Readers comment on East Gainesville health care, Sen. Rubio and the Jan. 6 committee

Medical inequalities

It is an unfortunate reality that those individuals living in East Gainesville are more geographically isolated from sustainable medical care than their western counterparts. This disparity is highlighted by the differential access to COVID-19 vaccination clinics in East versus West Gainesville.

On the UF Health coronavirus website, a list of medical clinics and pharmacies offering the COVID-19 vaccination, whether as an initial or booster shot, is provided. Unsurprisingly, the lack of access to medical clinics in East Gainesville means there are less locations that can offer the vaccinations, requiring residents of East Gainesville to travel significant distances for these highly recommended vaccinations that have been shown to protect both them and those they encounter.

Recent news has shown efforts being made to increase the access to medical care in East Gainesville, such as a new emergency clinic being built. This shows steps are being made in the right direction, but we are far away from eradicating the medical inequalities those in East Gainesville face; specifically, regarding access to the COVID-19 vaccination.

Joshua Welden, medical student, University of Florida College of Medicine 

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Selective approach

In a May 26 article in The Sun, U.S. Sen Marco Rubio of Florida advocated government control of women's reproductive decisions, regardless of women's rights to self-determination. He wants to protect an undeveloped embryo he mistakenly thinks is "fully human" at the moment of conception, though an embryo has only the potential, under favorable conditions, to become human. He chooses to ignore biological facts.

Rubio also ignores the rights of children and adults to their existing lives. According to a PolitiFact article in The Sun, the loss of tens of thousands of children and adults to assault rifles and other guns hasn't motivated him to learn the facts about mass killings. Nor will he support effective gun control. As so often over his two terms, he is missing in action in the effort to create even a minimal bipartisan agreement to improve children's safety from guns.

The hypocrisy of Rubio's selective appreciation of the right to life makes clear the reality of his ambition: He will prostitute himself to any position he thinks will promote his political career. Is this who Florida citizens need in the U.S. Senate?

Phyllis Saarinen, Gainesville 

Uphold the law

Recently a person attempted to murder Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The very next day, pro-abortion demonstrations, shamefully, were back marching and yelling into bullhorns in front of his house.

There is a federal law against this, but Democrat Attorney General Merrick Garland is not upholding the law and so we may have more occurrences of attempts on justices or their family. The Senate unanimously passed a bill that would further protect all federal judges and justices, but Democrat Nancy Pelosi has not let that bill even be discussed in the House. Apparently she is too busy with the partisan witch-hunt of Jan. 6 or trying to get the DUI charges against her husband, Paul, to go away.

In regards to the Jan. 6 political theater, keep in mind that contrary to normal procedure, Pelosi refused to seat Republicans selected by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and instead appointed two Trump-hating RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) to the committee. The primetime hearing was really a Democrat political campaign advertisement and Republicans should have been given equal time to rebut this foolishness.

John Bonds, Gainesville

Stay alert

Anyone who was educated and paying attention would have known Donald Trump was the worst choice for president that America could make. He was and is narcissistic to the max, racist, sexist, ignorant, lacking any empathy, greedy, shameless —fit, maybe, for the mob but never for public service.

The problem is that many of the educated (let's say, have at least a high school diploma) were/are not paying attention. You pay attention to the things you value. Apparently, most Americans have not/do not value American liberty.

The public hearings from the Jan 6. committee provide an appreciated Cliff Notes version of recent history, but going forward, we must stay alert to guard democracy. A democratic society needs its citizens to practice. Practice what? Vigilance, equality, justice, progress, learning. If we fail to nurture all of these disciplines, we don't deserve democracy.

Mary Ruth, Gainesville

Join the conversation

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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Letters on East Gainesville health care, Sen. Rubio, Jan. 6 committee