Letters: Benninghoff addresses Pa. lawmaker’s COVID-19 diagnosis
Concerns about lawmaker’s COVID-19 diagnosis understandable
Last week, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives informed the public he tested positive for COVID-19. A recent letter to the editor expressed great fear about this positive diagnosis. Those concerns are understandable.
I was not notified when this representative received a positive test. Like many of you, I was concerned, but was comforted that every precaution was taken, including contact tracing, self-quarantining and testing for everyone in direct contact.
When asked about this in a recent press conference, Dr. Rachel Levine confirmed that every recommended step was taken in consultation with the Department of Health to mitigate the spread.
This virus has impacted all of us. Seniors in nursing and personal care homes have died at unacceptable rates, millions of Pennsylvanians have lost their jobs, and the fear of the unknown has stopped the nation we love in its tracks. None of those things can be ignored.
Given the very real fears surrounding COVID-19, I do believe it is the responsibility of all public officials to self-disclose a positive diagnosis, which is exactly what I would do if I, myself, were to become diagnosed.
I am thankful this representative, like most who receive a positive diagnosis, experienced mild symptoms and is now fully recovered. I look forward to seeing him back in Harrisburg.
Pennsylvanians should expect transparency from their elected officials. They should also expect their elected officials to be working as hard as possible to protect vulnerable populations and begin the safe reopening of our Commonwealth.
Who will speak truth to power?
Does President Trump understand the significance of Kent State, the National Guard and the subsequent shooting of student protesters in 1970?
Do we not recognize that the three standby Minneapolis policemen who failed to stop the murder of a man in plain sight are merely mimicking the conduct of the 2020 GOP senators who fail to recognize the signs of tyranny?
In 1974, Senators Goldwater, Rhodes and Hugh Scott (Pa.) had the courage to speak truth to power when they told President Nixon that his support had evaporated.
Anyone out there ready to speak truth to power? Anyone? McConnell? Graham? Lankford?
It’s another National Guard moment and a chance to save yourself if not the country.
A simple answer — stop the killings
Stop killing unarmed black men — we all must come to these terms. In 2020 as cities across the nation are burning, many are asking why. What we are seeing is not something new. That is what gets me.
Remember Rodney King? Now just think: Since then how many unjust killings of black men at the hands of law enforcement have we witnessed? Please do not get me wrong, I believe that most cops are out there doing what they believe — that being to protect and serve. However there is a pattern here. We just witnessed an unarmed handcuffed black man get the life choked right out of him by a police officer holding his knee on his neck for around eight minutes. Another black man six years prior was choked to death by law enforcement this also was played out for the world to see. Now which is worst? Seeing businesses destroyed or seeing black men continually being killed before our eyes?
What is wrong with us? What have we become? Are we not better than this? Well, from watching the nation on fire it makes me wonder, and you should wonder too. I am one to believe that you can only kick a dog around for so long before he turns on you. So please do not attempt to flip the switch. The answer to the problem for me is simple. Just stop killing unarmed black people. Then we can go from there.