Letters to the Editor | Jan. 31, 2023

The Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl again! The players worked so incredibly hard all season, and they deserve all of the praise and accolades that are coming their way. Seeing Jalen Hurts with a smile from ear to ear singing the fight song shows how much the victory means to the team. And the city of Philadelphia? We are part of the team, too, decked out in our shirts and sweaters and whatever we can find that is green, singing the fight song whenever and wherever we can. It’s a Philly thing. Thank you, Eagles! You have one more victory to go, and we are with you all the way!

Sheryl Kalick, Philadelphia

Recently, hospital executives asked Gov. Josh Shapiro to address nursing shortages throughout Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley regions are particularly impacted. The problem is not a shortage of qualified nurses. It’s a shortage of nurses willing to work in unsafe, punishing environments where they do not feel valued. Meaningful ways that health-care organizations can attract and retain qualified nursing professionals include: committing to standards for nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, improving work-life balance, increasing compensation for nursing assistants, and demonstrating respect for nurses’ essential role in ensuring patient safety and care quality. Too few nurses are involved in high-level, clinical decisions. Workplace violence is rising. Hospitals must understand why experienced nurses are leaving direct care, and why so many bright, eager nursing grads are abandoning the profession altogether early in their careers. It’s the conditions and culture that need to change because they’re burning out nurses, and Pennsylvania is losing talent.

Melissa Hamilton Love, RN, CRRN, Macungie

I haven’t watched the video of Tyre Nichols’ brutal murder. The words before I went to bed were nightmarish enough. As I devoured articles, I found this sentence, by historian Heather Cox Richardson, very powerful: “It seems to me I should stand aside and let Mr. Nichols represent himself. His photography is here.” She included a link to Tyre’s website: thiscaliforniakid2.wixsite.com. What a wonderful way to evoke all of our emotions and give us a glimpse of who Tyre was. The juxtaposition of her words with the violent act that resulted in a graphic video of Tyre Nichols’ murder made me “see” him through his lens and the few words he offers as well. I encourage you to do the same. Read Tyre’s mission statement. Look at his pictures. What images did he want us to see? What does his art tell us about Tyre? As we look at his pictures, what do we learn about ourselves? What pictures have we taken that might define us? What story would they tell about us? It’s hard to see the good that comes from such a violent death, but I certainly have found reflection for myself. Tyre has left us a lasting gift that aims to make the world a better place through the art of photography and the self-reflection it brings. It seems Americans are more devoted to their right to bear arms than to protecting their children from harm. We need to do better. Honor Tyre. Shoot with your camera, not a gun.

Judy Heller, Philadelphia

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