Letter to the editor: Coming together is the American way

Letter-writer Dave Majernik (“Hysteria shouldn’t kill our economy”) asked why we lock down for coronavirus when we don’t lock down for other fatal diseases.

It’s not rocket science. Think contagion. If we all go back to work with some of us infected, 10,000 sick turn into 100,000 sick, and then we have a real problem. ERs and ICUs overflow, health workers succumb and nobody gets care, covid-19 and heart attack patients alike. We must react with calm and medical understanding.

Now let me ask: Why are so many of us abandoning our American principle of acting together as a people? Why are so many, rather, panicking at the idea that if we don’t sacrifice lives of our families and neighbors for an immediate return to work, then our country will collapse? We tell ourselves that we are the richest country in the world, but that we cannot afford to feed, shelter and care for all our people through an emergency? That’s not the American way.

Mr. Majernik, the American way is to get down to the food bank and help out your neighbors.

Joanne Murray

Jeannette