Voice of our Readers

Gust: Health care professionals need protest the vulnerable
To the Editor:
This morning (March 12) I was taking my dog Charley out and saw thebrightening in the east of the sunrise, announcing a new day. The night’s darkness was passing away.
I was thinking that yesterday was the one-year anniversary of theWorld Health Organization proclaiming the Covid-19 virus to be aworldwide pandemic.What a year it has been, in which the darkness had steadily deepenedwith the deaths of more than 527,000 of our fellow Americans, and every part of our society suffering. It has been difficult to hold onto hope. But, like the sunrise, hope is now brightening with the prospect of vaccines becoming available for each adult in the near future.
President Biden said,“Help is on the way ... help is here.” While we look to the future with hope as a nation, we also bear theburden of grief which we all share as Americans. We are all in this grief together.
Earlier in the week there was a television program honoring the lossof loved ones through the sharing of stories by loved ones left behind. SenatorElizabeth Warren is known for being a tough person, but she spoke withgreat feeling about the loss of her beloved brother to COVID-19. She spoke of the pain she still carries of not being able to say goodbye, of not having been able to hold his hand as he passed on. This is a story somany people have shared of their own loss and grief.
President Biden has sought to bring voice to the pain that thiscountry experiences. He speaks from the loss of loved ones in his ownfamily. He said we cannot heal until we confront and honor the emotional pains of loss. In so doing, emotional wounds begin healing. Words need to be spoken, and caring ears need to listen.With the passage of time the memories will become smiles, and tears will flow less often. But, there will always be a hole in the heart, an empty chair at the table.
As we care for and about our fellow Americans, we are comforted by the belief that “We are ALL in this together.”
God bless America.
Larry GreenLuverne
Green: A new day in dawning after pandemic year
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to Rick Petersen’s “For What It’s Worth” column from the March 11 edition of the Star Herald regarding questions on the MDH vaccine registrationwebsite.
My work for the past year has focused nearly solely onprotecting people (particularly residents in long-term care facilities from SARS-CoV2, commonly known as COVID-19.
Most recently,I have been spending my Saturdays administering COVID-19 vaccinationsfor the state of Minnesota through Homeland Health. Each Saturday we learnhow much vaccine we have available to administer. The quantities arelimited, and we administer every drop.
It is now common knowledge that some people are more likely to die from COVID-19. This includes people who are elderly, obese, diabetic,cognitively and physically impaired, and persons who smoke or vape. Any of these can lead to conditions that affect a person’s ability to dress and bathe (e.g., breathing difficulties, difficulty making decisions, loss of limb, mobility impairment, etc.).
There are alsogood reasons for questions relating to gender and sexual orientation. There is well-documented evidence of systemic bias and prejudice against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans-genders in health care. These persons are less likely to receive preventive health care and are thus more vulnerable.
As health care professionals, we have a duty to protect our most vulnerable, which means making sure they receivedoses of a limited quantity of vaccine first.
While Rick may find these questions “absurd,” extraneous or perhaps even offensive, they are critically important to identifying these Minnesotans and ensuring they get vaccinated first.
The state of Minesota can certainly be erratic at times, but this is not oneof them.
Karis Rieke Gust,
Luverne
RN, BSN, MA, BC-RN
Representative Schomacker must stand up to Walz
To the Editor:
For nearly a year, Governor Walz has exercised total and unilateral control over the state of Minnesota. With his countless executive orders, he has shut down bars, restaurants, schools, churches, and more … many of which can never open their doors again.
What is Representative Joe Schomacker doing about it? It looks likeabsolutely nothing. He and many of his friends in the legislature have made afew weak efforts to repeal Walz’ powers, and nothing more. They’re letting Walz get off the hook for his abuse of power.
Not Representative Erik Mortensen. He’s fighting for small businesses byintroducing Articles of Impeachment to remove Governor Walz from office. This sends a message both to him and anyone succeeding him that the separation of powers in Minnesota’s Constitution is important and cannot be disregarded.
If Schomacker wants to keep his seat in 2022, then he’d better sign on toMortensen’s impeachment resolution.
Jessica Kracht
Luverne