Show kids how to be an adult by wearing a mask
Thank you for running the story, “Some Call for Looser Mandates on Masks,” in the Dec. 10 Naperville Sun, which was about some Naperville residents requesting the Naperville City Council adopt a resolution making masks optional in schools and other public places. (It’s unclear to me from the article whether they also are requesting vaccines be optional outside of schools – another terrible idea.)
Their main concern is reported to be the emotional wellbeing of children, for whom mask-wearing is apparently devastating. Not to worry – the kids see through masks much better than the rest of us. And what they are seeing that is stressful are adults failing the tests of reality and empathy when faced with a virus that is certainly not as tired of killing us as these adults are of defending against it.
As for the economy, what’s the point of going into public places if you walk into a petri dish of nonexistent or unenforced public health regulations? Why bother going to your local church, theater, school, workplace, hair salon, etc., if people tote virus infection as their AK47? “Just try and stop me exercising my inalienable right to infect whoever dares try to go about their own business!”
It may be a long haul. We’d do the kids a favor if we’d stop whining, support our public health officials, mask up and face the actual enemy – COVID-19 – together.
Zenat Vakili, Naperville
Wearing a mask not so hard if it protects people
I cannot understand why people complain so much about wearing a mask. It seems like a simple gesture to help our society.
For years, stores had signs that said, “No shoes, no shirt, no service.” No one ever complained about their individual rights being violated. People just complied because it was the right thing to do.
How about we just add masks to that list? Even if you are vaccinated you can still get a breakthrough infection or you can transmit it or you could be an asymptomatic carrier. If everyone wears a mask indoors, it will help reduce the overall spread. And don’t we all want to get rid of COVID?
Julie Federico, Naperville
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Paid leave for major illness the right thing to do
A new survey from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network makes clear that anyone who’s experienced cancer already knows we need a national paid-leave program.
The poll found 74% of cancer patients report having to miss work to undergo treatment; 69% of whom missed more than four weeks. That’s a lot of time away from work, and for at least one-third of those people, it’s some or all unpaid time off. Without paid time off, too many cancer patients and their caregivers struggle to pay bills that keep coming … even if the paycheck has stopped.
As a cancer survivor, I know what a challenge it can be and that’s why I was so glad to hear a national paid family and medical leave program was included in the Build Back Better bill that passed the U.S. House. It’s well beyond time all working Americans get some peace of mind when it comes to dealing with a serious medical diagnosis.
The U.S. Senate, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, needs to make sure this program remains intact when they consider the bill in the coming weeks. Patients and their families deserve a system that helps them balance their physical health with their financial responsibilities, especially for those who are already struggling to make ends meet.
On behalf of myself and all cancer patients, I hope the Senate does the right thing and passes paid leave into law. Millions of patients can wait no longer.
Maggie Powell
Illinois Vice-State Lead Advocate, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
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