Letters to the Editor: January 4, 2019

Letter to the editor:

Stanford student Hamzeh Daoud posted on Facebook that he would “physically fight” Zionists, but later amended his post to read that he would “intellectually,” not “physically,” attack them.

Dr. Lara Kollab tweeted: “hahha ewww… ill purposely give all the yahood [Jews] the wrong meds …” Will she likewise claim that she, too, only intended an “intellectual” attack?

In another post, Kollab wrote in Arabic, “May Allah take back [end the lives of] the Jews so we stop being forced to go to those unclean ones.” Is this invocation of Allah in keeping with Muslim teachings?

Patients must be able to trust doctors without fear that medical decisions will ever be politically influenced.

Lara Kollab apparently feels that “First, do no harm…” in the Hippocratic Oath can be ignored. No amount of “mentoring” can assure anyone that Dr. Kollab can be trusted. Dr. Kollab has demonstrated that she is not morally fit to hold a medical license.

Julia Lutch, Davis, Calif.

Cleveland Clinic Doctor Fired After Making Anti-Semitic Statements Online

By Amber Cole | Updated Dec. 31 at 4:33 PM | www.cleveland19.com

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) – The Cleveland Clinic released a statement Monday after reports began circulating online that a doctor at the hospital had been posting anti-Semitic sentiments on social media.

The doctor, who has been identified as Lara Kollab, 27, of Westlake, was a supervised resident. We’re told she is no longer employed by the clinic.

We reached out to the Cleveland Clinic and received the following statement:

“This individual was employed as a supervised resident at our hospital from July to September 2018. She is no longer working at Cleveland Clinic. In no way do these beliefs reflect those of our organization. We fully embrace diversity, inclusion and a culture of safety and respect across our entire health system.”

Kollab is no longer employed at the clinic, but her medical license remains active. Issued in Cuyahoga County in July 2018, it is valid until June 2021.

Letter to the editor: Two Bananas

I was standing in a checkout line at a Kroger store in Gwinnett County. I watched an elderly woman in front of me fumbling in her pocket. She looked frail. I heard her tell the cashier that she had some loose change.

After some delay she told the cashier that she couldn’t buy the bananas because she didn’t have enough money. I stepped forward.

“How much is she short?” I guessed the woman’s age close to mine. I noticed four bananas in her cart.

“$1.20,” the cashier said, embarrassed for the customer.

“Put the bananas in her bag,” I said. I handed the cashier $2.00.

“Oh, no sir,” the lady said. “You don’t have to do that. I’m a little short this week. I can get the bananas next week when my check comes.”

She was close to tears. You shouldn’t have to wait for a banana.

I smiled. “I think we dated when we were young.” I often say that in jest. When you can no longer climb mountains, it’s a source of entertainment.

“Oh no, I’m not from here,” she said, her eyes squinting.

“From where?”

“I was born in Henderson, Kentucky.”

“I knew it. I lived in Evansville. I swam the Ohio River to see you.”

“You’re funny.” She smiled a little.

“I’ll bet 26 cents I’m older than you,” I said.

“I don’t bet,” she said. “Besides, you know I don’t have change.”

Her eyes looked tired. I guess if you can’t afford bananas, you can feel bad.

“Want some coffee?” I said. I sensed she was alone.

The market had Starbucks. I brought coffee.

Her hand shook as she raised her cup. She needed serious perking up.

“So, could we have dated?” I asked.

“You were too young.” Her eyes twinkled.

“So, I would have lost the bet, huh?”

“I think so; I’m 91.”

“I’m 89. But I lusted for mature girls in high school,” I said. She perked up a little.

“My husband was much like you, amusing.” Her chin trembled. “I see your Navy ring. He was a Seabee. They built bridges and airport runways. He died last year.” Her lips quivered. Tears tracked down her cheeks.

I handed her a napkin. She really needed a friend. “Got any relatives, Sugar?”

“My daughter’s in California, but I don’t see her very often,” she said. “I try to keep my home up, but we had a lot of expenses those last months. I worry a lot. Living alone, I can’t even afford to have my yard cut and my gutters cleaned.”

One social security check gone; CD rates anemic; prescription prices up; politicians hustling more taxes, talking penalties for not having health insurance; house break-ins increasing; utility prices up; rapes; murders; seniors being ripped off. It’s no wonder she was shop-worn.

It’s scary when you’re 91, and all alone. It’s scary at 89, and I’m in good shape.

I carried her bag to her car. I noticed her license. I figured I could cut her grass and clean her gutters. She would find $50 when she ate a banana. The lady died four months later. Her gutters were clean, grass mowed, and she had two bananas on the countertop.

Bill York, Atlanta