Reopen the country
Is there risk in reopening our economy before we have a vaccine for the coronavirus? Yes, but we take risks every day we step out the door. The damage done to our society, to our towns and our families will bring far more pain, illness and death from a prolonged shutdown. The financial collapse and resulting depression it will cause will take years to repair. In fact, we are thinking about lives ... the lives and the future of our children and their children.
Right now, at this moment in American history, we hold the on/off switch in our hands. I choose "On."
KENNETH FENDLER
Bella Vista
Those in background
I am a medical laboratory scientist. You probably haven't heard about us and most certainly don't see us, but we are essential to health care, especially now. We are the "team behind the scenes" performing the laboratory testing that our colleagues depend on to diagnose and treat patients. We collaborate with nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, radiologic imaging technicians and many others--all of whom have stepped to the forefront in caring for patients during this pandemic.
But laboratory professionals have a very important role in all of this. When you hear about covid-19 testing centers or drive-through testing sites, what is really happening is the collection of a specimen, often by nurses or physicians. The testing occurs in hospital, reference and public health laboratories and is performed by medical laboratory scientists and technicians with leadership and support from pathologists and other professionals. Testing personnel have college and technical school degrees and professional certification to document many years of formal education they received.
We are always there, working in the background, to perform testing to identify the bacteria causing an infection, crossmatching blood for transfusion, performing chemistry and hematology testing, detecting cancer, determining the best antibiotic for infections, and much, much more. Laboratory professionals use interpretive skills, specialized scientific knowledge, troubleshooting skills, technical expertise, and professional judgment every day to provide accurate, trustworthy results for each specimen they receive. We are proud to serve the scientific needs of our patients, to be an integral part of the health-care team, and to provide the information that informs the decisions and practice of our colleagues.
When you thank those working tirelessly during this pandemic, don't forget those behind the scenes--the many laboratory professionals working for you!
LINDSEY CLARK
Little Rock
What about flu dead?
It's good to learn that the individual states are now looking into ways to relax at least some of the restrictions related to the virus pandemic. Personally, I think that this virus will end up just like the flu. There will be a number of cases and some deaths on an annual basis from here on out. As it is, we've had something like 100 deaths from the flu this past winter here in Arkansas and it has hardly made the news, while 39 dead from the coronavirus has turned the whole state upside down. So it goes.
JOE WHALEN
North Little Rock
Selfish and spoiled
I, like many of you, have become an inveterate TV watcher, soaking up all the news about this new scourge, covid-19. Perhaps some of you saw on April 15, as I did, the group of disgruntled folks from Michigan voicing their displeasure at the governor's actions with respect to this "enemy."
Their behavior makes me shudder to think what would happen to this nation if we ever faced an enemy like we did in 1941 (it's known as World War II). Thank God most Americans knew what was at stake at that time, and while many could have demanded the country meet their wants/needs, most behaved like adults.
Yes, folks were unhappy to give up butter, sugar, new autos and automobile tires, bicycles, shoes (yes, they were rationed, too), even bubble gum, and they watched family members leave for the fight. Serving in the various services presented a huge financial struggle for many families. Thousands died. But they understood they had to accept these unpleasant measures in order to survive and win.
Unfortunately, those demonstrating in Michigan and elsewhere either don't know what getting their way can do to their fellow Americans, or they don't care. Their behavior says they only care about themselves.
The generation that fought WWII acted for the betterment of everyone. They took their lessons from those who came before them in order to create this nation. Has our nation lost sight of those struggles? Have we become a nation of the selfish and the spoiled?
I, along with our American eagle, am shedding a tear for our nation.
PHYLLIS JOHNSON
Springdale
Nah, nothing changes
John Brummett's column Sunday about his conversation with Bubba McCoy was entertaining and enjoyable. After reading more than half of it, I was wondering if he wasn't going to do his usual badmouthing of our duly elected but his "second-place" president. Wrong I was, but reminded of a letter I wrote years ago expressing the fact that if you gave me the subject of his next column I could give you his conclusions. Seems nothing changes.
JACK MURPHY
Little Rock
Who's doing counts?
Has anyone really looked at the stores in our medium to small towns? A popular big-box store claims to be restricting customers per square foot. They do indeed have someone at the one entrance/exit, but they are mainly just standing around. It appears there has been no drop in the number of customers inside the store or parking lot.
I realize that store managers have a lot on their plates right now, but it would seem like they could at least find some employees that could count. If they can't, what are the unemployment numbers again? In the news, everything looks great, but if you get away from our two main population centers, it's a myth!
DONNA PROCTOR
Dardanelle
Editorial on 04/21/2020