Letters to the Editor: Community helpers, too many guns, and goodbye to Betty White.

Kudos to team

I spent the better part of the spring and summer months trying desperately to find help for a neighbor who had no family and was going through mental and physical difficulties. At long last, I found a group of Fayette County firefighters called the community paramedicine team who responded to my call; one of the finest and most helpful groups in this city. They became friends with my neighbor and began checking on him regularly. It was only about three months later that this neighbor had to be hospitalized. One of the firefighters stayed with my neighbor as his advocate at the hospital and a social worker was assigned to him. He is now being taken care of somewhere in the area. Due to HIPAA, we are not allowed to know where he is but I do know they have located a relative in another state and we neighbors are all hopeful she will be able to take over his care. This group of firefighters is working together with social workers and nurses to help people who have no one to be an advocate for them.

Many thanks from me and my neighborhood to this worthy group of people who are doing a job that not many would want to take on.

Susan Slusher, Lexington

Curb guns

Police swarmed my rural convenience store. A man had fallen asleep in the driver’s seat with a handgun in his lap and a back seat full of assault rifles.

Over Christmas a “F*** BIDEN” flag went up in a nearby yard. For the first time in 20 years I hear automatic weapons shot as I sit on my porch.

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie’s Christmas card featured his young children brandishing guns and rifles in celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Prince of peace.

A mob hung an effigy of the governor on the Capitol grounds and were ALLOWED into the Capitol brandishing guns. I worry about our local school board members and poll workers.

Against opposition from police, school personnel, social service workers and gun violence victims, Republican legislators voted to let people carry concealed weapons without background checks, safety training or permits.

This January instead of passing suppressive, gerrymandered voting restrictions, our Republican-dominated legislature should focus on rescinding open carry laws and pass legislation that permits gun ownership but also protects our communities against gun violence.

Margaret Groves, Frankfort

Proposal unfair

In an opinion piece published in the Dec. 31 Herald-Leader print edition, Katrina Vanden Huevel wants President Joe Biden to cancel federal student loan debt. I question the fairness of this. My wife and I attended in-state public colleges that (with stretching) we could afford, and selected majors likely to lead to jobs. We combined savings, modest scholarships, summer wages and loans. After graduation, we had to pinch pennies but paid off our loans, including interest, on time. Now as federal taxpayers, we would watch as $1.73 trillion that flowed from the federal treasury never comes back. The author gives away the game in her closing: Biden’s action would “stoke enthusiasm” (i.e., buy votes).

Jack Peele, Lexington

COVID battle

I wonder if during the ’40s, our grandparents would complain to each other: “I’m so tired of news about the war. Can’t we talk about something besides the Pacific Front or Allied landings?” I’m sure they did occasionally, but they knew the war was center stage.

COVID is our war. It doesn’t matter if we’re “over it.” Our enemy, COVID, is endlessly crafty, energetic, and vicious. But as in all battles, it’s ourselves that matter even more than our opponents: our vanities, our fears, our prejudices, our malice. If we can manage ourselves, we will vanquish the enemy.

Our grandparents may have grumbled, but they collectively pulled themselves together: collected scrap, rationed, and sent their sons to fight. When a telegraph arrived, they grieved but knew their sacrifice went beyond themselves — went out to the country they loved.

We love the same country. Can we do less?

Joseph G. Anthony, Lexington

Farewell, Betty

Betty White was an icon and a force to be reckoned with. She made us laugh, cry, and brought us much joy. She changed the trajectory of television and deserved every single accolade she received. Thank you, Betty White, for all your contributions; you will be missed.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.