Letters to the Editor | June 20, 2023

A letter writer opines that it is in bad taste to compare 2023 Florida to 1930s Germany, calling an editorial cartoon as “incredibly offensive and inappropriate” as Scott Adams’ comments that Black people were a “hate group” that white people should “keep the hell away from.” Let’s take a look. In the 1930s, the German government banned books the party disagreed with, dismissed opponents from official positions, and banned opposition political parties.

Florida is banning books that present views of Black and LGBTQ people that the governor disagrees with, has dismissed an elected state official at the governor’s whim (state attorney Andrew Warren), and its legislature recently introduced a law to ban the Democratic Party. While the comparison is inexact (there has not yet been a Kristallnacht or Nuremberg Laws in Florida), there are surely enough red flags to frighten a reasonable supporter of democracy.

Kenneth Gorelick, Wayne

Columnist Will Bunch opines that no man is above the law with the second indictment of the previous occupant of the White House. But before he became president, Donald Trump was involved in more than 4,000 lawsuits. Of those, how many never saw the inside of a courtroom, as the litigant did not have the financial resources to withstand the endless delays? Could it be that the former occupant will delay the second indictment and win the White House in 2024? He could end the investigation and pardon the U.S. Capitol rioters. It appears those with financial resources can use the legal system to delay or evade justice. If Trump was to win reelection, he may avoid accountability altogether. Proving that some men are not equal and are above the law.

Joel H. Beldner, Glenmoore

U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 list of “Most Diverse Medical Schools” is another reminder of why institutions of higher education must prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion. Confronting health inequities head-on is of paramount importance — and in many ways, this starts with the training and education we provide for future health professionals of all races and ethnicities. In medical education, this means we must enhance opportunities for underrepresented students, prioritize health equity throughout our curriculum, and promote shared responsibility for equitable outcomes.

Nurturing a diverse learning environment isn’t only about respecting and celebrating differences within our community. It is also a necessary and appropriate response to persistent and well-documented health disparities that have deadly consequences for people of color and other vulnerable populations. Regardless of any school’s placement on (or off) the list — PCOM and a growing number of institutions have declined to participate in certain rankings — we can all strive to improve the efficacy of our DEI programs. We have a very diverse society; we need to have a diverse student body so patients can eventually see physicians and health-care providers who look like them. This is proven to improve health outcomes. There are lists to consider, but more importantly, there are lives to save.

Jay S. Feldstein, president and CEO, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

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