In response to Fred Ryan`s Dispatches column January 13, "Stopping Covid-19…with Valium?" he betrays his own criticism of everyone’s "past-time to comment" by publishing his own opinions. I will add a few of my own!
In response to Fred Ryan`s Dispatches column January 13, "Stopping Covid-19…with Valium?" he betrays his own criticism of everyone’s "past-time to comment" by publishing his own opinions. I will add a few of my own!
"Pontificating" himself, he is entitled to his views, as we all are. I hope everybody takes his example, and continues to express their opinions to our so-called "professionals." Education does not equal intelligence. A university degree doesn’t make them immune to mistakes or bad decisions. To be human is to make mistakes.
Where would we be had nobody questioned early medicine, astrology, science or even politics? Not questioning decisions by early physicians, or nuclear scientists in the past 75 years would have led us to certain demise. We need to become better, if not to find better solutions, then to find proof of their effectiveness. "Professionals", like Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security,
claim there isn’t proof a curfew will make a significant impact on stopping the spread of COVID-19; there are better means of protecting everyone, including seniors, than to put everyone in a lockdown. We—sorry—the experts haven’t found the ideal solutions yet. The current measures are the professionals’ best shots, but a single plan will never be "the simple solution." We must remain fluid and change constantly. A simple virus does this to survive. This can only be accomplished by trying something new, in different locations. What we have been doing simply isn’t working. At least not fast enough.
I urge everyone to continue questioning medical professionals and especially elected officials, if only to remind them we are watching and that these politicians are there to serve the people.
I agree we all need to massage our tensions, be kind to one another, and find patience…but without Valium. If Ryan wishes to follow his own advice of "careful consideration with a closed mouth," be my guest. I certainly won’t.
Bernard St-Aubin
PONTIAC
