The need for compassion

Dear Editor:

I consider myself one of the fortunate citizens. I did not need my surgeries until I was under Medicare. Our schools in West Virginia were segregated, but I lived in a suburban area and got a reasonably good education. Services in town were segregated and inferior on “the other side” of town. But, I had mine.

At the time, I did not understand or acknowledge the suffering of those who were not so fortunate. I was like a horse with blinders and did not see that the lack or health care, incarceration of multitudes of citizens, easy access to drugs and alcohol were affecting our citizens and country. I had no compassion.

I began to wake up and see the need for reform. I learned that the lack of health care in America was worse than ever. A recent Harvard study found nearly 45,000 excess deaths occur annually due to a lack of health treatment. Millions lack health services, including dental and mental health care.

Black youth attending many inner city schools see no way out and know they face incarceration and feel powerless. Some see weapons, drugs and alcohol as opportunities to become gang leaders and get addicted into a lifetime of crime and incarceration. They reach this condition knowing that their education has been lacking.

Wake up, America, and have the compassion to promote change before the well-being of our citizens continues to impair our nation.

Donald B. Bearden