Remembering those we have lost in COVID-19 pandemic
List of names
During this pandemic as I listen to news, read newspapers and watch television stations reporting the latest information on COVID-19, I applaud the Houston Chronicle for devoting two entire pages daily to the most recent statistics. Daily, we follow new cases, those who have recovered and those who have died. What strikes me as missing are the names of those who have died from this deadly virus, a virus that has now taken the lives of more human beings than the entire Vietnam War.
In today’s world, the focus appears to be less on honoring those who have lost their lives by naming them than by counting them. Every sister who has lost a brother, every wife who has lost a husband or husband who has lost a wife, or parent who has lost a child grieves and because of distancing right now, their grieving is isolated.
If we can devote two pages to the statistical analysis of this pandemic on a daily basis, could we not also list the names of those who have passed from us in this city? I am not talking about an obituary, but rather a listing of those who have passed daily, weekly or monthly. Pat Williams, Houston names are confirmed through other means, and those stories will soon be grouped together on a special page on houstonchronicle.com. The Houston Chronicle also will publish a package of stories on victims in an upcoming Sunday newspaper. — Michael Lindenberger, deputy opinion editor.
Pulitzer Prizes
Regarding “Pulitzers laud Palestine paper, Houstonians,” (A1, May 5): Kudos to the Houston Chronicle for front-page coverage of the Pulitzer Prize to the Palestine Herald-Press editor, Jeffery Gerritt, for exposing the sordid conditions at county jails.
I’m reminded of the immortal words of our third president, Thomas Jefferson, who said, “Were it up to me to decide whether we should have government with no newspapers or newspapers without government, I would not hesitate a moment to choose the latter.” Gabriel M. Gelb, Houston
Exoneration
Regarding “11 years later, officials agree he’s innocent,” (A1, May 5): District Attorney Kim Ogg’s second exoneration of a wrongly convicted person gives hope to all Houstonians that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” God’s blessings be upon James Harris, held 11 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. I hope that state reparations come to him quickly.
Editor’s note: The names of COVID-19 victims are not routinely made available to the public by any government official, unless in the rare case of a death being reviewed by a medical examiner. The newsroom, however, has been writing about victims whose