Relief Workers

Your May 30 commentary by John Tirman (“Heroes Who Have No Day”) was long overdue. He is correct in saying that the relief and aid workers do not need a holiday in their honor. Holidays are decreed by governments, and when a government officially recognizes an organization, function, etc., the next step is to control it. The inevitable result is to subvert or destroy it.

It is, however, the duty of the various news media to ensure adequate and unbiased coverage of these heroes, thereby increasing the voluntary monetary contributions that sustain them, and I emphasize voluntary.

THOMAS F. BRANDS

Los Angeles