The UT protests: Pride and shame and indelible, embarrassing images | Letters

Armed officers tackling unarmed students at UT-Austin is an image that will go down in history as one of the most embarrassing episodes the state has ever witnessed.

To protest that Palestinians have the right to live is a noble gesture. It's a gesture that should be commended. Instead, these poor students were met with violence by those who are supposed to protect them.

Shame on the UT administration. Shame on the state of Texas. As a former UT student, I feel ashamed and proud. I am proud that my fellow Longhorns believe that Palestinian lives matter. I am ashamed that the administration believes that such voices should be silenced.

Huma Munir, Holly Springs

An expanded highway through center

of Austin also hurts the environment

Re: April 21 article, 'Put a 22-lane highway through Austin’s center: Not such a great idea'

Eileen McGinnis correctly points out that a 22-lane highway through the center of Austin would endanger the health of nearby residents. That’s reason enough to scrap the project.

Even worse, a 22-lane highway will inevitably increase greenhouse emissions. These emissions will impact the earth’s 8 billion humans with floods, droughts, and deadly heat waves. Our tax dollars should go to reducing greenhouse gasses, not increasing them.

Philip Russell, Austin

If we believe in healthcare for all,

neglecting hospitals isn't an option

Every citizen should be able to access 24/7/365 healthcare.

As I saw over my thirty years as an orthopedic surgeon, hospitals are the central providers of the healthcare patients count on. Across our state, they’re often the only accessible facilities that provide emergency and complex care. Access to hospitals can mean the difference between life and death, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Hospitals are on unstable footing. More than 140 have had to cut services or close. This means patients lose healthcare access, as traveling for care just isn’t feasible in some cases.

Rising healthcare costs are a system-wide problem, yet the burden falls largely on hospitals. Medicare only repays 82 cents on every dollar that hospitals spend caring for patients. This is unsustainable in any sector, let alone life-saving care.

Neglecting hospitals isn’t an option if we believe all Texans deserve high-quality care, regardless of where they live.

Paul Meriwether, Lakeway

Fight against Alzheimer's and dementias

not possible without help of volunteers

Today, in Texas, more than 459,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s, and over 1 million people are serving as their caregivers. With the size of the U.S. population age 65 and older continuing to grow, so too will the number of Texans with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

The work of the Alzheimer’s Association is more important than ever, and this work cannot be done without volunteers. During National Volunteer Week (April 21-27), the association is proud of its local volunteers making a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all dementias. Here in Central Texas, Alzheimer's Association volunteers deliver critical support and education, raise funds, and advocate to help achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

Thank you to all our volunteers. We honor all you do to help in the fight to end Alzheimer’s. Learn more at alz.org/texascapital or call 800.272.3900.

Andrea Taurins, executive director, Alzheimer's Association Capital of Texas Chapter, Austin

Look to immigrants if we wish

to fill jobs Americans don't want

I watch on as forests are burning out of control due to droughts brought on by climate change. The solution to easing the chance of fires is to clean forest floors of debris and dead wood that kindles those fires. But we don't have the manpower to fill those jobs; our country is at full employment.

So where do we find the people to fill those positions? Perhaps we need to think out of the box. The answer lies at our southern border. Let's put those people to work doing the jobs our citizens don't have an appetite for. I can't believe all of the immigrants crossing our borders are crooks, thieves or criminals. I believe most are good people, traveling many miles to escape the cartel violence, looking for safe shores and a fresh beginning for their families. Let's give them opportunity, providing them the jobs we can't seem to fill. Let them work for lower wages, providing them healthcare and education for their children.

Then in time, if they prove their worth, grant them citizenship and an opportunity to live the American dream.

Glenn Curby, Austin

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: The UT protests: Pride and shame and indelible, embarrassing images