TNT letters: Roe v. Wade; Pierce County’s Pride flag debate; celebrating Nurses Week
Roe v. Wade
The leaked documents that came down from the Supreme Court show that the court no longer represents the will of the people. The American people by a vast majority support women’s reproductive rights, to include the right to an abortion. If SCOTUS does in fact make this unspeakable ruling, as a constituent of Washington, I urge U.S. Sen. Cantwell, Sen. Murray and Rep. Strickland to announce that we in Washington state do not recognize the legitimacy of the ruling and have no confidence in the SCOTUS.
Women’s reproductive rights are human rights and their blatant partisan stance that flies in the face of the will of the people is unacceptable. Roe v. Wade must be the law of the land. Don’t let the Handmaid’s Tale become a documentary.
Daniel Bennett, Lakewood
Pride flag
Re: “Shameful veto: Pride flag should fly in Pierce County” (05/01/2022)
Tacoma is a community of many different races, ethnicities, religions, etc. The most important flag that should be flying over this community is the American flag. It unites all of us and represents the great sacrifices that have been made preserving the integrity of this country.
Placing the right for one group such as the gay Pride movement to fly its flag over this county creates a can of worms. What about a star of David flag for the Jewish community, or a Cross for the Christians, or a Black Lives Matter flag for African Americans? We are a county of many blended into one trying our best to get along.
Placing the blame on Republicans is not only unfair but illogical, and certainly threatens the unity of this community with disparate belief systems.
Sheila Marston, Tacoma
Drugs, homelessness and crime
Re: “Letters to the editor” (TNT, 05/01/2022)
Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier’s report to the Pierce County Regional Council was common sense. When I was young we did not have robberies and murders because of the consequences; now there is a slap on the wrist.
When it comes to homelessness, the solution is to get serious about the drug problem. Instead of spending thousands on apartments, build a housing development with rent based on a person’s income. I lived in a development after World War II.
No more drugs, no more homelessnes.
Mary Ann Larson, Puyallup
Nurses Week
This is my 39th year celebrating Nurses Week. Now more than ever, I appreciate the talents and commitment of nurses.
Nurses are there for you on your best and worst days. They advocate for your health decisions, even if they disagree with you. They strive to treat patients with respect even when the patient is disagreeable and disrespectful.
Nursing during the pandemic has been challenging, and our hospitals and facilities are struggling to retain these trained professionals. So this year let’s not celebrate nursing with verbal accolades, pizza parties and free doughnuts, but make real changes for nurses.
Increase dollars for nurses to get advanced degrees so more slots can open for nursing students. Pay educators equitably so that they will stay. Ensure workloads are reasonable and that employers pay attention to the mental health needs of nurses. We need nurses to stay in the profession. Creating safe and healthy working conditions is the most important way to do that.
Ultimately elected officials, employers and the higher education community are the entities that will make these changes, but you can help.
Who could you talk to, write or persuade to make these changes? That’s the best way to celebrate nurses this week.
Tami Green, Tacoma