Not all politicians overlooked Alan Gross

Perhaps the most shocking thing in Nora Gamez Torres’ March 4 article, “Former political captive says Sanders questioned Cuba criticisms during prison meet,” is not Bernie Sanders’ surprise at the criticism, but that neither Sanders, Sens. Heidi Heitkamp or Jon Tester had contact with Alan Gross “before that time or after.”

They are not the only politicians who turned their backs on Gross, who was charged with spying.

When former President Jimmy Carter was preparing his visit to Cuba, I called the Carter Center in Atlanta, urging him to get Gross’ freedom. I was told Carter would not raise the issue because it was not on his agenda.

Another opportunity arose when a Cuban spy serving a prison sentence asked President Obama to allow him to travel to Cuba to visit a sick relative. Obama approved the request. At the time, Gross asked the Cuban government to allow him to visit his seriously ill mother in the United States. Unfortunately, his request was denied, and his mother died without seeing him again.

But some Americans did try to help. A petition and more than 100 smallframed photographs of Gross were distributed to senators and congressmen, an effort to keep reminding them about his plight.

Further, Bill Richardson, former ambassador to the United Nations, favored improving ties with Cuba. He knew that years earlier, Rev. Jesse Jackson met with Fidel Castro and got the release of more than 20 political prisoners. Richardson flew to Havana, but Cuban leaders he had met previously would not receive him and he came back empty-handed.

Gross, whose crime was taking satellite communication equipment and computers for Cuba’s small Jewish community, was released when President Obama returned three Cuban spies to the island.

– Frank Calzon,

Arlington, VA

A HOAX?

I listened to President Trump’s March 11 message from the White House about the coronavirus. I guess the fake news media aren’t so fake after all. I wish I could say the same about the news from our president.

– Wil Blechman, Miami

NAME AND SHAME

President Trump is very quick to blame everything on someone else. Now it’s the Europeans. He should follow some of his own advice and stay home.

If we all are supposed to sacrifice for the better good in these hard times, it’s really not appropriate for him to be holding incendiary rallies, then jetting to Florida for a golf weekend. Just another case of Do as I say, not as I do.

– Pamela Egloff,

Coconut Grove

FORGET SPRING BREAK

With colleges all over the country suspending classes and sending students home, why permit them to continue to cavort with each other in Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale for Spring Break?

Surely, ending NBA games, and having March Madness played to empty arenas, are more dramatic and devastating financially than ending an arguably superfluous party, which has now gone on long enough to satisfy those who wish to live recklessly.

On the basis of what we know so far, younger people in good health seem to withstand the virus much better than older ones.

How long that will last remains to be seen.

If administrators who are closing colleges everywhere seem unwilling to take the chance, why should we? And even if true, has anyone suggested that young people can’t infect older ones? How many of them are camping down with elderly grandparents who live in the area? It is past time to do what we can to prevent the further spread of the disease, which is 10 times more likely to produce a fatality than the already serious common flu.

– Michael Peskoe,

Miami Beach

STAY HOME

There should be a curfew for people over 60. As in Italy, they should only leave their homes for emergencies (grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.). This would protect the most vulnerable, keep hospitals open for younger people who are mostly less seriously ill with the coronavirus and would not harm the economy.

In the wealthy Italian region of Lombardy, hospital intensive-care units are full because of so many patients. Other treatments have been postponed, and many of the doctors, who are working 12 to 14 hours, are also infected.

– Monika Dettwiler,

Sunny Isles Beach

NOT TOO LATE

If China managed to build a hospital in 10 days, each major American city should be doing the same. We need strategic locations and space that can handle an additional 2,000 to 5,000 beds ready for the large group of people contaminated with COVID-19 that healthcare providers will have to manage in the coming months.

In South Florida, we should start now, before it is too late.

– David Mandelbaum,

Aventura

BERNIE’S EGO

It won’t be until Bernie Sanders truly wants to defeat President Trump more than he wants the national stage, that Democrats will have a chance to unify the party and win in November.

– Ossie Hanauer, Kendall

SUPPORT THE HELPERS

Re Leonard Pitts’ March 11 opinion, “Trump lies all the time. This time, his coronavirus lies could kill us all:” Those who do not consider themselves conservatives should stop placing the blame on President Trump and everyone who politically disagrees with them.

We need to be supportive of the Coronavirus Task Force mandated by the Trump administration, which includes the CDC, the WHO, the Institute of Infectious Diseases, the U.S. Surgeon General, world-renowned doctors, scientists, health and drug executives and Health & Human Services Secretary Dr. Alex Azar. These are exceptionally talented people who are working hard to find solutions to protect all Americans.

Consider this: Much of the information generated in late February and early March had to be rapidly updated, reevaluated and reconsidered daily as new medical and scientific information was discovered.

Criticism is petty and dangerous. Let’s be positive and supportive of everyone who is trying to help.

– Beatriz A. Ward, Miami

TINY AND DANGEROUS

Isn’t it ironic that it has taken a virus — a microscopic creature — to really prove to the world that President Trump is, has been, is and always will be an utter idiot?

A lot of us knew it from the beginning, many more know it now. Then there are those who still think this is all a hoax.

– Mario Bacallao, Miami

PRISON VISITS

For five years, I have been a volunteer teacher in the Florida prison system. Gov. DeSantis’ failure to order the Department of Corrections to take reasonable steps to minimize the introduction of the coronavirus into the prisons is a scandal of the highest order.

Weeks ago, DeSantis should have prevented visitors, including volunteers and nonessential vendors, from entering prisons and county jails.

Why? Prisons and jails are petri dishes for infectious diseases that first threaten inmates inside and then the rest of us on the outside. If the virus pops up in those facilities, then a collapse of healthcare is likely.

– Jack Thompson,

Coral Gables

TRUMP’S SELF-INTEREST

The president has put into place a travel ban from countries in Europe, except for the British Isles and Ireland. Could it be that President Trump’s golf clubs that are located there are losing money?

– Lois Kahn, Coral Gables

MORE FOR US

Since President Trump called the coronavirus a hoax and has been negligent in the federal government’s response, I suggest that anyone who intends to vote for him in November be prohibited from hoarding Purell, wipes and toilet paper so that those of us who believe in science can get some supplies.

– Will Sekoff, Miami

NO NEED TO PANIC

It seems to me that the media and the politicians are taking the Chicken Little approach to dealing with the coronavirus issue: “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!”

– I.C. Griffith, Miami

MADE THE SWITCH

With Florida’s Democratic primary coming up, how unlucky are those voters who already cast early ballots. For those of us who voted for a candidate who subsequently pulled out of the presidential race, there is a consolation.

Had I not already voted for former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg by mail, I’d now vote for Joe Biden. I’d be a Bloomberger for Biden.

– Norma A. Orovitz, Bay Harbor Islands