Letters: Diversity, voting and antibodies | July 2

Diverse opinions the fabric of U.S.

To the “Left Are Enemies” person(s):

You are calling it a war, and bringing your guns to peaceful protests. You are telling those you don’t agree with to leave this country founded on the idea of being a melting pot of ideas. What “America” are you even trying to uphold??

What is the “culture” that you think is being defiled? There are many cultures, including yours, that can co-exist and thrive in this country. So let it be. Everything isn’t an attack on you or your religion or your politics. And if it is, the First Amendment allows for that.

If left-leaning people make you uncomfortable, that’s a sign of America working as intended. The Constitution wasn’t built only for you and your beliefs. The variety is as wide as our citizenry.

I want you in this country and as my neighbor. There’s room and rights for all kinds here. I respect you enough to think that you can be reasoned with, and that you’re worth the effort. But regardless, we can continue to disagree with words and votes, and still raise a glass together on the Fourth of July. Which is what a great America should be about.

Voters must act, for Senate failed

I’m reading news regarding Taliban militants receiving bounties from the Russians for taking the lives of American soldiers fighting alongside Afghan coalition forces.

Our security officials reportedly briefed the president about this months ago, and he has done nothing about it. He has kept silent, apparently not wanting to offend Putin. Of course, he denies any such briefing and decries this as fake news anyway. Who can believe this?

Every time I think this presidency has reached the bottom, something like this or worse gets exposed. If we are going to save this country from this negligent leadership, this man must be removed from power. There is little need to mention additional failures during this pandemic which have resulted in catastrophic loss of American lives, as well as economic meltdown and resulting record unemployment.

If the Republican Senate doesn’t have the backbone to take him out, the American voters must.

Antibodies not clear for COVID

Carolyn O’Donnell, regarding the wearing of masks by people who had already contracted COVID-19, stated, “We have been tested and cannot get or give the virus.” (letter 6/11/20)

While this has been the perception based on previous experience with how antibodies have protected against reinfections with other viruses, this has not yet been established with COVID-19. I would refer readers to the CDC website which states, “It’s not possible to conclude that persons with persistent or recurrent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA are no longer infectious. There is no firm evidence yet that the antibodies that develop in response to infection are protective.”

While Carolyn might be correct in her conclusion, until research has shown her to be correct, it may be advisable for her to continue masking.

Becoming infected and having antibodies is not simply “I had it, so now I’m ok.” There are issues with the type of antibodies emitted, the number of antibodies, and the amount of time it takes for the antibodies to develop (it has been shown it takes a week or two, or more for the antibodies to develop. During that period, it is possible to be reinfected). So it may be wiser to dictate caution.

This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: Diversity, voting and antibodies | July 2."