The Dec. 22 article “A rift in Trump world over obesity” rehashes the continual cry for healthier eating. The usual culprits are blamed: “Food companies have saturated the United States and other nations with seductively cheap and tasty things to eat.” Let’s say it were climatically feasible to greatly expand the production of healthier fruits and vegetables outside the Central Valley of California to the American Heartland where vast fields of grain are efficiently harvested by combines driven by a single operator (with self-driving ones on the horizon), a grain cart and a truck or two. Who would perform the labor-intensive work of harvesting the more delicate healthier crops that are typically picked by hand? Until prices dramatically increase to entice the needed labor or robots capable of doing the dexterous picking and such are perfected and economically feasible, upscaling healthy food production is a pipe dream. — J.D. Colwell, Chicago RFK Jr.’s ‘health’ ideas In a Dec. 23 letter, Philippe Melin asserts that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would make a sound choice for secretary of health and human services (“RFK Jr. holds promise”). Kennedy has advocated for the elimination of ultra-processed foods — foods that have been linked to Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health issues. The National Institutes of Health agrees that curtailing these foods would be beneficial. However, Kennedy has supported several “health” initiatives and theories that significantly outweigh his one rational proposal: Drinking raw milk. Consumption of raw milk increases the risk of foodborne illnesses caused by salmonella, listeria and E.coli, which can be deadly. Eliminating fluoride in drinking water. Fluoride strengthens enamel to help prevent tooth decay. Kennedy has stated that fluoride is associated with medical disorders, which has not been proved. The linking of antidepressants and school shootings. Researchers have not found any link. HIV infections don’t cause AIDS. Kennedy has suggested that AIDS may be caused by environmental toxins and an inhaled drug and immunosuppressant known as poppers. Vaccines cause autism. Studies in multiple countries have concluded there is no link between vaccines and autism. Cellphone and Wi-Fi radiation causes the fast-growing brain cancer known as glioblastoma. Studies have disproved that assertion. These are among the reasons it would not be in the public’s best interest to have Kennedy approved by the Senate as head of health and human services. — Sam Solomon, Deerfield Illinois is a blue state Nothing quite warms the heart at this time of year like political ignorance exposing itself. Sam Karambelas says in his Dec. 23 letter (“Illinois is a red state”) that because Republicans won 88 of 102 counties in Illinois, the Land of Lincoln is a “red state with a big blue ink blot in the northeast part of the state.” I can picture Honest Abe, nominated for president in that part of Illinois, shaking his head at this claim. Acres do not vote. People do. That “big blue ink blot” — where, full disclosure, I live — has the majority of people who vote in Illinois. So, democracy means the Democrats make Illinois a blue state. That said, I am delighted that my tax dollars subsidize roads, schools and hospitals in all of those red Illinois counties whose Republican-voting populations, economies and tax bases are so small. Like all good Democrats, I believe in sharing the wealth. — Bill Savage, Chicago Bravo to Fetterman I applaud U.S. Sen. John Fetterman for his candid comments in support of Donald Trump’s administration. Thank God someone in the Democratic Party recognizes that the new president-elect actually wants to do some good things for the U.S. and its people. Clearly, Fetterman is putting country ahead of the party as well. Republicans as well as Democrats should take a similar attitude. I understand that his comments and his intention to support the new president do not mean that he will provide unwavering support for all the administration’s endeavors. That is not what the job of the Democrats is. They clearly need to challenge some of those endeavors, particularly any partisan activities designed solely to advance party over country. I believe, however, that each party should be challenging itself internally as well. Conflict, debate and even argument over the facts are healthy for coming up with the type of policies that are best for our people and country. Vitriol, bereft of factual information, is counterproductive. Those engaging in it should be voted out, fired from the networks, and fired from their government and/or private-sector jobs. We can disagree about many things, and yet, working together on those things, we can agree on what makes democracies strong. — Randy Boitz, Lemont Why Jan. 6 is sacred As a young child in 1956, I remember visiting my great aunt Sophia in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood on Jan. 6. I was a curious 8-year-old, and I was perplexed why we were invited to celebrate Christmas again, 12 days after Dec. 25. My father explained that Jan. 6 is Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas Eve. He explained that since my grandparents and Aunt Sophia were all immigrants from Ukraine, they still observed Christmas Eve on this day, per the Eastern European Gregorian calendar. He further explained that America followed the Julian calendar. I was still puzzled. However, I learned to love the sounds and smells of Ukrainian Christmas Eve. Church carolers stopped by the house to bless us with their beautiful voices. They sang in a language I did not understand, but I was very fascinated. I enjoyed it. Aunt Sophia’s kitchen was bustling with the preparation of our dinner; borscht (beet soup,) fish, pierogi (dumplings} and cabbage. It was not my favorite meal as a youngster, but I did love the honey babka (cake) for dessert. Jan. 6 also happens to be my birthday. I will be celebrating my 77th year in 2025. I wasn’t raised in the Orthodox church of my paternal grandparents. From my early Sunday school days in the Protestant Methodist Church, I learned about Epiphany, which is also celebrated on Jan. 6. This made my birthday even more special. The Epiphany is often referred to as Three Kings Day or “The Visit of the Magi.” It is the day that three kings traveled from the east with gifts for the infant Jesus. I feel sad that my fond Ukrainian heritage memories, and the significant Christian date of Jan. 6, have been overshadowed. I refuse to allow war and politics to erase my joyful memories of my birthday. I wish hope, peace and joy to all. — Lilian Wertheim, Tinley Park Seek more skills Some Starbucks employees are among the low-skilled workers who have gone on strike to demand more money. Here’s a tip to those on the picket lines. If you have a job that requires little in the way of skills, then you’ll be paid appropriately. If you want more money, then get a job that requires more skills. If you have no other skills, then seek out ways to obtain them. Plenty of people do it every day. There are multiple options out there. — Bryan Bradley, Buffalo Grove Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].