Viewpoints

To the Editor:

The absolute and undisputable key factor for this upcoming school year is flexibility. Students, parents, staff and the entire Eastern Allamakee Community will need to exercise a degree of “flow” in all aspects of the return to school this August.

Black and white may be the preferred norm for many, but it cannot and will not work in this time. It is important to safely open schools this fall, and we have been preparing for that. The navigation of the school year during a pandemic means that we will need to be flexible and be able to change on a dime when necessary.

To the Editor:

March 16, 2020, I visited Mom at a local nursing home. A couple days later, I stopped again and was not allowed in. The next time I was allowed in was 137 days later. The only way I got in was because Mom was on her deathbed. Approximately 27 hours later she passed. She was non-responsive for 98% of that time.

How would you feel if you were not allowed to enter your Mom’s room for 137 days and when you were finally allowed in, it was too late. During that 137 days, your Mom was not allowed to have anyone come in and visit her. Would you like to be forced to live like that?

To the Editor:

How does the visitation go for you with your loved one at a nursing home or assisted living? Are you able to see them in-person or through a window (a clear wall) or by screen (computers, cellphones and tablets)? Is this the new ‘norm’ for loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living centers?

If saying this is the new ‘norm’ for today’s life, are we supposed to just accept or deal with it when companionship is part of life? This way of life is keeping children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends away from holding a hand or giving a hug to their loved one. These individuals worked, had a family, endured many of life’s struggles and joys, involved in our communities (some even building our communities), and/or so forth when they were young. And the reward is confinement, isolation, and distant viewings of loved ones that persists due to COVID-19.

To the Editor:

It’s often said that education is the silver bullet. If we want to break cycles of poverty and give future generations a better chance of success, they need to be well educated.

With everything going on with education and schools currently, there’s one issue I challenge you not to forget about: foster kids. Imagine how difficult this is for your family and your children and then imagine how difficult this must be for them.

Children in the foster care system can end up in multiple homes throughout the year. Oftentimes, when a child moves placements, they move schools as well. Transitioning from school to school only compounds the chaos of life in the foster care system, making a quality education nearly impossible for these kids.

To the Editor:

I am sure that many people had read the Letter to the Editor in the recent issue of The Standard. I did too, and I thought it may be worthwhile to let everyone know the perspective of someone who is living in this lockdown state and how it really is affecting an actual resident of an assisted living facility. Likewise, the same as a nursing home, hospital, etc.

What do the Board of Public Health, CDC and state leaders think they are accomplishing by having facilities like these on lockdown? I have been a tenant at Southcrest Assisted Living in Waukon since mid-February. When I moved in, we as residents were playing cards, Bingo, listening to local bands, singing, laughing and having fun. Unfortunately, not anymore!

The Word of the Day is SUFFERING

A reflection by Rev. Diane Koshmeder

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it;
if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
—1 Corinthians 12:26

SUFFERING. I don’t like it. I’m sure you don’t like it either. It’s not fun and self-pity comes easily. SUFFERING might be an inconvenience like wearing a mask in public or the trauma of losing a child to violence. Theologians have asserted that “Why is there suffering?” is the #1 question we ask God. And there is no satisfactory answer.

Maybe a feeling of peace, feeling God’s presence through our SUFFERING, but not an answer as such.

To the Editor:

I so often hear statements that make me wonder about people’s priorities. I’m not getting much of a chance to visit with people about their priorities right now, so the best I can do is try to explain mine and hope someone will help me understand.

For me, life is the greatest priority, followed very closely by the dignity of the human person. When someone refuses to wear a mask because it takes away their freedom, they are telling us they care more about their personal freedom than they do about their life or mine.

When they say they don’t believe the science that says masks help, it tells me they don’t believe in the way nature works, including a virus. Science is, after all, the study of nature, of the way things work according to their very nature - the way they were made.

To the Editor:

I recently had the privilege of working at the Winneshiek County 4-H dog show. In fact, I have helped out numerous times, even as a judge.

This past week, I was immediately impressed with the COVID-19 precautions that were taken that enabled this senior to feel safe: everyone in the Show Barn wore masks; social distancing was practiced for six hours; hand sanitizer and hand washing stations were readily available; one adult per exhibitor was allowed; check-in was required to access the grounds.

I especially noted how these young people followed all precautions taken in showing their dogs in performance events. I witnessed that mask wearing can be done in the best interest of all involved. In fact, when I saw photos of the dog show in the Decorah newspaper, all exhibitors wore masks and they were socially distanced.

To the Editor:

I would like to share some facts and information with the public about the Freedom Rock.

It is my understanding that Ardie Kuhse commissioned the artist (Bubba Sorensen) to do a Freedom Rock for “us” here in Allamakee County. Ardie submitted a lot of the requirements needed to start the Freedom Rock project. She says she started this project back in 2016.

With that being said, only a few choice people heard about it until recently when its deadline is fast approaching. She mentioned previously about putting it in her husband’s hometown but was persuaded out of that and into putting it in the county seat, which is Waukon. She has a place picked out at our city park. She noted there was a lot of parking, restrooms, picnic areas along with space to develop and enhance the scope (landscaping) of the tourism project.

To the Editor:

Do you have or know someone in a nursing home?  Are they allowing any type of visits?

I agree that we need to take COVID-19 seriously.  In the beginning, it was necessary to lock down nursing homes. However, we cannot lock people up for five months, plus how much longer and merely say, “We’re doing this for your safety.”

Long-term isolation is detrimental to everyone, especially the elderly. The elderly are at a high risk for physical and mental decline if forced to live in isolation away from those who are most important to them.