Aging sneaks up on you, and ‘time is up’ for Joe Biden | Opinion
Age question
I’m a retired 82-year-old surgeon who had a 38-year medical practice, during which I would multi-task from daylight until dark. Both of my parents died at 81, and my brother recently died at 83. Since then, I’ve been keenly aware of the years a person goes through between 80 and 82.
The physical changes, by natural aging, are decrease in skin turgor, loss of muscle mass, degenerative joint disease, and a variety of medical issues.
What is more disconcerting is the brain deterioration with short-term memory loss, loss of vocabulary, difficulty with simple calculations and problem-solving. This is not necessarily full-blown Alzheimer’s Disease, but natural dementia that occurs with aging. It’s irreversible and only worsens with time.
These changes can creep in usually over a period of years, giving the person a sense that things are still “OK.” At some point, however, there’s a point where things are not OK. Some jobs require a person to be on the top of their game at all times. The presidency is one of these.
This is the case for President Joe Biden, who has been a competent, beloved and compassionate president. Coming out of the 81-year threshold myself, I can tell you I could not resume my medical practice. Biden should come to a similar conclusion.
It’s time to recognize that time is up, cut losses and get a younger, Joe-like candidate to defeat the unfit and vile former President Donald Trump.
John M. Fox, M.D., Lexington
Real issues
Is the news media serving its readers? By this I mean, is the reporting reflecting what citizens believe is important? We have been inundated with election projections for months and months. We see focus on the president’s performance in a debate, which was a media created event. After which the media, in a frenzy of self-congratulations, repeatedly asks if the president will drop out of the race. I believe he said no. END OF STORY.
Do we want to hear what the other candidate’s latest false verbal attack is? No. I want to see intelligent analysis of the issues with the economy. Why are corporate profits so high? What is a working person to do? Aren’t both prices and wages up? What have the down ballot officials done in their current terms? I want to see a thoughtful break down of the amendments on the KY ballot this year written by independent experts. I want reality checks on fear-mongering rather than sensationalized headlines.
Lynn Pruett, Versailles
Commandments in schools
The July 6 opinion of Mr. J. Larry Hood concerning the display of the Ten Commandments in schools cannot go unchallenged. Mr. Hood states that “[i]t is hard in the US to fix a line between church and state.” However, the First Amendment of the Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
The Constitution specifically states that the government cannot favor one religion over any other or over no religion at all. Thus, Mr. Hood’s notion that “[t]here must be a common religion …to unify people into a community by providing a common ethics and ethos that all can abide by” is false. In contrast to “a common ethics and ethos,” we are a nation of laws that all people can and must abide by regardless of their codification by any religion, specifically any “Judeo-Christian” religion as Mr. Hood suggests.
Thomas Jefferson stated that the establishment clause prevents the primacy of Christian ideology, “thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.” James Madison emphasized, “The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries.”
Vincent M Cassone, Lexington
“Patriotic” concert
Just attended the “patriotic” concert at Transylvania University. Such a beautiful setting and an awesome turnout. The only thing missing was patriotic music!
This is America’s birthday and should be celebrated as such. I will acknowledge being “old school” about some things. One of them is patriotism and our obligation as parents and Americans to instill that in our children and refresh that in ourselves. I spent my career at the VA Medical Center and deeply appreciate the sacrifices made for freedoms we all enjoy today. So many brave young men gave so much. Let’s honor that. Let our kids wave flags and hear songs like “God Bless America”, “This is My Country”, etc.
The tribute to the branches of the Armed Services is always impressive at this event but could be amped up with a set patriotic music and the introductions of actual veterans. Let the crowd show appreciation for what they did. Watch the PBS 4th of July Concert in Washington, D. C. It was filled with patriotic and crowd-engaging music! My grandchildren will grow up hearing patriotic songs, just as their mom did. I love Lexington! Let’s make Lexington’s annual Patriotic Concert actually patriotic! Please?
Linda W. Cranfill, Lexington
Compiled by Liz Carey
