Thank you so much for the refreshing commentary by Willie Wilson on Dec. 18, “What Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ mean to me.” We are bombarded with heartbreaking news almost daily. We need to remember that Jesus is the light of the world and he brings light into darkness. In John 16:33 , Jesus says “You will have suffering in this world. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” He will be with us through all pain and suffering. As always, Wilson ends his op-ed with some excellent application points on making Christ’s love visible. I especially appreciated: “Do more listening than talking.” How important, as we enter the holidays, to listen and remember to respect others by giving them our full attention. Also, “express kindness and love toward someone.” Just as Jesus does for us every day. Merry Christmas. — Cathy Rennau, Oak Park Immigrant’s story Christmas and Easter are the two most important Christian holidays of the year. Many may not know that the two popular holiday songs “White Christmas” and “Easter Parade” were both written by a Russian-born Jewish immigrant named Israel Baline, better known as Irving Berlin. Berlin was 5 years old when his family’s village in Russia was burned to the ground by Cossacks. He and his family immigrated to America, where Berlin later wrote the American classic “God Bless America” to express his deep gratitude to the country that took his family in. In Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, white “Christian” nationalists chanted, “Jews will not replace us.” I wonder if they realize that three of the most popular American songs of all time, fully embraced and cherished by many Christians in our American culture, were all written by a Jewish immigrant. We might do well to remember that, with the exception of Native Americans, we are all immigrants or their descendants. Amen. — Bob Chimis, Elmwood Park Bring back kindness I ask everyone to start their New Year’s resolutions with “Be kind.” To family, friends, co-workers, other drivers, pedestrians, workers on the street, those not as fortunate as you and, yes, those who might have a different opinion than you do. Some believe that kindness is an act of weakness. The opposite is true. Great leaders lead with kindness, which is actually leading with strength. Kindness is lacking in the world today, and we need to get it back as everyone’s top priority. — Fred Hausmann, Tinley Park Everyone contributes Professor Dawn S. Brown’s op-ed really resonated with me (“Who gets invited to the table? Holiday gatherings offer a lesson in leadership,” Dec. 22). In order for family, charitable and professional gatherings to be meaningful, invitations should be inclusive, and each individual should bring something or add something to the success of those assembled. It’s “ownership” and civil participation that make them meaningful, productive and/or fun. — Ronnie Jo Sokol, Chicago Ring the doorbell In response to the editorial about porch piracy (“Porch piracy is costly and frustrating. And Chicagoland is a hotbed of parcel theft,” Dec. 14), I have a modest proposal for reducing such thefts: All those delivering packages should ring the doorbell so we can retrieve them before they’re stolen. The post office generally does ring doorbells. But commercial companies don’t always do so, particularly not Amazon. I have requested this in my account profile. I try to complain about it in feedback request emails. But Amazon doesn’t provide a way to complain specifically about this issue. (You only get to check the “other problem “ box.) Amazon apparently expects us to continuously check our email to discover that a package has been delivered. I have better things to do. This is one of several reasons why I avoid buying from Amazon when I can. — Judith Alexander, Oak Park Theft of packages The convenience of having items shipped to our front doors is a plus and a minus for shoppers. The impact of package theft is a major bummer for victims of this type of crime, especially during the holiday season. Small businesses are also among the many victims. However, some things can be done to safeguard home deliveries. A well-placed security camera is one of the most effective deterrents for would-be package thieves, or “porch pirates.” The mere presence of a security camera can make a potential thief think twice. Always use package tracking. Most carriers enable customers to check the status and approximate time a package will be delivered. Require a signature for delivery. This will ensure that a package will be safely delivered. People who frequently use a package delivery service should seriously consider package delivery insurance. A lockbox is another good tool to protect deliveries. All delivery services are familiar with the use of a lockbox. Request deliveries be sent to another location that is convenient. For instance, a workplace or the home of a relative or a neighbor is a good alternative because someone will be there to receive them safely. People living in multidwelling buildings should never buzz anyone into the building unless they are absolutely sure they know the person. Also, when entering a building that requires buzzer access, never allow anyone else inside unless the person’s identity is known. Never leave packages in an automobile where they can be seen from the outside. Never place purchases inside a vehicle in order to continue shopping in other stores. Thieves are always watching. Upon entering a vehicle after shopping, never delay in starting the vehicle. Don’t idle while talking on the phone or checking messages. After entering a vehicle, lock it immediately and always be alert to your surroundings. Most stores will provide an escort to a customer’s vehicle upon request. The holidays are always a time to celebrate, but they’re also a time to be careful. — Bob Angone, retired Chicago police lieutenant, Austin, Texas Law enforcement I hope that in the new year, people realize that the men and women in law enforcement are the good guys. They knock on your door because you called for help, and they pursue those who break the law. Nothing more, nothing less. — Roberto L. Garcia, Chicago RSV vaccination The recent Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) announcement regarding the removal of prior authorization requirements for a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine marks a significant victory in our ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable populations from respiratory disease. HFS has taken an essential step toward improving vaccine access for those who need it most by removing the requirements for additional documentation of informed consent and prior authorization for the Abrysvo vaccine. This important change will undoubtedly improve access to care and save lives. This new policy will particularly benefit high-risk populations, including pregnant individuals during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy; adults ages 50 to 74 at increased risk of severe RSV disease; and all adults age 75 and older. RSV is a common yet potentially severe virus that affects the lungs, leading to coldlike symptoms. While it typically resolves on its own, RSV can lead to serious complications for high-risk groups, including young children, the elderly and individuals with compromised immune systems. RSV is the most common cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants. It is critical that these groups are protected from this virus. By streamlining access to the RSV vaccine, we can address the alarming disparities in vaccination rates that currently exist in Illinois. Recent data indicates that immunization coverage among high-risk groups is shockingly low — only 33.6% of infants under 8 months and 30.6% of adults over 75 have received the vaccine. These figures highlight a pressing need for targeted efforts to increase vaccination rates, particularly among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults, as well as those with lower income and education levels. While this is an important step forward, there is still more to be done. We must continue to advocate for equitable access to health care resources and ensure that all communities, especially the most vulnerable, are informed about the benefits of RSV vaccination. Having better access to vaccines is a significant step forward. However, we need to go further to work alongside health care providers, community organizations, and public health officials to promote vaccine literacy and outreach. Now, let’s build on this success by continuing to educate the public with the truth about vaccines. — Erica Salem, Respiratory Health Association, Chicago Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected]. ...read more read less