To the Editor:
Re “What Reporting on Lengthy Covid Taught Me,” by Ed Yong (Opinion visitor essay, Dec. 22):
As a Covid long-hauler (happening three years now!), I discovered it validating and even supportive to learn Mr. Yong’s essay. It was significantly validating to have the acknowledgment of post-exertional malaise (PEM). This so aptly describes a lot of my life.
For instance, I apologize to my canine earlier than happening a shorter-than-usual stroll. I’ve to plan for seemingly mundane duties of self-care and residential care: having a shower, altering garments, doing the dishes, sweeping my condominium, doing laundry, and many others. I put these duties in my calendar, and even then the expectation of the aftermath makes me really feel incapable, determined and overwhelmed.
I appreciated Mr. Yong’s astute acknowledgment that signs are sometimes dismissed due to sexism (I’m transgender). And I used to be denied incapacity as a result of it was decided that I used to be useful sufficient to wrap silverware in napkins. Sure certainly, therapy is just not solely a medical difficulty, but additionally a social one.
Mr. Yong made it clear that his journalism has been remodeled by doing analysis in a extra integrative method, particularly truly being with present long-haulers. I’m immensely grateful to him for his journalism and to The Occasions for publishing it.
(I earned my Ph.D. in 2012, and it’s taken me two days to put in writing this.)
River Jackson-Paton
Dallas
To the Editor:
Ed Yong’s visitor essay is true on level. Lengthy Covid is actual, and the general public must be educated about it.
My expertise with Covid is that of a former registered nurse within the thick of it. I watched so many sufferers and colleagues get sick, some dying, some getting higher, and a few who’re nonetheless battling lengthy Covid.
It is rather arduous for me to listen to somebody, normally an anti-vaxxer, say, “They need to simply let everybody get Covid and get it over with.”
I hear this very often and my response is all the time, “Are you conversant in lengthy Covid?” I all the time get considered one of two responses: “No” or “That’s made up.” Then I attempt to educate.
Donna Hunt
Atascadero, Calif.
To the Editor:
I admire Ed Yong’s extraordinary reporting on lengthy Covid and his opinion piece concerning the well being care system’s failure to take power sickness sufferers severely. What many don’t notice is that years and even many years earlier than the pandemic induced lengthy Covid, many sufferers, together with me, struggled to search out docs and coverings for lots of the similar well being issues that lengthy Covid sufferers face.
I can’t provide you with a single identify for our sickness as a result of it doesn’t but exist. I and numerous different sufferers have a slew of diagnoses, together with autoimmune ailments, mast cell issues, connective tissue issues and dysautonomia. Many people are disabled and homebound or bedbound.
Docs for these issues had been already arduous to search out, and the surge of lengthy Covid sufferers has made accessing educated care harder. I hope the elevated demand will encourage extra docs to review and deal with these circumstances. Now that much more sufferers are struggling, we have to cease dismissing this constellation of sicknesses.
Rachel Graves
Tacoma, Wash.
Being Jewish in America
To the Editor:
Re “Why I Can’t Cease Writing About Oct. 7,” by Bret Stephens (column, Dec. 20):
American democracy has promised a land, as Mr. Stephens says, “through which you didn’t have to cover.” Mr. Stephens writes despairingly concerning the lack of this promise, and there’s little question that, in the present day, America’s promise feels distant to many. For Jews, an eroding democracy brings with it a profound sense of trauma and worry.
But essentially the most acceptable Jewish response to this problem is just not despair, however willpower. If our establishments are buckling, let’s reinforce them with boards for civic studying. If our civic tradition is fraying, let’s restore it with alternatives for dynamic and respectful dialog. If our democracy is below risk, let’s take actions that strengthen it — proper now, and in communities throughout the nation.
For practically two and a half centuries, even amid painful setbacks, america has provided one of many final, finest locations to be Jewish — not as a result of it catered to Jews, however as a result of its democratic pluralism, albeit aspirational and imperfect from the start, allowed minorities like ours a possibility to dwell freely.
When that democratic pluralism struggles, we shouldn’t prematurely mourn its loss. We must always restore it as a substitute. This isn’t naïveté; it’s the company our dad and mom and grandparents got here right here in search of.
Aaron Dorfman
New York
The author is the chief director of A Extra Excellent Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy, a community of synagogues and Jewish teams.
Black Voters, Beware the G.O.P.
To the Editor:
Re “Black Voters in Georgia Say Biden Has Forgotten Them,” by Mara Homosexual (Opinion, Dec. 24):
Ms. Homosexual cautions that Black voters in Georgia really feel ignored and deserted and will desert the Democratic Social gathering within the coming presidential election. Whereas her conclusions are extremely debatable, there isn’t any such doubt concerning the choice.
The Republican Social gathering of Donald Trump has rolled again voting rights, gerrymandered predominantly Black districts, eradicated or scaled again social applications that assist the poor and despatched federal troops to crack down on anti-racism protests.
Ought to Georgia’s Black voters go away the Democrats for the Republicans, they are going to shortly be taught the true which means of abandonment.
Tom Goodman
Philadelphia
Liz Cheney’s E-book: ‘Too Little, Too Late’
To the Editor:
It’s with some reduction that I learn Carlos Lozada’s Dec. 21 column, “Liz Cheney’s Checkered Historical past of the Trump Period.”
Ms. Cheney worries concerning the prospect of one other Donald Trump tenure within the White Home, however I fear simply as a lot about Ms. Cheney’s rush to sainthood as she plugs her new guide and her ostensibly revised views.
As Mr. Lozada reminds us, Ms. Cheney, proper together with different Trump molls and henchmen within the G.O.P., lengthy pledged obeisance to Mr. Trump. She — at least the individuals she now criticizes — received us to this terrible, scary time and place, and he or she shouldn’t get a move now for what’s at finest a transparent case of “too little, too late.”
Beth Z. Palubinsky
Philadelphia
College students Know We Want Free Speech
To the Editor:
Re “College students Can Present Us the Technique to Free Speech,” by Sophia Rosenfeld (Opinion visitor essay, Dec. 18):
Ms. Rosenfeld’s essay thoughtfully reminds us that we, because the parenting, educating and older generations, don’t all the time have higher solutions to questions on free speech than our kids and college students. Certainly, as Ms. Rosenfeld writes, “The sky actually isn’t falling.” Our youth are extra able to find cheap options than we predict.
I not too long ago attended my son’s faculty commencement. For weeks earlier than going, I loathed what I believed would absolutely be a miserable carnival of elite righteousness. As a substitute, I skilled one thing much more reassuring about our future.
I conversed with my son’s classmates to listen to their views about free speech, wokeness and training. Not surprisingly, they’re clever, insightful, compassionate, however most of all, keenly conscious of what’s damaged. They’re respectful and pleasant to one another, even once they disagree.
Now could be the time for the preachy older generations to step apart and belief the youthful generations. They’ll and are navigating the treacherous waters of our time simply wonderful.
Nao Matsukata
Bethesda, Md.
