Letters: Readers discuss facing coronavirus together, voting and Jerry Heaster
In it together
The lesson we should learn from this pandemic is that the world is interconnected. We cannot wall ourselves off or turn our backs on others as we and other nations have tried to do with immigration and refugee issues, as well as with other crises that we thought didn’t or wouldn’t affect us.
Yes, we definitely need to physically distance ourselves from each other now.
But we cannot distance ourselves psychologically from empathically helping each other and our worldwide neighbors when any of us faces pandemics and oppression.
- Bill O’Neill, Overland Park
Sing the chorus
President Donald Trump does exhibit some consistencies. One of these is to blame former President Barack Obama for anything that goes wrong. (March 5, KansasCity.com, “AP fact check: Trump’s mislaid blame on Obama for virus test”)
I think he must believe he is the living symbol of the old Mac Davis song that goes, “Oh lord, it’s hard to be humble/When you’re perfect in every way.”
- Bill Betteridge, Independence
Heal ourselves
Humanity is at a crossroads. It has been for a while now. Every war, attack, divorce, speech full of hatred and other ugliness is a sign we are sick.
This coronavirus is not what is making us sick — it is our negative reactive nature toward one another.
Dare I say, this virus is nature’s way of telling us to start responding with kindness and compassion. Let’s try to imagine this feeling of goodwill and joy.
It is a true prayer to allow ourselves to be nourished by a positive force of love toward one another that nature is trying to get us to tap into.
Someone, or better yet, a group of someones, needs to reach out to a person he or she doesn’t like or might hate, and say, “I love you,” or, “I want to just sit and listen to you and talk.”
- Scott Hankins, Lee’s Summit
Better ballots
When I voted in the recent presidential primary, I was reminded yet again how annoyed I am with the voting system in Missouri.
I believe our state’s current system is needlessly expensive, labor-intensive, cumbersome and disruptive for many of the establishments used as polling places.
I hear nothing but praise from my contacts in states where mail-in voting is the default. I would like to see that – or something equally efficient – offered in Missouri.
- Catherine C. Sullivan, St. Louis
Satisfy needs
As a physician caring for patients with cancer, I am acutely aware of the devastating effects the current epidemic will have on immunocompromised patients. However, none of us should forget about those most vulnerable to the rapidly developing financial consequences of the coronovirus outbreak.
Despite our great economy, many Americans are still a heartbeat away from financial disaster. Many working poor and middle-class people are already food insecure. A missing or reduced paycheck can result in the need to miss meals or make decisions about whether to eat or pay a medical or utility bill.
We cannot leave our fellow Americans to fend for themselves. We need to help.
Certainly, charitable food banks and kitchens will need to be ramped up, but we must also have a centralized, coordinated federal response.
Please contact your U.S. senators and representatives. Ask them to support the current proposals to increase funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children, food banks and pantries. Tell them to stop the changes scheduled to start April 1 that would make it more difficult for unemployed people to receive SNAP.
We need to act swiftly to avoid the detrimental health effects of inadequate nutrition. For more information, I recommend the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Hunger Free America at hungerfreeamerica.org.
- Steve Williamson, Kansas City
Enduring advice
In these times of political turmoil, I think back to the wisdom of the late Kansas City Star business columnist Jerry Heaster. A few of his most memorable sentiments:
1. Russia will be in turmoil for many years.
2. Menial labor will follow the lowest cost around the world.
3. Politicians use your money to buy your votes.
4. Government cannot give anyone anything without first taking it from someone else.
5. Sad to say, but the poor will always be with us.
6. When all is said and done, people will vote with their wallets.
7. A favorite: No good deed goes unpunished.
- Gary Showalter, Prairie Village
This story was originally published March 15, 2020 at 12:00 AM.