Memorial Day Thoughts - Toxic Individualism Plus a Timothy Egan Column on Bill Gates

In the past I have managed the annual Memorial Day program at our community's flagpole.  This year I am unable to, but nevertheless, our thoughts should be with all of those who, in all wars, have given their lives for this country.  And it is not too far a stretch for us to include the war against Covid19 in that list of struggles.

JL

                                                   


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The Memorial Day front page of the New York Times features a list of 1000 of us who have died from the Coronavirus Pandemic.   Heather Cox Richardson, the Boston College history professor often quoted here (Google her name for her frequent columns), had this to say about the Times front page:

“This dramatic cover does more than mark a stark number. It rejects the toxic individualism embraced by a certain portion of Trump’s base. These people refuse to isolate or wear masks either because they believe the virus isn’t actually dangerous or because they insist that public health rules infringe on their liberty or because, so far, the people most likely to die have been elderly or people of color and they are not in those categories.

“It’s a personal choice,” one man told a reporter as a wealthy suburb of Atlanta reopened. “If you want to stay home, stay home. If you want to go out, you can go out. I’m not in the older population. If I was to get it now, I’ve got a 90 percent chance of getting cured. Also, I don’t know anybody who’s got it.” Another man agreed: “When you start seeing where the cases are coming from and the demographics—I’m not worried.”

The New York Times cover rejects this selfishness and reminds us that we are all in this together… or should be.”   

I agree. There are certain individual actions which people can take which, intentionally or unintentionally, usually the latter, affect others.  One doesn’t pull a fire alarm lever or shout “fire” in a theatre just to see the people run and the engines come.  We all know that can cause harm to others.   

And because the Covid19 virus spreads from person to person, even the safe “personal choice” the man from suburban Atlanta made does not preclude its unintentional spread to those more vulnerable to the virus than he might be. We don’t know if that man is positive or negative for the virus (see the prior posting about the lack of dependability of testing), but if he is capable of spreading the virus, without having symptoms himself, he is a danger to others he encounters in his expanded “outside” life.  He might get a haircut in a supposedly 100% sanitized barber shop and still leave a droplet of virus there for the next customer, possible more vulnerable than he, to spread further.  Sure, this is the other end of the spectrum from calling out “fire” in a theatre, but it exists … and there are a lot of “ifs” and "buts" involved … but real American lives are at stake.

 I’ve had some “blowback” in regard to my comments on testing in my last posting.  Some think the published numbers are accurate.  But I am not the only one thinking in another direction.  Check out the following item from WLRN (Public Radio in South Florida) to see someone who agrees with me.   

May 23, 2020 Hi there. In the past few days, we broke a story about how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is lumping together the results of two different kinds of tests in the agency's tally of testing for the coronavirus. Experts say mixing the two kinds of tests together can paint an inaccurate picture about how many people are receiving COVID-19 testing, and can artificially lower positive test rates. WLRN reporter Daniel Rivero first noticed the different number of total tests when comparing Florida’s COVID-19 data with the CDC’s nationwide analysis of COVID-19 data, which was released this week. It showed broad discrepancies between what some states are reporting about testing, and what is being reported by the CDC. And moreover, the analysis listed Florida as “the most extreme case” of testing discrepancies between what the state and the federal government are reporting. The reporting has since been picked up by NBC's Meet The Press, The Atlantic and other national outlets. We’ve also covered the unemployment numbers across South Florida, how the Keys’ controversial mini lobster season might not be so contentious this year, and the future for two graduating high school seniors.   Florida's numbers As of Friday, May 22, 2020 Total cases: 49,451 (+ 2,507 since Wednesday) Total deaths: 2,190 (+138 since Wednesday) Source: Florida Department of Health

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What Bill Gates is All About

Bill Gates

Papers throughout the country have reproduced New York Times West Coast writer Timothy Egan’s recent column regarding Bill Gates.   I recommend that you read it by  CLICKING HERE.     Do you agree?  Then do something about it!  In view of the truths Gates speaks there is a lot of phony criticism of him on the Internet.  Read Egan's column and take it from there.

If the link didn't work, just visit:  https://www.siliconvalley.com/2020/05/25/egan-in-covid-19-era-bill-gates-is-worlds-most-interesting-person/