Readers comment on banning books, investing in health care globally and more
Banning books
It would make little sense to ban books for students and then allow them to read George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four.” In this work, the main character's job is to rewrite the news and history as part of the government's effort to suppress what its subjects could know. The whole idea of censorship and banning knowledge are a major part of the plot.
If our young students were to read this, they might learn that book banning is aimed at concealing truths. We cannot ban literature and then let the young realize that banning books is a way to distort reality.
Some might argue that "Nineteen Eighty-Four" is only a critique of the Soviet Union and not really applicable to us. "Nineteen Eighty-Four" was as much about the United Kingdom and countries like us. Indeed, Orwell's models for the Ministry of Truth were the BBC, which he worked for during World War II, and a propaganda bureau that his wife worked for at the same time.
Just to show how dangerous "Nineteen Eighty-Four" is, one should realize what students might be exposed to by reading it. Some of the ban-makers believe the book has too much erotic content, as the government tries to control this aspect of life. By questioning this control, students might learn that is not right to control a woman's body.
Albert Meyer, Gainesville
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Support global health funding
Although issues surrounding maternal and child health are persistent in our everyday lives, these issues have been disproportionately impacted throughout the pandemic and will continue to surface for years to come. Currently, limitations surrounding the availability of health care workers along with restraints placed on social support for women persist all around the world. Maternal health remains an ongoing issue, particularly in low-income countries.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal health care and access have worsened due to redirected funds and limited community-based resources, which have detrimentally impacted existing structures meant to address these issues. Increased funding for maternal and child health helps ensure that resources and services are allocated and accessed equitably.
I am writing to urge Rep. Kat Cammack to support global health funding in the fiscal year 2023 appropriations for maternal and child health.
Siried Vizuete, written on behalf of Partners In Health Engage at the University of Florida
Invest in mental health worldwide
Mental health has been a constant conversation across the nation due to the increasing numbers of those struggling during the pandemic. This is not an issue unique to the United States. Millions across the globe are not as fortunate as UF students to have direct access to mental health care resources and providers.
Living in poverty is a contributing factor into the state of one’s mental health, and while the global poverty levels are consistently dropping, the mental health of those often goes untreated. Currently, Congress is discussing the passage of the MINDS Act, which will increase American foreign aid and investment in bettering global access to mental health resources.
While Congress seems so far away and too big for us to influence, it is important that our voices are heard by our Congress members through being vocal and contacting our members of Congress in support of the MINDS Act.
Kathryn O’Halloran, Gainesville
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Social good
The Commonwealth Fund recently released a study entitled “Primary Care in High-Income Countries: How the United States Compares.” According to this study of primary care in 11 wealthy countries, the United States lags far behind on multiple measures of access to services and coordination of patient care. Primary care providers serve as most people’s first contact with the health care system.
The report finds that: 1) U.S. adults are least likely to have a primary care home; 2) Access to home visits or after-hours care is lowest in the U.S.; 3) Just half of U.S. primary care physicians report adequate coordination with specialists and hospitals.
The researchers attribute the deficiencies in the U.S. to decades of chronic underinvestment as well as reimbursement disparities between primary care clinicians and specialists. Can someone explain to me how this can be in the richest country in the world?
Access to quality health care may not be a right guaranteed in the Constitution, but it is a social good and we are paying the price for ignoring this.
Frank Catalanotto, DMD, Gainesville
Republican ideals
A recent letter addressed what Republicans are for. Some of his responses (and comments) follow: “abiding by the Constitution” (unless one takes a knee); “fixing our economy” (a problem that doesn’t exist, especially considering the present economy from 2021-22)and the economy from 2009-2016); “less government control” (unless you’re pregnant or wish to teach the whole truth in school or wear a mask); “freedom of speech” (so long as they agree with what you say); “stopping lockdowns” (except for children at the border); “shrinking the IRS" (so the rich will give more money to the Republicans and the wage gap destroys any semblance of a classless society); “accountability” (unless it applies to Donald Trump and everyone who lies about the election being stolen); “and life …” (unless an officer murders a Black person by having his knee on his throat.)
Yes, those are just some of what many Republicans believe in. God help America!
Thomas R. Weller, High Springs
Political posturing
Like the Sun letter writer of March 5, I was also disturbed by the way Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke to children. But I was further alarmed by the hypocrisy it demonstrated.
If people should be "free" to not wear a mask without scorn, then they should be free to wear one too without his scornful treatment. Furthermore, he has clearly said that the decision should be entrusted to parents and not the government. Yet there he was trying to overrule the will of those children’s parents.
This is proof that he does not mean what he says, it’s all political posturing. He wants you to do things his way no matter what you think, or what he says … is that "freedom’?
Cary Davis, Gainesville
War continues
I remember Dec. 7 1941, collecting tin cans, hearing President Franklin D. Roosevelt's radio broadcasts, gathering up clothes and other needed things to send to our family in occupied Netherlands, meeting my mother at La Guardia returning from a flight to Europe at the end of the war (seeing her family for the first time since 1939 when the Nazis overwhelmed her birthplace).
Since then, in my lifetime, there has been Korean War, the Vietnam War and the war in Afghanistan to name a few. Does mankind ever learn? What are your memories?
Barbara Collett, Gainesville
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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Letters to the editor for March 27, 2022
