I have some questions for the author of “Everyone deserves to truly heal.” (Oxford Leader, Letters to the Editor, Nov. 15, 2023)
The author wrote, “. . . people can also admit these people deserve empathy and compassion as much as any of us.” Wait what?
What about the people who have refused to extend that empathy and compassion to the four families of children who were murdered at school? Do they deserve our empathy and compassion?
What about people whose policies, training and protocols were so lax it caused the death of four children and injured and traumatized others? Do they deserve our empathy and compassion?
What about people who, for two years, refused to answer questions from families who wanted to know what their kids went through that day, and were denied. Do they deserve our empathy and compassion?
Sorry, I will save my empathy and compassion for the families who feel their community has abandoned them. I will save my empathy and compassion for my son and his classmates, who walked out of their high school, under police escort, hands in the air, minus four of their beautiful friends.

Renee Upham
Oxford