Letter to the Knox County School Board

This evening, I along with nearly every media in town were copied on an emailed letter to the Knox County School Board and Superintendent Bob Thomas. I only know to post and share it with you the readers of #TheMegaBullhornofTruth

Knox County School Board

To the honorable members of the Knox County Board of Education,

Let me begin by expressing my appreciation for the responsibilities that you are tasked with. Regardless of agreeing with decisions made or not, you have all put yourselves out there and that takes a level of bravery most people lack.

What I want to do is to provide you with some credible and scientifically backed sources to address the various issues I have heard expressed by some of those in the Knox County government as well as the community.

1. No children have died in Knox County yet so why do we need to do anything? 
   1. The last report I saw listed 35 children who have/had been hospitalized due to COVID-19. I promise the families of those children wish we would do more. Additionally, there are children dying in other places (https://ktla.com/news/local-news/4-year-old-dies-from-covid-19-infection-becoming-youngest-person-to-die-from-the-virus-in-riverside-county/). A 4, 12, and 15yro have died in California, and I am sure there are others. Being board of education members and intelligent people in your own right I am sure that I do not have to tell you that as the number of infected children increases so does the potential and statistical certainty for the death of children in our own community. If we think we will not start having children die from this virus we only attempt to fool ourselves. What number of dead children is acceptable? I do not ask that as an intimidation tactic, I ask that literally, we know that all medical issues and treatments are usually associated with a risk/percentage of fatal interactions. What is the acceptable number?
2. Masks don’t work and there is evidence to prove it!
   1. Only if you take bits and pieces of “evidence” and put them together. However, there is an abundance of evidence proving the other side of the argument. I will let those speak for themselves. 
      1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449?fbclid=IwAR2SSCAN6FrnrYMsWYJ1A25mUPFrjqi0Tlsj9Zb7DNT3LJ5InHPhcf0rH4Q
      2. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html?fbclid=IwAR14jw88jbT_VIk_IXhuY4Sq3RS-NL-vealIySBUUxUhhOnUjZfIJHrRW24
      3. https://www.kxan.com/news/coronavirus/do-face-masks-work-here-are-49-scientific-studies-that-explain-why-they-do/?fbclid=IwAR2U3D5uhuwshk4OOBRENycScOfSsuOxK2nidGU2Tj_hIaK8k2EZVVkN6VY
      4. https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118?fbclid=IwAR1ytUdTtwqQtIMW7fEGkqz5g3TEz6yi5nU7Pdd1XH6jrMvbZwFrnUs6gTA
3. The vaccine alters your DNA, isn’t FDA approved, is the mark of the beast, contains a microchip, contains babies, it is killing people, doesn’t stop you from getting sick!
   1. If a reasonable and intelligent person holds any of those views it is simply because they haven’t taken the time to do their own research and instead are listening to information provided to them or have decided to pander to a specific base. It could also be that they do not understand the purpose of the vaccine. I apologize for the boring science speak in some of these sources, though it is important to have. 
      1. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html
      2. https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/vaccinated-people-are-much-more-protected-from-covid-19-than-unvaccinated-individuals-the-benefits-of-the-covid-19-vaccines-outweigh-their-risks/?fbclid=IwAR1cMm-wOf6xeqxBNNSrBsI38ZUJ38icipAXIf2MkxIkoxz8sE5N4edUPWc
      3. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/messenger-rna
      4. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html
      5. https://today.tamu.edu/2021/04/12/what-is-mrna/
      6. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-covid-19-vaccine
      7. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-vaccine/art-20484859

There are other points that could be made, however, I think these three are the most important at the current time. I do hope you will take the time to read some of the citations provided, it may change your understanding. 

In closing, I will say that it is not your responsibility to make health decisions for every family, or individual, however, it is within your power, and your responsibility to make decisions to protect the majority of students and faculty within the Knox County School System. Let us be reasonable, rational, and responsible. Let us put politics to the side and work together for our communities.

Thank you,

Tim Drake