Letters: Poisonous rhetoric (4/30/20)
Poisonous rhetoric
Re: “Inside state’s growing anti-shutdown movement,” April 27 news story and “Polis responds to lawmaker’s criticism of stay-home order,” April 16 news story
In a world of social distancing, words are often our only means of communication. I am disconcerted that those in the anti-shutdown movement use them to divide our community.
The chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, Ken Buck, draws an inaccurate parallel between feared Marxist regimes and Gov. Jared Polis’ actions to carefully preserve public health and production at the same time.
Patrick Neville, top Republican in the Colorado House, misses his mark relating stay-at-home orders to a “Gestapo-like mentality.”
Instead of guards with police dogs shooting those who break the rules, Gov. Polis has placed an admirable amount of trust in Coloradans to take care of themselves and each other. And when Mary Conley declares, “My body, my choice,” she forgets that people’s choices can result in others getting sick, regardless of the measures they take for their own bodies.
I’m not denying the fact that Colorado’s state shutdown has and will result in consequences, some of them fatal. I’m opposing the use of poisonous rhetoric that prevents us from finding a sustainable path to move forward in the age of COVID-19. To the Bucks and Nevilles and Conleys, I say: Use your words with grace and creativity instead.
Claire Franz, Lakewood
Help for families with loved ones in long-term care facilities
As each day of the coronavirus pandemic passes, family members, staff and communities are becoming increasingly worried about the health and safety of those inside long-term care facilities. As AARP Colorado president, I recommend that those with a loved one in a nursing home ask the facility six key questions:
• Has anyone in the nursing home tested positive for COVID-19?
• What is the nursing home doing to prevent infections?
• Does nursing home staff have the personal protective equipment and training they need to stay safe and keep their patients safe?
• What is the nursing home doing to help residents stay connected with their families or other loved ones during this time?
• What is the plan for the nursing home to communicate important information to both residents and families on a regular basis?
• Is the nursing home currently at full staffing levels for nurses, aides, and other workers?
For those who are concerned about the safety of a loved one living in a nursing home, visit colorado.gov/pacific/cdhs/ long-term-care-ombudsman. Families and caregivers can also find additional information and resources about COVID-19 at www.aarp.org/coronavirus.
Jean Nofles, Aurora
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