Readers sound off on regard for nurses, consumer boycotts and Trump condoms

As the crisis is over, so are the promises made to nurses

Selden, LI: Five years ago, you handed me a trash bag and a “single-use” mask to keep in a brown paper bag for 100 hours of use and sent me into a tent to fight an unknown enemy.

I was one of those who had to go to work while everyone else had to stay home safe with their families. I witnessed things I was never trained for and made choices I was never psychologically prepared to make. I broke some ribs, bagged the bodies, and piled them in a shipping pod in front of the employee entrance. I didn’t see or touch my family for weeks or months because I was afraid of what I might bring home. I was told, “The government will reimburse you for this. It will forgive the student loan debts of health care professionals, especially nurses on the front lines.”

I broke away from all the losses I witnessed. I almost killed myself several times. I fought to continue, to continue being a nurse, the ultimate definition of a professional. I listened as people denied what was happening before my eyes, and that denial has become even greater now that our sacrifice for this country has been completely forgotten. Completely erased, just like our well-deserved status as professionals. I am not seeking accolades or recognition for the role I played. I no longer even bother to correct those who deny the existence of the pandemic. But please don’t take away my right to call myself a professional. I won it with blood on both my hands. Samantha Darienzo

Unfairly neglected

Richmond Hill: It’s an absolute shame that Don Mattingly isn’t in the Hall of Fame. I could fill this page with his records. Plus, in about five minutes, I could name maybe a dozen players he belongs ahead of. I can start with designated hitters (ugh). Jeff Kent was elected and Donnie wasn’t?! To borrow the nickname given to the great Panamanian boxing champion Roberto Duran, as a defensive second baseman, Kent was “Manos de Piedra.” Joe Napoleone

Retention tension

Hicksville, LI: As the “hot” baseball season heats up, I have a question about the Mets. After going 17 games below .500 for two-thirds of the season, how come three superstars and fan favorites are gone while Carlos Mendoza is still the manager? Steven Malinofsky

Irregularity window

Dartmouth, Massachusetts: There will probably never be a better time to come forward and confess your sins, illegal activities, or express your racist sympathies. As one elected official, celebrity, and industry titan is exposed one after the other in published documents, court and congressional committee testimony, or included in an aide’s confession, there is a diminishing sense of shame or public outcry. Perversions, thefts, falsified research, betrayals and illegalities ooze from every American institution. Academia, government, the arts, medicine, the justice system, and the financial sector have all had respected members exposed for recent corruption or historical misconduct. When the public is inundated with revelations that would normally have torpedoed the careers or reputations of these men and women, they pay only momentary attention and a diminished sense of shame. If there was ever a perfect time to fess up and not be held accountable, this is it. Betty Ussach

White people are welcome

Manhattan: Bring in the Swedes / Bring in the Norwegians / Bring in the Danes / They all come from white areas / Send in the French and the Germans / But only the Caucasians / To brighten up our country / And keep the black and brown invasions out / It’s my Trumpian whitewashing of America / Spare me the Blacklash / You don’t need to apply / Unless you’re white and have a lot of money / I’m changing the appearance / Of the appearance of our country / All immigrants will be held / At a very strict membership / Stick to my rules / And all newcomers who show up on our shores / Will be rich, pale and respectable / No criminals, rapists, dark skin, thugs or shady whores / Anyone who is woke / Or who believes in diversity / Is darker than ecru / Will be universally banned. Phoebe Celentano

Chief Criminal

Windsor, Conn.: To the Megaphone Joseph Beyhl: When you call someone “criminal and stupid,” as you did in your letter about Mysonne Linen, an appointee of New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a member of the transition committee, most readers associate the adjectives criminal and stupid with President Trump, who won those titles. Please give credit where credit is due. As for Linen being a criminal, all he has to do is send Trump a million dollars in an untraceable cryptocurrency transaction to allow Trump to grant him a full pardon. Jonathan Brewster

Spend strategically

Kitchener, Ontario: American consumers are fed up with giant corporations using their market power to jack up prices on everything from groceries and household items to health insurance and streaming services (with Trump’s tariffs as the latest excuse). But consumers are now using their own market power to fight back, especially against companies that sell out their freedom to play with Trump. An ongoing boycott of Target for rolling back its DEI policies and dropping its Pride products is seriously hurting its sales. For four days of the Black Friday weekend, consumers boycotted not only Target, but also Home Depot (for allowing ICE sweeps in their parking lots) and Amazon (for its poor working conditions and union busting in its warehouses). These boycotts were a practice for larger and better organized efforts. I hope many more Americans will use their economic influence to make corporations pay for joining the Trump regime. Al-Daigen

Electoral pressure

Snohomish, Wash.: Thank you for this common-sense editorial on the importance of preventing rising health care costs and the damage caused by Congressional inaction (“The GOP’s Obamacare Price Spike,” Dec. 12). It’s not hard to see where the priorities lie when it would cost $350 billion to maintain the subsidies for 10 years and the majority voted against it. Meanwhile, tax cuts for the rich will cost $4 trillion over the next 10 years. We can talk to those who represent us and tell them that this is wrong. Pass legislation that will keep all Americans healthy, fed, and housed. This is a political decision on which we can base our votes. Willie Dickerson

Left turn

Howard Beach: America, what’s wrong with you? Fifty years from now, Americans will say, “We have had the best and worst presidents in American history.” “We should all thank God that we have a president who protects us, cares for us, and most importantly, does what he must to save us all from enemies within and far away. There are now two types of democrats: socialists and old-fashioned. Little by little, socialists are invading America. They are pushing back against the Democrats the old fashion way while lying to the American people that Republicans should not be believed. Open your eyes, America, the Socialist Party is not your friend. They will use you until they own you. Wake up and smell the coffee! Nicolas Di Pasquale

Right rubbers

Scarsdale, New York: Hey, beat inflation – get your vintage Trump condoms, on sale now. The perfect holiday gift. Do you have to sign it? $1 more. Harvey Wielstein

Bravo for the planet

Brookfield, Wisconsin: Well, hello to you, Santa Claus (voice Eric C. Lindstrom)! I loved hearing that you made a “good change” by going vegan and moving away from animal exploitation. You took your reindeer off their annual run, upgraded to an electric sled, and generally spread compassion. You avoid meat and fish! Since it takes 39 pounds of plants to produce one pound of beef, your nice change leaves most of those 39 pounds for others. Typical Santa behavior! And when all the boys and girls of the world join your change, we will return 40% of the Earth (now used for livestock grazing and fodder plantations) to nature – enough nature to totally reverse current climate breakdown. If only Trump and Governor Hochul felt your kind of compassion and took the lead in building methane-free buildings and fending off methane pipeline attacks on our children’s health! Mary Pat Dries