Are we now first or last?

Unity is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as the state or quality of being one or united into a whole. Biden’s call for unity was tossed aside and paved the way for division with his first day in office.

For starters, through executive orders, Biden bolstered the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and calls on Congress to enact legislation providing permanent status and a path to citizenship for those immigrants, taking away millions of jobs from American citizens. Biden canceled the Keystone Pipeline, which created thousands of jobs. Canada is very upset with this executive order, as it should be. Biden calls for normalizing relations with Iran, China and some Middle East nations. Biden created 15 other executive orders on his first day in office that I cannot list.

These executive orders are not making America first; they are making America last in the world. You decide. God Bless America.

— Trenton Spears, Bakersfield

POLITICAL LEGACY

I am not a nihilist in American politics. While watching our Rep. Kevin McCarthy finally distance himself from Donald Trump, my first instinct was “thank you.” He watched the building he works in, a sacred monument of democracy, be demeaned by the sitting president. He was fearful for his life, for his colleagues and for his staff. I’m not one to say “too little too late,” so instead I’ll say “thanks.”

But with almost no DNC money behind his opponent in a historically taken for granted district, he swallowed a weirdly close race in Kern County. Is he distancing himself from the leaving president because of his moral compass? He used to espouse bipartisanship. Ideally, the siege of the Capitol reminded him of his drive to protect American democracy. Or is he simply aware his constituency is changing and doesn’t want to be out of a job?

Kevin McCarthy, you have the specific privilege of a career that lets you reinvent yourself. Your constituents are more demanding and more diverse than they were when you first got elected. You have a window of time to articulate your political legacy and it’s now.

— Crosby Damron, Bakersfield

UNITY

The most dangerous word for the destruction of the democratic republic of the United States of America has reared itself again by the Democrats, liberals and the media. The word and action which can destroy this 200-year-old-plus democracy is “unity.”

Unity to these people is one thought, one action, one belief — theirs. This nation has grown into the greatest and longest democracy the world has ever known because of “non-unity” in people’s thoughts and actions since the Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787, by 39 delegates and the Bill of Rights, or the first 10 amendments, was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791. Yes, these 39 men “unified” to protect the nation they helped create, but each with their own thoughts, actions and beliefs. None of which they were required to do by others.

If we can have non-unity in our right to vote, then we surely have the right to say and act how those votes are used. The definition of “unity” is not “subversion” of thought ... yet.

— Ronal Reynier, Bakersfield

IN OUR MEMORIES

Several recent articles and opinion letters have recognized many of the accomplishments of our dear friend, John Hefner, who passed on Jan. 3. Although he was hired to teach at Potomac School without a credential, he earned a teaching credential at CSB (now CSUB) in 1976 and completed a master in education degree there in 1983. The Cal State Alumni Association inducted John into the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2011.

He was an active supporter of CSB’s Facility for Animal Care and Treatment (FACT), from the late-1970s to 2001. He served as the Chair of Friends of FACT, a membership support group; was the principal auction item collector for the annual FACT Barbecue; and helped with other special events, all of which provided the major financial support for the program. FACT’s main activities were to rescue birds of prey and provide biology students hands-on experience working with injured raptors and presenting conservation programs to local students and adult groups in the classroom and at the FACT location on the CSB campus.

While many others helped us over almost 30 years, none equaled John’s energy, enthusiasm and love of education, especially the young students who learned from the FACT program: they meant a lot to him. In 2001, we gave John an award of recognition, but it was totally inadequate. He will have a special place in our memory for years to come.

— Ted Murphy, Bakersfield

HEART HOSPITAL COVID VACCINATIONS

Yes, my arm is a bit sore after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination earlier this week at Bakersfield Heart Hospital. However, trusting science and avoiding a bout with the pandemic is well worth the inconvenience of a sore arm. Age earned me a shot of the Pfizer vaccine and its my guess some 200 others also were vaccinated the same day.

However, what was very visible was those seeking vaccinations were mostly white and only a few Sikhs added any color to the assembled. I don’t have an explanation, as COVID-19 does not discriminate, and it’s my understanding that minorities are infected at a higher proportion than whites. I wish this was not so. But it’s evident, for reason unknown, that minorities are staying away from vaccinations.