August 18, 2020: Difference between revisions
From Gerald R. Lucas
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{{Large|51}} {{C19|151}} | {{Large|51}} {{C19|151}} | ||
{{cquote|<poem> | |||
Midway upon the journey of our life | |||
:I found myself within a forest dark, | |||
:For the straightforward pathway had been lost. | |||
Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say | |||
:What was this forest savage, rough, and stern, | |||
:Which in the very thought renews the fear. | |||
So bitter is it, death is little more; | |||
:But of the good to treat, which there I found, | |||
:Speak will I of the other things I saw there. | |||
</poem>|author=Dante|source=''Inferno'', Canto 1, ll. 1–9}} | |||
I turn 51 today. Here’s the state of things in this country. | I turn 51 today. Here’s the state of things in this country. | ||
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* [https://www.businessinsider.com/billionaires-net-worth-increases-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-7 Billionaires became $650+ billion richer during the pandemic]; | * [https://www.businessinsider.com/billionaires-net-worth-increases-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-7 Billionaires became $650+ billion richer during the pandemic]; | ||
* Our climate is [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/17/greenlands-melting-ice-sheet-has-passed-point-no-return/3378469001/ still deteriorating] and we continue [https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/new-trump-rule-would-allow-government-ignore-climate-impacts-major-projects to ignore it] and even [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/17/trump-alaska-arctic-wildlife-refuge-drilling exacerbate it]; | * Our climate is [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/17/greenlands-melting-ice-sheet-has-passed-point-no-return/3378469001/ still deteriorating] and we continue [https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/new-trump-rule-would-allow-government-ignore-climate-impacts-major-projects to ignore it] and even [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/17/trump-alaska-arctic-wildlife-refuge-drilling exacerbate it]; | ||
* [https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-07-26/portland-protests-trump-federal-officers American protestors attacked by federal forces]; | * [https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-07-26/portland-protests-trump-federal-officers American protestors attacked by unidentified federal forces]; | ||
* [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/13/donald-trump-usps-post-office-election-funding Voter suppression confirmed by ’rump publicly]; | * [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/13/donald-trump-usps-post-office-election-funding Voter suppression confirmed by ’rump publicly]; | ||
* [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51394383 Senate won’t defend the Constitution]; | * [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51394383 Senate won’t defend the Constitution]; | ||
* [https:// | * [https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/why-does-us-need-immigration-reform Immigration policy is still a mess, marred by racism and xenophobia]; | ||
* [https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/06/trump-uses-antifa-incite-fear/612670/ Anti-fascism is a bad thing]; | * [https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/06/trump-uses-antifa-incite-fear/612670/ Anti-fascism is a bad thing]; | ||
* [https://www.newsweek.com/white-supremacists-killed-more-americans-muslim-extremists-recent-years-terrorism-report-shows-1517096 White supremists are now the leading terrorists], but [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/05/08/very-fine-people-charlottesville-who-were-they-2/ ’rump calls them “very fine people”]; | * [https://www.newsweek.com/white-supremacists-killed-more-americans-muslim-extremists-recent-years-terrorism-report-shows-1517096 White supremists are now the leading terrorists], but [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/05/08/very-fine-people-charlottesville-who-were-they-2/ ’rump calls them “very fine people”]; | ||
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* [https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/portland_trump_press_freedom.php The press is being attacked]; | * [https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/portland_trump_press_freedom.php The press is being attacked]; | ||
* [https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/30/896714437/3-months-of-hell-u-s-economys-worst-quarter-ever Worst GDP decline in American history]; | * [https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/30/896714437/3-months-of-hell-u-s-economys-worst-quarter-ever Worst GDP decline in American history]; | ||
* [https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/30/health/us-coronavirus-toll-in-numbers-june-trnd/index.html US leads the world in COVID-19 deaths] (neck-and-neck with Brazil) while many other countries | * [https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/30/health/us-coronavirus-toll-in-numbers-june-trnd/index.html US leads the world in COVID-19 deaths] (neck-and-neck with Brazil) while many other countries, like [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2025203 New Zealand], reacted quickly and decisively to control the epidemic; | ||
* [https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-international-travel-covid-19/index.html Travel to many countries is closed to Americans]; | * [https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-international-travel-covid-19/index.html Travel to many countries is closed to Americans]; | ||
* [https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/06/america-image-power-trump/613228/ The world no longer looks up to the US]; they [https://thehill.com/opinion/international/510452-thanks-to-red-states-the-world-views-america-with-shock-and-pity pity us]. Check the [https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000007227777/covid-19-global-response.html incredulity in this video]. | * [https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/06/america-image-power-trump/613228/ The world no longer looks up to the US]; they [https://thehill.com/opinion/international/510452-thanks-to-red-states-the-world-views-america-with-shock-and-pity pity us]. Check the [https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000007227777/covid-19-global-response.html incredulity in this video]. | ||
Latest revision as of 08:41, 20 August 2020
51 covid-19: day 151 | US: GA | info | act
| “ | Midway upon the journey of our life |
” |
| — Dante, Inferno, Canto 1, ll. 1–9 | ||
I turn 51 today. Here’s the state of things in this country.
- 170,000 Americans dead from COVID-19;
- $3 trillion deficit;
- 30 million unemployed;
- USPS in shambles;
- 3500+ average daily increase of new COVID-19 cases in Georgia;
- Georgia university campuses forced to open despite daily increases in COVID-19 cases;
- Billionaires became $650+ billion richer during the pandemic;
- Our climate is still deteriorating and we continue to ignore it and even exacerbate it;
- American protestors attacked by unidentified federal forces;
- Voter suppression confirmed by ’rump publicly;
- Senate won’t defend the Constitution;
- Immigration policy is still a mess, marred by racism and xenophobia;
- Anti-fascism is a bad thing;
- White supremists are now the leading terrorists, but ’rump calls them “very fine people”;
- A pedophile gets well wishes from ’rump;
- ’Rump cares more about Putin than he does US troops;
- Food bank lines are growing and there are still shortages of disinfectants and cleaning supplies;
- Science became irrelevant;
- The press is being attacked;
- Worst GDP decline in American history;
- US leads the world in COVID-19 deaths (neck-and-neck with Brazil) while many other countries, like New Zealand, reacted quickly and decisively to control the epidemic;
- Travel to many countries is closed to Americans;
- The world no longer looks up to the US; they pity us. Check the incredulity in this video.
I wish I had better news. Yes, my family is in better shape than many, and for that I am thankful, but if things continue to go the way they have been, I don’t know how much longer that will be true. I know at least one way to help in 76 days.
