Hugs Not Walls, hard work worth it: Letters to the Editor
Hugs Not Walls, hard work worth it
I crossed the International Bridge of Las Americas to Ciudad Juárez, headed to the historic ninth Hugs not Walls event. For the ninth time, the wall separating families in the United States and Mexico would disappear and families would be able to hug their loved ones for three whole minutes.While we were all cold and somewhat still asleep, seeing families begin to arrive on both sides of the border warmed our hearts. We worked non-stop and at full speed to get families COVID tested, checked in, and situated at the reunification perimeter.I listened to the most heartbreaking stories. Tears rolled down their cheeks as they tried to spot their loved ones. The day progressed and suddenly, I had nobody to check in anymore. I rushed to the reunification perimeter. I walked down the steep ramp and joined fellow volunteers and it was at that moment that every single drop of sweat was worth it. “Primeras familias es tiempo de abrazarse” said Fernando Garcia, director of the Border Network for Human RIghts. Nobody else existed in those three minutes, the world stopped and after years they were finally able to hug. Tears rolled down the eyes of all of our volunteers, but we had to compose ourselves to ensure that more than 200 other families had the opportunity to live that moment. I carried the elderly and people with health conditions down and up the ramp, but it was all worth it to see them hug each other.
Jess Salgado-Ramos
Lower Valley
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Pronunciation cringeworthy
My issue with the name change from Teachers Federal Credit Union to Raiz Federal Credit Union is the pronunciation used in the TV ad. Every time I hear it, my involuntary reaction is to cringe with disgust. They are slaughtering our beautiful Spanish language. The Spanish word “raiz” is not pronounced like the English word “rise.” It’s shameful and disappointing being that we live here in the Southwest where Spanish is spoken fluently.
Jane Garcia-VanceNortheast El Paso
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What to consider when choosing a Medicare plan
Healthcare can be expensive and during the Annual Election Period, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, people eligible for Medicare can select a plan that provides the affordability, convenience and benefits they want as well as the quality healthcare they deserve.
I encourage you to make a list of what’s necessary to have in your plan and what else you’d like to have included, such as:• If you have specific doctors and hospitals you prefer• Determine what benefits are important to you. Do you want dental, vision and hearing coverage? What about prescription drug coverage?• If you need transportation assistance to and from doctors’ appointments; allowances to cover out-of-pocket dental, vision or hearing expenses; access to fitness programs; or services to support your mental health, these are all considerations when selecting a plan.For more information, visit www.Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048Bill WhiteEast El Paso
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Hugs Not Walls, hard work worth it: Letters to the Editor
