Recognizing unsung heros
While politicians and those in the media are busy congratulating themselves and each other for the historic Nov. 7 election, and with humble respect to the many patriots who served and sacrificed for our country, I’d like to point out some unsung heroes.
This month we witnessed an election in which the American people took back their government. Those election results were, in part, made possible by thousands of volunteers and letter-writers across the country. Ignoring indifference and scorn from family and neighbors, those volunteers and letter-writers, in their own ways, soldiered on. Their focus and intent helped make America a better country.
It doesn’t matter on which side of the issues they stood; what matters is that they stood up for what they believed. Theirs were the drops of rain that became a mighty torrent. And this historic election is their legacy to future generations of Americans.
So these volunteers and letter-writers have reminded the politicians and media, in the words of the late Woody Guthrie, “This land is your land, this land is my land .” And perhaps the politicians and media will remember who really owns the joint, at least for a little while.
Creigh Shank
Little Rock, Ark.
An alternative to lasik
Ethan Ly is probably more a victim of a “high volume practice mode” than discrimination (“Lasik surgeon refuses to operate on HIV-positive clients,” Dallas Voice, Nov. 3).
When a person is or has potentially been exposed to any blood-borne pathogen such as HIV, Hepatitis A,B,or C the extra precautions that the surgeon would have to take both pre- and post-operatively would cause the wheel to stop. There are universal precautions every one takes for every patient. Then there are the extra precautions that must be taken for any patient with a serum/blood-borne contagious pathogen.
I am not defending Dr. Boothe far from it, in fact. He operates on high volume and he does not like complications. So consequently, anything that would slow down productivity is not desirable.
When you cut the cornea during lasik, if the person has been a contact lens-wearer, there is always the distinct possibility that there will be a blood vessel or two cut, therefore bleeding will occur. Where there is blood involved, any surgical instrument coming into contact with the blood/tear field of the patient warrants minimal sterilization at least. But most surgeons operating on a contagious patient will also break down the entire piece of equipment and sterilize each individual part.
For and HIV-positive person or any other person who would want a refractive surgery, the far more desirable surgery available that does not involve cutting the cornea or blood is the Procedure known as PRK or eLasek.This is the procedure the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force all prefer for pilots, SEALS, special forces members, rangers and commandos. These people are prohibited from having lasik.
Dr. Mark Shear, owner
Preston Family Eye Care
Dallas
To Send a Letter
We welcome letters from readers. Shorter letters are more likely to be printed, as are those that address only a single topic. On some weeks we receive more letters than we can print. In that case, we print a representative sample. Letters are subject to editing for length and clarity, but we attempt to maintain the writer’s substance and tone. Include your home address and a daytime phone number for verification. Send letters to the senior editor, preferably by e-mail (editor@dallasvoice.com). Letters also may be faxed (214-969-7271) or mailed (Dallas Voice, 4145 Travis St., Third Floor, Dallas, TX 72504).
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, November 17, 2006.