Keep the soap, how about empathy?
In response to the series “Living in Misery,” Allan Hedberg (letter May 10) writes that “much improvement could be made if each renter used a little soap and water and conducted spring cleaning like the rest of us do.”
Who is “us?”
Certainly not the families from Third World countries or families stuck in poverty for many years. In fact, those who are not “us” did not read The Bee articles, his letter or mine. They are mostly illiterate, ignorant and impoverished.
It may not be all the fault of the landlord, as Mr. Hedberg stresses, but it misses the point (does it help to have a clean oven when it it the only source of heat?) and does not show much empathy.
Charles D. Oren, Fresno
This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 3:09 PM with the headline "Keep the soap, how about empathy?."