People need to care beyond themselves

I am writing in response to two letter writers, Allen Johnson of Rogers and Brad Welch of Fayetteville, to the newspaper on May 21. Both were lamenting our state’s response to the covid-19 virus.

Yes, it’s been quite difficult — most especially for those who lost a loved one made even more painful because they could not be with them during their last hours. And for those who suddenly found themselves without income because their job disappeared or their business was closed, this has been a particularly frightening situation — made more challenging because no one knows what the future will bring.

The “suffering” of my two fellow Northwest Arkansas citizens is especially egregious, one complaining about the number of obese folks who have grown “soft … thus ruining a way of life,” and the other because we collectively have not stormed the Capitol to show how tough we are.

Yes, we do have a large number of obese folks. Unfortunately many of these do not have the money for or access to buy quality food. Empty calorie foods stoked by sugar are served on far too many tables. (Bought fresh veggies at your Dollar Store lately?)

As for Arkansas citizens taking to the street to protest, I believe most of us were taught to respect those in authority who deserve respect. Certainly our governor, who has done his level best to keep the state from having many more deaths, deserves our respect. Remember most of our workplaces were kept open during this time.

I grew up during World War II and know from firsthand experience that times of extreme crisis call for extreme measures. Complaining about not being able to go to a restaurant without wearing a mask tells me Mr. Welch could not have survived without his sugar rations. How pitiful.

As to “people with medical issues,” my age automatically puts me in that category. However, I take measures to be safe by wearing a mask when I go once a week to do my grocery shopping. It’s sad to see those who do not care for anyone but themselves and the statement they are trying to make not practicing common courtesy by doing the same. Guess they have forgotten the lessons their momma taught them.

To my fellow citizens who have and are trying to protect the rest of us by wearing masks, thank you.

PHYLLIS JOHNSON Springdale