Concerns about remarks at Pasco Council, wait times at urgent care among Herald letters

Cortinas remarks lack perspective

During a Pasco City Council meeting addressing redistricting, Mr. David Cortinas, a local Hispanic leader, spoke against the council’s appointment of Mr. Irvin Brown, an African American, to a seat vacated by Nikki Torres, a Latina.

Mayor Barajas and Councilwoman Roach effectively justified the council’s appointment as best for all Pasco residents and not any particular racial/ethnic group whose leaders may feel entitled.

Mr. Cortinas’s comments reflect a political ideology of Hispanic entitlement. And, he referenced Mr. Brown’s appointment on the basis of his race as evidence. Interpreted as such, his and like-minded Hispanic leaders’ opposition to Mr. Brown’s appointment is offensive to the African American community and warrants an adverse response…

Ironically, Pasco’s historical record shows that English-speaking, American-born, African Americans led the fight, with success, for equal justice for all. Thus, many local foreign-born, Spanish-speakers enjoy advantages and special privileges that Hispanic leaders exploit. These include Job preference, Head Start programs, Hispanic serving institutions. All are funded with federal tax dollars that include contributions from over-taxed, disenfranchised and under-represented African Americans.

Surely, Mr. Brown’s appointment is just. It brings visibility and awareness to concerns of diversity, equity and inclusion that an ideology of Hispanic entitlement will not.

Dallas Barnes, Pasco

Urgent care is way overloaded

On Dec. 1, I went to the Kadlec Urgent Care clinic in Kennewick.

I was given a form and a call number to submit my form and was told that the wait time was 2 1/2 hours. The waiting area was like a war zone with very sick people and poor kids laying on the chairs, possibly getting even more infected from others’ illnesses or passing on their illnesses on to others. Some people entered, looked around, asked the waiting time and walked right out.

After a half hour, I got called to turn in my form and was then told that the waiting time to see a doctor would be around five hours. I asked if I could go home and be called by phone, but was told I had to wait there, so I left. Waiting in a room full of sick people with likely COVID, flu or RSV infections for hours is not a healthy environment for anyone seeking medical help. Kadlec hospital clinics must do better, and why aren’t they?

I feel sorry for the kids, the people going there and the staff.

Leo Guillen, Kennewick

In long run, the bomb saved lives

Tori Bender may want to do some more research before crying about the loss of Japanese lives at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This use of the Atomic bomb was to end the war that the Japanese started by their sneak attack on Pearl Harbor trying to cripple our ability to fight. The Japanese stated that they would fight to the last man, woman and child to defend their homeland, no talk of surrender.

The atomic bomb, while sadly causing thousands of instantaneous and long-term civilian deaths, saved an estimated one million lives on both sides that would come with an invasion. Research shows the Japanese were responsible for an estimated 2 million to 10 million deaths of people across Asia in the years preceding the Pearl Harbor sneak attack. Japanese government and their military calculated that war was the best path forward. They were wrong, and their citizens suffered because of their miscalculation. The Japanese started it, we finished it! No apologies.

Forever a proud Richland Bomber

Donnie Dean, Class of 66’, Kennewick

Extended wait for care shocking

On Dec 7, I cut my right index finger at 3:00 p.m. I went to an immediate care center here in Richland. I filled out paperwork, but after 20 minutes they came to me and told me that they weren’t taking any trauma patients. Next I went to Kadlec Regional Medical Center. They checked my vitals but it was four hours before they took me in and treated my finger. Frankly I was shocked that the wait was so long. I hope no one else has to go through what I went through.

John A Tompkins, Richland