Heartening to see lunch giveaway

I feel fortunate to live in Sequim as we are not as hard hit by the virus, but these difficult economic times challenge us as a community because so many people are unable to work. It is encouraging to hear about people supporting organizations that are helping those in need. It says a great deal about Sequimites.

Some people that are doing more than their share are the owners of the Grab and Go Food Mart on West Washington Street. They have a sign in front of their store that says, “Free rice and beans.” Every day they cook and give out food to anyone that is hungry. They pay for this themselves.

They are the kind of neighbors I am proud to have in Sequim.

John Bridge

Sequim

Kudos to nurse’s aides

Nurse’s aides in our long-term care facilities face daunting tasks of caring for elderly and disabled residents in normal times, but especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

In the U.S., one-third of this disease’s deaths are patients and staff in these facilities. Most nurse’s aides are women and people of color.

An aide’s responsibilities include personal contact care of eating, bathing, dressing, transferring from place to place, toileting and incontinence. An aide must be adept in observing the social and emotional condition of her charges, and possess empathy.

Does the patient have bed sores? Any signs of stroke? Are bowel movements regular? Is the resident disoriented or showing signs of pain, anxiety, loneliness?

Essential workers whose jobs often are taken for granted, now again have gained prominence in the news. These people risk their own lives to help us.

We have an opportunity to address the needs of these irreplaceable employees. Stringent regulation and oversight of the long term care industry must happen to guarantee viable working and living conditions. A living wage, quality health and day care, adequate and effective Personal Protective Equipment, a smaller patient load, thorough and continual geriatric and disease prevention education and the ability to unionize are all essential for aides.

A big thank you to our heroic nurse’s aides!

Gayle Brauner

Port Angeles

Protect your eyes

I had a thought: I wondered why it had not been presented as a way to prevent contact to this past virus.

The eyes are only talked about protecting, is from one’s own fingers!

I bought “safety glasses” to protect my dry eye problem from the wind. The ones I got look like sun glasses with thick rims that block the wind. With the mask and glasses, one should be pretty well protected.

One reason I can think of why the idea has not come up sooner is medical and reporter people do not weed eat. Or, people in charge were afraid there were not enough to go round.

There are a lot of different kinds out there, but I think these are the best.

Joan Ritchie

Sequim

Consider our ‘Presidential Pundit’

Former chairman of the Clallam County Republican Party, Dick Pilling laments how pundits can be so “spectacularly wrong in their predictions” (Letters to the Editor, Sequim Gazette, May 20, page A-14).

Sensationalism is their stock-in-trade irrespective of accuracy depending upon a “relief factor” soon forgotten.

Lest we forget our Presidential Pundit:

Muslims cheered when the World Trade Center was attacked.

Voter fraud is rampant in mail-in ballots.

The coronavirus is a hoax that will magically disappear.

If you want a test, you can get it.

What have you got to lose by ingesting liquid cleaners and unproven cures?

By placing the burden on the states, the President absolves himself of any responsibility.

While some governors may open their states too soon, others err on the side of caution. This conflict creates an understandable envy which is why it would have been prudent for federal intervention.

Roger B. Huntman

Sequim

Follow Canada’s lead with ban

I was struck by the tragedy in Ottawa where Kristin, a pregnant healthcare worker in rural Nova Scotia was killed in a mass shooting with her dying wish for healthcare workers to have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

I reflect on this and the images of the angry, distorted faces of protesters brandishing assault rifles in the name of “freedom” opposed to state government policies and the duly authorized powers that states have in public health law to protect its citizens from the spread of communicable diseases.

The disrespect of these “armed” protesters for public health law and the rights of others seems to know no bounds, not to mention the volatility of loaded automatic rifles in the mix. The tragedy of Ottawa seems very near in comparison and could easily descend into the hell of mass casualties in one or more of our state capitols as well.

The disregard of these same protesters for “social distancing” and wearing face masks to protect others from the coronavirus you must assume they may be shedding is beyond the pale. It is shameful to see how little regard they have for others. This is not the America I know and am proud of.

The America I can still see though is represented by the thousands of healthcare workers like Kristin who risk their own health and safety to care for COVID-19 patients and the many citizens in our state who follow the practices laid out by Gov. Inslee to reduce the spread and eventually eliminate the coronavirus in our communities.

The America I see is also one where assault weapons are banned. Canada banned assault-style weapons following the murder of 22 people in the worst mass shooting in the country’s history.

“These weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada,” Prime Minister Trudeau said. “Effective immediately, it is no longer permitted to buy, sell, transport, import or use military-grade assault weapons in this country.”

If Canada, why not America?

Roger Briggs

Sequim