Mash Notes, Hate Mail & Other Correspondence

Dear Editor: I have previously written about the major role vaccines play in preventing the diseases that they are specifically targeted for. However, ongoing research is showing that the benefits of various vaccines may go much further than preventing only the diseases that they were designed to prevent. For example: A University of Texas study has shown that adults over age 65 who receive the annual high-dose influenza vaccine demonstrate a 55 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that influenza vaccines reduced major cardiac events by 36 percent overall and 55 percent in patients …

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Dear Editor: In yet another dangerous and counterproductive anti-vaccine maneuver by Trump’s health team, the CDC’s Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya has prevented the release of a report showing that the COVID-19 vaccine “reduced the likelihood of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for healthy adults by about half.” The reason given was Bhattacharya’s concern about the methodology of the study, although the methodology was exactly the same as that used by the CDC to measure the effectiveness of other respiratory viruses. Considering that this report might encourage more adults to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and prevent unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations, not releasing it is …

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Dear Alleged Editor & [Actual] Vietnam War Veteran, I just learned that today (March 29th) is National Vietnam Veterans Day. According to the U.S. Department of Interior’s Facebook page: “Today, on National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we honor the strength, service, and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans and their families. Their stories are etched into the landscapes we protect, places of memory, reflection, and healing.” I just now looked out my window, but I don’t see any stories etched in the landscape around here. Moreover, I looked it up, and unless I want to go find a Mission BBQ restaurant, where they will give me a …

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by Ed Palm We lost a great American on March 7th. To my generation at least, he was great. I’m referring to Joseph Allen McDonald, known to his Vietnam-Generation fans as Country Joe McDonald. He died from complications of Parkinson’s disease at age 84 in his home in Berkeley, California. Country Joe burst on the scene at Woodstock with his satiric antiwar anthem “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die-Rag.” That song poses the musical question, “What are we fightin’ for?” And Joe’s answer: “Don’t ask me. I don’t give a damn. Next stop is Vietnam.” If you’ve never heard it, Google it. A video of Country Joe’s original Woodstock performance …

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To the Editor: When protests broke out in Iran, President Trump warned the Iranian government against harming the protesters. He stated the United States was locked and loaded. The protesters believed him. Iran’s government did not. They shot and killed thousands of protesters. Trump did nothing. A month later Trump sent an aircraft carrier to the gulf. It isn’t because of Iran killing protesters. He says it is because of Iran’s nuclear program. A program Trump claimed to have completely destroyed. Our allies in the gulf don’t want to be collateral damage if Trump does attack Iran. They have banned us from attacking Iran from …

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