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Read this cautionary tale about what COVID does to your breathing | Letters
Here’s what readers are saying in Tuesday’s letters to the editor.
 
Medical staff transport a patient from a COVID-19 ward to the intensive care unit to be put on a ventilator, at the Willis Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, La., on Aug. 17, 2021.
Medical staff transport a patient from a COVID-19 ward to the intensive care unit to be put on a ventilator, at the Willis Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, La., on Aug. 17, 2021. [ GERALD HERBERT | AP ]
Published Aug. 31, 2021

A cautionary COVID tale

On the front lines, here’s what the 7 stages of severe COVID-19 look like | Column, Aug. 30

I have probably read hundreds of articles about COVID, but this one by a respiratory therapist treating COVID patients is one of the best. It should be required reading for every anti-vaxxer. If you refuse to get vaccinated because you are protecting your rights or you don’t trust science, you are selfish, because not only are you jeopardizing the health of others, you are potentially putting your family through a horrible tragedy, which could have been avoided. The author states it perfectly: “I’ve been at this for 17 months now. It doesn’t get easier. My pandemic stories rarely end well.”

Judy D. Ludin, St. Petersburg

Darwin at work

On the front lines, here’s what the 7 stages of severe COVID-19 look like | Column, Aug. 30

The anti-vaxxers are giving the rest of us the opportunity to witness natural selection in real time. Charles Darwin, right again.

Charles E. Lehnert, Sun City Center

Come on, man

Safe Bay biking | Aug. 30

From my experience I am convinced that 50 percent of drivers don’t know what flashing lights at a pedestrian crosswalk mean. I either run or ride my bike to Al Lopez Park most everyday to work out. I use the pedestrian crosswalk in front of St. Lawrence to cross Himes Avenue. I have almost been hit on several occasions because cars don’t stop or even slow down. Even though I am not a Joe Biden fan, I have borrowed his line and yell out, “Come on, man!”

David Cacciatore, Tampa

America first

Biden honors fallen troops, comforts grieving families | Aug. 30

In the past, when our troops were attacked by terrorists, Americans came together to condemn the attackers. Apparently, that is no longer the case. While world leaders — even the Taliban — condemned the recent bombing attack, Republican leaders did not. Instead they condemned our commander in chief, President Joe Biden. There will be plenty of time after the evacuation is completed to determine what went wrong and why, but not now. We still have troops and citizens in danger. That should be our focus. America first, remember?

Becky Griffin, Indian Rocks Beach

Pot, meet kettle

Judge: Governor’s mask ban not legal | Aug. 28

When a judge found Gov. Ron DeSantis acted illegally in banning schools from imposing mask mandates, his response was that the ruling is “not based on science and facts” and made with “incoherent justifications.” Well if that’s not the pot calling the kettle black.

Neal Briskin, South Pasadena

Dock his pay

Judge: Governor’s mask ban not legal

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to spend taxpayer dollars to appeal a court decision against his anti-mask mandate. If he loses, it seems only fair that he have his salary reduced by the same amount he threatened against school board officials. Tally up the costs to litigate a lost cause, and dock his pay.

David Rettig, St. Petersburg

Some success

Airlift at risk after blast | Aug. 28

I heard a news commenter Monday morning stating that the Afghan withdrawal was a success because more than 100,000 people have been evacuated. This is like the captain of the Titanic stating that the voyage was a success because 705 people were rescued.

David Burton, Clearwater