Lack of professionalism on display in NFL bullying case

The NFL Players Association is in the process of looking into the Miami Dolphins bullying situation, after tackle Jonathan Martin left the team claiming he had been harassed by his teammates, among them guard Richie Incognito.

Whatever happens in the investigation, the utter lack of professionalism in the NFL has been completely exposed to anyone who held the delusion it is a friendly work environment. For a long time “hazing” rookies has been a part of the culture in the NFL, and this fact is used as a defense of Incognito. In other lines of work, Incognito’s actions would result in undeniable termination, if not legal charges. It would not matter how good he was at his job.

What the NFLPA needs to focus on is phasing bullying and hazing out of the NFL’s culture, because the players should be subject to the same norms as other workers. Curtis Schuelke,

Livonia, Mich.

Fight epidemics

On Dec. 3, world leaders will meet in Washington to decide whether we constrain three of the world’s deadliest pandemics or allow them to regain the upper hand.

At this conference, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is seeking $15 billion to save 10 million lives and execute a strategy to defeat these three diseases.

There is a clear choice: invest in a plan to end these epidemics, or pass on a historic opportunity to tackle two ancient killers, malaria and tuberculosis, and the modern plague of HIV/AIDS.

Since its establishment in 2002, the Global Fund has helped 5.3 million people receive anti-retroviral therapy, detect and treat 11 million cases of TB and distribute 340 million insecticide-treated bed nets.

The U.S. has taken leadership by committing to host the donor conference. But to ensure its success, the U.S. must pledge $5 billion to the Global Fund over the next three years so other nations feel compelled to be bold in their pledges.

As Dr. Mark Dybul, executive director of the Global Fund, has said, “we have a choice: We can invest now, or pay forever.”

Jeff Hopkins, Lindenhurst