From ‘Bitchitans’ to ‘Snitchitans’? We’re all confused about what’s essential
Nothing about this coronavirus pandemic — or the measures intended to slow its spread — has been pleasant.
Late last month, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly ordered residents statewide to stay at home except for essential business. Just before that, she imposed a 10-person cap on gatherings.
So businesses have shuttered. People are out of work. Students are home from school. Stress levels are high.
Now the debate about what constitutes “essential” activity — and what we should do about it — has gotten nasty.
John Whitmer, a former state representative who hosts a conservative talk radio show on KNSS, recently posted a doctored photo of Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple in a Nazi military uniform.
The photo on Whitmer’s Facebook page shows Whipple in Nazi regalia, opening a box of what appears to be old film reels. The caption reads, “Is this an Essential Business?”
Whitmer says the photo was intended to call out Whipple for remarks he made in a Wichita Eagle story, in which Whipple commended residents for reporting businesses who may be violating the stay-at-home order or ignoring social distancing guidelines.
“You’re a hero,” Whipple said, “if you report something that’s going to cause massive deaths and you try to prevent it.”
Whitmer doesn’t agree with the governor’s stay-at-home order or with the concept of residents reporting one another.
“You want people to unify and come together and support each other as a community,” Whitmer said during a telephone interview. “How do you encourage that when you’re also encouraging them to report their neighbors to the police?”
Some fear we may be turning from Bitchitans to Snitchitans. But honestly — a Nazi uniform? How low can Whitmer go?
(Pretty low, it turns out: On his radio show, Whitmer also refers to the mayor as “Wichita’s own Lord Farquaad,” a reference to the Napoleonic ruler from the “Shrek” movies.)
“I’m not an elected official. I’m a talk show host on a radio show,” Whitmer said. “But when he’s going around saying that if you violate this (order) you’re killing people — that’s where I have the issue.”
The issue is complicated, like many things about this pandemic and the governmental response.
Businesses or activities considered exempt from the state’s stay-at-home order include liquor stores, gun shops, farmer’s markets, golf courses, hobby stores and religious gatherings. A new order announced Tuesday limits churches and funerals to a maximum of 10 people.
You may agree with the exemptions or think they’re preposterous. You may think more businesses should be allowed to operate.
Most of us want to do the right thing, which is staying home, but we also want to help loved ones and support local businesses. Amid mixed messages and confusing guidelines, it’s hard to know how to proceed.
A friend of mine recently played tennis with her son — an outdoor activity considered not only safe, but beneficial — and received angry messages from friends on social media. Meanwhile, some businesses continue to operate without regard to safe distancing guidelines — like the one the mayor rightfully reported.
Local and state officials need to clarify what is and isn’t allowed and how they plan to enforce the stay-at-home rules. In the meantime, cries of “snitching” will continue, and the COVID-19 threat will be that much harder to contain.
