Letters to the Editor | Feb. 9, 2023

One of the most important jobs of primary care providers is “anticipatory guidance,” i.e., information on how to stay healthy, safe, and at the far end, alive. Guidance such as: car, home, gun, and sleep safety. With teenagers, we have intense conversations about safety. We have conversations with young adults about the leading causes of death at their age, which include: suicide, homicide, car accidents, overdose, and heart health. Over the past few years, my patients have been helping me improve my guidance on the sixth leading cause of death for young Black men between the ages of 15 and 30: “I take my license out before I start my car.” “I do whatever they tell me to.” “I always let them see my hands.” “I freeze.” I use my teen experts to help other teens, as their parents unblinkingly watch their responses. Yes, the sixth leading cause of death for this demographic right after cancer, but before diabetes, is excessive police force. In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden urged Congress to “do something” about police reform. Tyre Nichols. Eric Garner. George Floyd. Brianna Grier. They deserve everything.

Daniel R. Taylor, associate professor, Drexel University College of Medicine, director, community pediatrics and child advocacy, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

After reading in The Inquirer that we are losing some Philadelphia teachers due to parking and City Council saying it can’t do much about it, I am beside myself to have watched a Philadelphia Parking Authority officer walk past an unattended Parks and Recreation van blocking a fire hydrant and not issue a ticket, while cars with expired parking meters were ticketed. Why can’t (free) permit stickers be given to teachers to ensure they have parking spaces during school hours? Teachers are as essential as police and City Council, both of whom have spaces designated for their vehicles.

K. Mayes, Philadelphia

Words have consequences and can create bias and hypocrisy. Take the Israel-Palestine conflict. The term “cycle of violence” — with echoes of a feud implying equal responsibility — is regularly seen in newspaper coverage. However, Israel is usually defending herself against terror. The recent raid in the Jenin refugee camp was designed to arrest terrorists who had killed 19 Israelis in the spring and to prevent an imminent terror attack. It is not the same as killing seven people attending a synagogue in East Jerusalem. Another inaccurate term is “occupied territory.” The West Bank was won in a defensive operation when Jordan invaded Israel in 1967. But the press regularly says Israel “seized” the West Bank. Dramatic obfuscation. Here’s the reality check: Until 1948, the West Bank was part of mandatory Palestine administered by the British to be a homeland for the Jews. It was lost only in 1948 when Jordan and other Arab countries invaded Israel when it declared independence. Consequently, it was Jordan who illegally occupied the West Bank until 1967 when it was regained by Israel. Words have consequences when they are not grounded in history. Let’s replace the term “occupied territory” with “disputed territory” and take the bias and hypocrisy out of reporting.

Pastor Charles Adams, Philadelphia

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