Letters to the Editor

A trip to Wal-Mart

W ell, the weekend came and I had my list of honey do’s. I started with replacing the bathroom door handle. So, off to the big hardware store on the north end of town. Bought me a new shining door handle (made in China). Got the job completed and realized I should replace the hinges. I just went down to the local family-owned hardware store and bought a pair of hinges (made in China). Well, since I’m here, I probably should get a new drill bit (made in China).

Got all my do’s done so now it was time to balance the check book from spending my money. Wouldn’t you know it, the calculator stopped working. Off to the electronics store to buy a new top-notch calculator (made in China).

On Sunday, we drove the many miles to Paso Robles to the store with a happy face. Bought me a new tea kettle (made in China). So my question for Tom Comar and Deb Buckler: Where in Atascadero can I shop that has only American-made items?

Also in my travels, I found out that the happy-face store pays its workers the same or more as the other stores I visited last weekend.

Good day!

Leroy Brown

Atascadero

Continuing endless war

An April 16 article on Page A3 contained one paragraph that brought an instant and sobering image to my mind.

Our military moved into south Sadr City, an area that has been used by militias to fire rockets toward the Green Zone.

Suddenly, the Green Zone looked like Israel, planted in the middle of the Arab world by the West, with rockets being fired across her borders by elusive militias. Not welcome, viewed as a squatter by some, as an invader by others, as an enemy by many, needing to defend herself violently, relentlessly and ... endlessly.

Endlessly. Is that what we have gotten ourselves into? Is that what we must stay the course for? A sobering image.

Christine Ahern

Los Osos

Attacks on ASH staff

I was very pleased to see The Tribune reporting on the recent escalation of patient-on- patient violence at Atascadero State Hospital — no doubt because of the recent murder of a patient there. The numbers speak for themselves.

I was disheartened, however, to see no mention whatsoever of patient assaults on staff. I have to wonder, was this merely an oversight on the part of The Tribune or are no data being provided to you?

Many brutal attacks on doctors, nurses, psychiatric technicians and other level of care staff occur on an almost daily basis at ASH—and yet again and again they go virtually unreported by The Tribune. Why is this?

Many good-intentioned, hard-working employees have left the hospital because of these serious assaults over the years, and those numbers also appear to be escalating. Many dedicated staff stay on in spite of being hit, kicked and spit upon again and again by these violent men. These are the undeniable facts. Telling these staff “you don’t have to work there” or “it’s just part of the job, get over it” or to pretending it is not even happening is unthinkable, unethical and unacceptable.

Tom Bolton

Atascadero

Election a lost cause

However your vote goes in November, the sad fact is that you’ve already lost.

Remember the “debates” with hopefuls from both parties filling the stage? A few of the candidates spoke to real issues and made genuine proposals. But those were the candidates the cameras slid away from. Moderators barely allowed them to finish a sentence.

Sensing the entertainment possibilities of conflict and drama among Clinton, Obama and a hovering ex-president, the media managed to “vanish” the rest of the Democrats.

The Republicans presented more of a challenge, but McCain has begun being colorful just in time.

Perhaps one of the three would have been your first choice in any case. But you lose, too, when major media stacks the deck.

Mary Serfozo

Paso Robles

More cancer resources

Thanks to Ruth Ann Angus and reporter Sarah Arnquist for their meaningful series on “Confronting Cancer.” Ruth Ann’s gutsy and truthful story will help many.

Please add Hospice of San Luis Obispo County as another community resource.

We offer no-fee wellness support groups for those living with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses and separate groups for family and friends.

We often follow our clients for five years or longer as they undergo chemotherapy, radiation treatment, clinical trials or as they transition into remission, cure or the end of life. There is a healing component in what group clients give to each other through mutual encouragement, sharing stories and information, laughter and always hope for the best quality of life possible.

Donna Kean

Hospice of San Luis Obispo County