Isn’t it time?
The Los Angeles Times op-ed piece by Karen Gallardo, published Monday in WHT, left me trembling. Gallardo is a respiratory therapist and recounts in clinical detail the seven increasingly more invasive stages of COVID care that a victim experiences before dying a gruesome death.
She tells this story with more empathy and professionalism than some of us feel. Because COVID victims in most cases made conscious decisions, more because of ignorance and politics than medical necessity. They made their decision not just to die a horrible death, but also to expose the rest of us to the same.
On Oahu they went to a beach park by “hundreds of people,” according to news reports, unmasked and openly flaunting the gathering limit of 10. These college kids were probably the same age as the pool cleaning guy who my South Kona friend asked about his vaccination status. “Nah,” he said, “I’m young and healthy and don’t need any [***] vaccination.”
It’s difficult to admit to having more righteous anger than empathy. The question is how to express ourselves. Isn’t it time to stop rolling our eyes and not saying anything?
Niel Thomas
Waimea
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Oahu restrictions needed here
Finally restrictions affecting those causing the problem. Congratulations to Oahu’s mayor for placing restrictions on those that are causing the problem, the unvaccinated!
For too long, all we have heard is restrictions on all residents and not focusing on those causing the problem. Mayor Rick Blangiardi requiring all staff and visitors to restaurants, bars, gyms etc is a step in the right direction. Why those of us who have been vaccinated, practice social distancing and limit gathering be placed in the same category as those who refuse to follow the science.
I support those restrictions and would support those establishments that comply.
I hope Mayor Mitch Roth is considering these restrictions. I voted for him hoping he would be forward thinking and support the betterment of the people.
Don David
Kailua-Kona
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Why so little coverage?
Why so little coverage of the three kupuna who were attacked by viscous, free-roaming dogs on Aug. 16 in HPP?
A preventable and senseless mauling occurred while an innocent woman was looking for her beloved pet, and yet we hear scarcely anything about the incident in the media? Not only did the attack occur in daylight a few blocks from her home, the only attempt at aid and rescue was provided by two other kupuna — who are lucky to still be alive … if they indeed are? Why no follow ups? Why no report of consequences? What is the fate of the owner and the multiple (two?) uncontrollable wild dogs roaming free? They were presumably impounded? and then what?
It was only a matter of time before something like this was bound to happen.
Let me guess…the breed is pitbull, right? Unneutered male pits? Rottweilers? Mix of the above? Does no one care? Prayers for these poor innocent elderly citizens. Speedy recovery to all three of them.
So, we either have unhappy “hunting” dogs tied up around the clock (unless they’re being put to work) or unpredictable fighting-breed dogs roaming loose or breaking out of their enclosures?…what is this? A Third World country? What happens when they turn on, maim or even kill a keiki? Are we just going to quietly and quickly bury that story too?
Stacy Paul
Waimea
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