Wrong rallying cry

In his May 11 letter to the Daily Herald, State Rep. Allen Skillicorn reveals his true character in his shameful and thinly veiled anti-Semitic reference to Gov. Pritzker as an Egyptian Pharaoh who has enslaved the citizens of Illinois. He continues his biblical reference by stating "now JB commands us from on high ..." Really?

He claims that neither the governor, the state or local health experts, nor any other public officials have the right or obligation to set rules for public safety and public behavior to minimize the spread of this virus. He implies that your freedoms have been taken away and you that you should "decide for yourself what's best for you, your business and your families" and ignore the rules that have been established. Essentially, the Rep. Skillicorn advocates for the "nonrecognition of authority" or anarchy.

So, Rep. Skillicorn wants the governor to just open everything back up because our "constitutional rights have been suspended long enough." This is the classic rallying cry of the "you can't tell me what to do" Tea Party. This is particularly dangerous given the fact that the spread of COVID-19 can and does occur through asymptomatic transmission of the virus.

This means that you, your neighbor, the person next to you in church, at the next table in the restaurant, or attending a social gathering may not yet be aware that you (or they) had contracted the virus. You (or they) are putting everyone in their immediate area at risk. Think about it.

Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, former head of the CDC, said, "We are not reopening based on science. We are reopening based on politics, ideology, and public pressure. I think it will end badly." Listen to the experts and turn off Fox and the other conspiratorial websites and blogs.

David and Michelle Johnson

Geneva