Bullying in Smithtown schools, Pride flag ban, homeless veterans, EpiPen, drug prices, immigration deal

‘Tolerance’ is better than ‘acceptance’

I wholeheartedly agree with most everything a reader said about the Smithtown schools letting down Michael Coppola [“Don’t subject any students to abuse,” Letters, Jan. 28]. It truly is infuriating that this harassment continues years after the Dignity Act was implemented in this state in 2012.

The writer, however, states that everyone has to accept individuals who are different. Too often in bully prevention programs we hear this. In a perfect world, yes, we would accept and celebrate our differences. But how do you enforce this in schools? What would the rules be?

For example, what if the person’s difference goes against another student’s religion? I think the better term is “tolerance”: respecting each other’s differences. I think the word tolerance has gotten a bad rap.

We can have rules about respect and dignity in schools and in the greater society. Perhaps instituting a change in language will help ease the furor and emotions that some feel by the insistence of acceptance.

— Patti Cathers, Oceanside

The writer is a bully prevention trainer and a former director of child abuse prevention programs.

Pride flags are OK? What about these?

So, a teacher wants to have a Pride flag in his high school classroom [“Connetquot schools sued over Pride flag,” News, Jan. 25]. Will he put Blue Lives Matter flags there, as well? How about MAGA flags? Trump flags? Biden flags? Israeli flags? Palestinian flags?

Every person who supports his idea should support other students’ rights for those other flags. That is the issue. You can’t have one but deny another. Therefore, I say it’s Old Glory and no other flags allowed.

— Bill Deak, Oakdale

Shutting shelter hurts homeless vets

I am ashamed and disappointed in Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and the others in town government for authorizing a tax-dollar-funded lawsuit against Suffolk County to close the United Veterans Beacon House’s shelter in Bay Shore [“Suit alleges shelter defies town law,” Our Towns, Jan. 23].

Homelessness is a crisis in our country, and we are not immune in Islip. Plenty of veterans, in particular, experience homelessness. Those without homes are usually not dangerous or a risk to children. They are people, just like us, struggling. They are our neighbors, and they deserve our compassion and our help.

I hope that our town government realizes that scorning those with the least among us is a dark path.

— Vincent Vertuccio, Sayville

Vital info for those who need EpiPens

I am the mother of an adult son with an anaphylactic peanut allergy. Two pieces of vital information need to be added to the article “Food and allergic reactions” [News, Jan. 27].

First, never count on a facility having an EpiPen. A person with an anaphylactic allergy must always carry at least one EpiPen.

Second, while the EpiPen is administered, someone should call 911. One dose of an EpiPen is to buy you time until an ambulance arrives and brings you to the hospital for follow-up treatment and observation.

If these procedures are followed, it should improve the chance of a better outcome.

— Lynn K. Roden, Massapequa

Drug prices hit our deductibles big time

It’s not just the deductibles that are problematic [“Drowning in deductibles,” LI Business, Jan. 28]. It’s also drug-pricing structures.

We’re told that newer drugs are expensive because of research and development costs. If that were the case, one would expect that the 25-milligram dose of Jardiance would be 2.5 times the price of the 10-milligram dose, although the cost to manufacture the tablets is insignificant.

Instead, the two doses cost the exact same high price for a 90-day supply. The doses, though, are such that splitting the 25-milligram tablet doesn’t yield the precise smaller dose. The patient bears the brunt of paying full price when filling that first prescription of the year.

What people are really being forced to pay for is that huge theatrical production number and the cost of airing it on so many of the nation’s television stations. What is Jardiance? It’s a little pill with a big price tag.

— Leonard Cohen, Wantagh

The writer was a hospital pharmacist for 47 years.

Killing migrant deal will increase crossings

It appears that progress was being made on a bipartisan immigration deal that might actually address this important yet divisive issue. Along comes former President Donald Trump and, all of a sudden, the Republicans want to wait it out and see whether Trump can reclaim the Oval Office “GOP’s complaints on migrants hollow,” Letters, Jan. 30].

Last month, about 165,000 migrants crossed from Mexico into the United States. If Trump is reelected, he’d take office in January 2025. At this recent rate, nearly 2 million migrants will have crossed the border. And who will Trump and the GOP blame?

— Chris Marzuk, Greenlawn