events is safe. We're going ahead with our plans, and you do what you feel is right for you."

Sadly, that won't happen in Lee County this year. Resistance is not only futile, it appears to be nonexistent.

This is much like the churches who went ahead with services the past two weekends despite a request from the governor that they not be held. Some complied, and others didn't. There have been instances where folks who were members of churches that didn't reopen when a federal court said they could have moved to churches that did start holding in-person services. And there have also been instances where people who belong to churches that went back to normal chose not to attend. That's freedom for you.

On the other hand, the Jessamine County Board of Education voted to begin classes as usual this fall, at the request of a majority of citizens who attended that school board meeting, but the superintendent unilaterally overrode their decision and decided to postpone in-person instruction. Wonder how long his contract is for, and wonder if he'll still have a job if the school board majority is still in office when his contract is up for renewal?

The facts remain that the Wuhan Chinese "kung flu" virus has a survival rate of 99.96 percent. In Kentucky, fully two-thirds of the deaths have come from nursing home patients, who were already in ill health. It's simple, really. If you fear getting the virus, don't attend large events. If you fear passing the virus along to susceptible members of the population, don't go visit them. If you're in the high-risk category and you don't attend events like these, don't allow people who do to come into close contact with you (close contact being currently defined for tracing purposes as being within six feet of someone for longer than 10 minutes without wearing a mask).

At least one festival is still going to be held as planned. Court Days in Preston, a small community in Bath County near Mt. Sterling, Frenchburg, and Owingsville, always takes place the same weekend as Mt. Sterling's Court Days. The Montgomery County event has been canceled, and Preston is not nearly as big of an affair, but to date it's still on as scheduled.

But a small, relatively unknown event held in a rural crossroads community does not carry the clout of a well-known event in a county seat. So while the folks in Preston deserve kudos, the impact of them carrying on as usual is not nearly as pronounced as what would happen if a bigger event didn't give in to the "panic porn."

I know most of the festival committee members and like them as individuals. None of my comments are meant to be taken personally. I know they had a lot to consider when they made their decision. I had just hoped that they would seize the opportunity to take a stand. Now, that chance will fall to someone else. What will the next group do with their moment? Will they rise to the occasion, or will they follow suit in passing the buck?