I would like to address the conflict surrounding the Maine nurse who returned from helping Ebola patients in Africa:

I wish our governor would say:

“I have concerns about the safety of our citizens. At the same time, I wish to acknowledge the heroic act that Kaci Hickox has performed. She has risked her life to help save the lives of others. There is no greater thing that any of us can do. I am proud that she is one of Maine’s finest and proud to call her a Mainer.

“At the same time, our citizenry is scared. They may be right, or they may be wrong. But we have to take their fear into account. I have met with Kaci and have asked her, even though it is against what she feels is necessary, to voluntarily follow the guideline that we have set out. In that way, can we put aside the law, and honor both what science says, and the heart says?”

I wish Kaci would say something like this:

“I know that it is not necessary for me to isolate myself or walk through unnecessary hoops. I know, too, that I have right on my side and could prevail before the law. At the same time, I know that many near me are afraid, and their fear may grow. Out of consideration for that, and out of the hope that the larger issue of helping one’s neighbor in distress is the most important thing, I will follow through with the state’s guidelines.”

I wish this too: that the governor welcome Kaci to the Blaine House as a gesture of thanks for the heroic act she did, and as a way to show that he may not agree with her science, but he can agree with her heart.

Willy White

School psychologist, RSU 3

Oakland

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