Mash Notes, Hate Mail & Other Correspondence

To the Editor: When I was a brand new 2d Lieutenant in an engineer unit in Korea, I once told my platoon how we were going to build a bridge. As I was walking away my platoon sergeant said to the troops “What the Lieutenant meant to say was….” Of course, being a new Lieutenant, I took umbrage and went back to set the troops straight. We built the bridge my way. Three months later, the bridge washed out just as Sgt. Gould had said it would. This embarrassing but life-altering lesson was brought to mind when I listened to our Glorious Leader expound on …

Read more

Dear Editor: Preventive steps were needed back in January, like ramping up the production of testing equipment, masks, ventilators, and hospital capacity. President I-knew-it-was-a-pandemic-long-ago did nothing! Actually, he did something: he minimized and denied the problem. The growing numbers of virus cases and deaths is alarming, and enraging, considering that much of the damage and death was preventable, if the Corona Criminal had followed the recommendations of our own government’s health professionals. With the projection of more than 100,000 deaths from the Trump virus, the President qualifies as a mass murderer. Let’s hope the Karma of Justice is swift and thorough. Bruce Joffe Piedmont, Calif.

To the Editor: It’s unacceptable that the U.S. might have 80,000 to 200,000 CoronaVirus-caused-deaths! It’s also unacceptable to have 20 million infected Americans, four million suffering with serious symptoms, and almost one million hospitalized. Nevertheless, these are Dr. Fauci’s and Dr. Birx’s projections with the current level of mitigation. Obviously that mitigation level is inadequate! We Must Do Better! Americans want to protect ourselves, our families, co-workers, neighbors, doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers, and others. We need to know how to better protect everyone, and we need frequent reminders to change lifelong habits. The primary exposure is breathing droplets containing the CoronaVirus into our lungs. …

Read more

To the Editor: I have been deeply concerned about many N.H. policies and actions regarding our response to Covid-19, but the State Liquor Store policy is one of the most dangerous, unjustifiable, and fraught with moral, legal and ethical problems. Some thoughts to consider: 1. What is the State policy if a worker refuses to work under the conditions that the State admits that a worker, “may bear a heightened risk of exposure to and community transmission of Covid-19 to a degree not inherent to the performance of other state services?” Are they fired, placed on leave without pay, asked to take vacation/sick leave, etc? …

Read more

Dear Editor: “The state is me,” famously said France’s King Louis XIV—absolute monarch during France’s classical age. His ornate and gold-filigreed style is also the style of President Trump’s New York City penthouse. Trump is attracted to Louis XIV. Now Trump has criticized the Governors of Washington state (Inslee) and Michigan (Whitmer) for not being “appreciative enough” of his late-come efforts against the coronavirus. He’s called it “unpatriotic” to criticize him. He confuses himself with our nation that existed long before him and hopefully will have a life after him. Trump told V.P. Pence “not to call” those two Governors who’ve had too much difficulty …

Read more

To the Editor: If this pandemic has any redeeming value, it’s the reality that the United States needs to adopt some major changes to become a just, healthy, and economically fair society for all of our citizens. Suddenly, issues such as universal healthcare, universal childcare, a $15/hour minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, and collaboration across borders seem more important and don’t seem so unrealistic or even unobtainable. I hope we remember this when the pandemic finally comes under control. Judy Ullman Portsmouth, N.H. Judy: Amen. The Editor