Letters to the editor (June 30, 2020)

Simple task, wear the mask

Heroes — both real and in legend — did the deed to face danger:

Batman, Yogi Berra, Spider-Man and The Lone Ranger.

It can be done if you’re Catholic, Muslim, Baptist, or Jewish,

All ages can do it: elderly, middling, teens, and more newish.

Do it in the rain, at night, or in sunlight.

It’s important to do and is easily done right.

Best done if with friends at nightclub or bar,

Mitzvah or Baptism — wherever you are.

You can save your own life and maybe those of others:

Granny, hubby, bandmates, sales staff, your choir and their mothers.

Some say it’s a tyrannical plot, but this I eschew.

It’s just maybe you saving me and me saving you.

A simple ask — please wear the mask.

Culture warriors

All you liberal culture warriors who support tearing down statues to combat past racism may wish to ponder the next stage of this slippery slope.

The Inquisition was an ecclesiastical tribunal of Pope Gregory IX to suppress heresy and religious dissent, targeting the Cathars and the Waldensians. And the Crusades were a series of religious wars directed by Pope Urban II with the objective of recovering the Holy Land from Islamic rule. Sound familiar? Once all these “woke” millennials are finished with Confederate statues, they will move on to their next target. Hope your Catholic Church has fire extinguishers.

Wear masks correctly

Pull your mask up over your nose, or you might as well not wear one. I have been in a couple of stores, and in every one I’ve seen employees with their masks under their noses, mouths or both. One man in Dillons had his protecting his beard! I walked away from the deli today because at least half of the personnel behind the counter had their masks under their noses while preparing food. I was prepared to buy hot food but left due to the lack of compliance. Makes you wonder what other safety measures are being ignored.

Unsung heroes

During these challenging times and in the midst of a global health crisis, who are our front-line heroes? You might be surprised to learn that radiologic technologists play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

Chest X-rays and CT scans are critical diagnostic tools in identifying the pneumonia-like complications of coronavirus. When patients are placed on ventilators for breathing assistance, radiologic technologists perform imaging procedures so appropriate placement can be verified.

Each of these imaging procedures is performed by a professional known as a radiologic technologist. Radiation therapists are also essential workers on the front lines in the fight against cancer. Their work with oncology patients is crucial, and it continues every day, even during a pandemic.

So let’s give a big salute to the doctors, nurses and other hardworking health care professionals. But here’s a special tip of the hat to the more than 3,000 registered and certified radiologic technologists making a difference for patients every day in the state of Kansas. They’re unsung heroes, and we offer our heartfelt thanks for everything they do.

Unspeakable assault

Surely the time is more than past due for those in government and in other leadership positions to raise a clear, forceful voice in opposition to the madness now being allowed to drive the agenda of this great nation. Heck, in addition to the president, I’ll settle for one such patriot. (I long ago gave up on major media outlets to perform this act of their responsibility.)

The rioting, looting and destruction of property, including revered statues and treasured houses of worship, is not about avenging a few sometimes despicable and sometimes questionable acts against a race of people. We are witnessing a well-organized, well-funded attempt to do nothing less than bring about the downfall of our Republic as it has stood for well over 200 years. Those directing efforts of their willing or naïve followers have waited for emotional events to provide cover for this unspeakable assault.

And we, the American people, are forced to watch it happen on television and read about it in news reports while those we have elected, in both major political parties — to defend the United States from enemies both foreign and domestic — either sit idly by or cheer shamefully from the sidelines.

Please, local, state and national leaders: find your spine.