Time to walk through some of the news of the past few weeks as seen through the lens of my Twitter feed. After all, there’s only so much you can say in 280 characters.
I don't get the difficulty in understanding that a pandemic is new to us in the US. And therefore, we evolve our response as we learn. The fact this cannot be grasped by powerful people makes me very fearful of the potential impacts of their incompetence. Basic stuff, people.
I believe that in the next few months there will be many that cry 'but I thought we were SAFE' as the Delta variant surges through the U.S. & Canada (our northern neighbor is having the same issues in regards to the unvaccinated). The deaths of these people can be laid directly at the doors of politicians like McCarthy and McConnell, although those staunch men will continue to deny and lie while they themselves were vaccinated early on.
Let's weigh this statement: "We control our own bodies". Hospital employees chanting against taking a free, minimal-side-effect, life-saving for themselves and others vaccine, versus women chanting against carrying a bearing a child with no real monetary or societal support, a 9-plus-month change to their bodies and a permanent change to their lives. Hmm.....
If masks don’t prevent the spread of virus and bacteria I wonder why I always put one on when I went into the operating room or when I wore one when entering a immune compromised patient’s room. I bet one would be pretty upset if I set you down on the OR table and we told you we think masks are optional or not needed at all. Covid spreads easily. Old RN.
Mr. Rather, Do you think in some perverse way that mutual fear of the Delta variant may start a healing of fractures in our society. Governor of Florida seen wearing a mask. McConnell and his minions urging vaccinations. Kevin McCarthy performing political sepuku. Sir. what is happening? Old Sooner
Loved the snowflake remark and whale picture. Yesterday I attempted to briefly and calmly explain the changing science of learning about the Covid-19 virus and Delta variant to my hairstylist who was understandably concerned and upset over the changing mask guidance and possible closure yet again of her business. Dismayed over her verbal attacking of Dr. Fauci and the virus/public researchers, I quietly withdrew from trying as I concluded that she was fed too many lies by Trump et al. to see through the B.S. to the truth and emotion of anger.
I was just rereading an article from a Romanian newspaper about the unity of the American people after 9/11. What a contrast with today's America. I mourn over what has happened in the last 20 years.
that last photo though! It could be an apt representation of so much happening right now - we have got to get our priorities straight and keep our eyes on the... whale. (Thanks Eric Smith and Dan Rather!)
The photo of the whale observing ( without their knowledge ) the humans all perched over the side of a boat with their unwieldy cameras trying. to catch a photo of … well .. a whale.. is fabulous !
Thank you, Dan, you are a shining star among all the darkness perpetuated by the naysayers. I often wonder are their actions as a result of not being asked or forced to sacrifice? In our Country’s history there have been many times when our citizens have had to sacrifice either because of economic reasons or wars. In fact as in the case if the Cold War, we did sacrifice by taking steps to protect ourselves in case of an attack.
Our recent wars have not required a draft as we now have a “citizens” military and use purchased services for meal preparations and other behind the lines duties instead of military personnel.
I think that all of our citizens be required to enter in a civic corps whether military or other service such as the America Corp or Job Corp or Medical Corps or wherever we need their service to benefit our Country. In my opinion, this could not only instill pride in the younger population as having served their Country but create better citizens.
As I read and hear those who denigrate science, I realize that it is the very process of science that baffles them. They apparently have had little scientific method experience, nor understand the iterative process that brings clarity. What makes intelligent exploration possible is the understanding that knowledge comes based on the facts at hand. It cannot be static. Like the law, it remains steady, but must be open to change and adaptation.
Dan, there was a time that you might recollect, from when we were young. It was a time when the vast majority of Americans would have readily understood the fact that getting vaccinated to defend against the pandemic is not really about themselves. That getting vaccinated is about their country. That getting vaccinated is an act of patriotism. That getting vaccinated is about defending the rights, values and lives of fellow Americans. That it is about civic responsibility as important to the future and well being of their nation as was the Cold War, and the defeat of Soviet totalitarianism. That getting vaccinated is about defending the future of America's most cherished and important core values. That everyone, regardless of their personal views, who is an American ought to get vaccinated, putting aside their personal issues for the sake of the fundamental values of the nation. It was never perfect, but it was better than it is now. Much better than it is now. Instead of promoting patriotism and civic responsibility many in the media are sensationalizing sporadic incidents of irrational dissent against vaccination, making matters worse rather than better. If that is the indication of what is happening to America, eroding its core values and principles, surely the future is going to be extremely grim in every regard, and not simply the matter of the pandemic. If America is to effectively confront and resolve its many internal and foreign challenges, then it must return to that stance of patriotism and civic responsibility. Not only return to what it knew of that in the past but it must improve upon it.
I don't get the difficulty in understanding that a pandemic is new to us in the US. And therefore, we evolve our response as we learn. The fact this cannot be grasped by powerful people makes me very fearful of the potential impacts of their incompetence. Basic stuff, people.
Loved your review of the past weeks. Take care.
I love that you, like me, are a Texan. Redeeming. Thank you for fighting the good fight. You speak for so many of us.
I believe that in the next few months there will be many that cry 'but I thought we were SAFE' as the Delta variant surges through the U.S. & Canada (our northern neighbor is having the same issues in regards to the unvaccinated). The deaths of these people can be laid directly at the doors of politicians like McCarthy and McConnell, although those staunch men will continue to deny and lie while they themselves were vaccinated early on.
Let's weigh this statement: "We control our own bodies". Hospital employees chanting against taking a free, minimal-side-effect, life-saving for themselves and others vaccine, versus women chanting against carrying a bearing a child with no real monetary or societal support, a 9-plus-month change to their bodies and a permanent change to their lives. Hmm.....
If masks don’t prevent the spread of virus and bacteria I wonder why I always put one on when I went into the operating room or when I wore one when entering a immune compromised patient’s room. I bet one would be pretty upset if I set you down on the OR table and we told you we think masks are optional or not needed at all. Covid spreads easily. Old RN.
Mr. Rather, Do you think in some perverse way that mutual fear of the Delta variant may start a healing of fractures in our society. Governor of Florida seen wearing a mask. McConnell and his minions urging vaccinations. Kevin McCarthy performing political sepuku. Sir. what is happening? Old Sooner
Loved the snowflake remark and whale picture. Yesterday I attempted to briefly and calmly explain the changing science of learning about the Covid-19 virus and Delta variant to my hairstylist who was understandably concerned and upset over the changing mask guidance and possible closure yet again of her business. Dismayed over her verbal attacking of Dr. Fauci and the virus/public researchers, I quietly withdrew from trying as I concluded that she was fed too many lies by Trump et al. to see through the B.S. to the truth and emotion of anger.
I was just rereading an article from a Romanian newspaper about the unity of the American people after 9/11. What a contrast with today's America. I mourn over what has happened in the last 20 years.
that last photo though! It could be an apt representation of so much happening right now - we have got to get our priorities straight and keep our eyes on the... whale. (Thanks Eric Smith and Dan Rather!)
The photo of the whale observing ( without their knowledge ) the humans all perched over the side of a boat with their unwieldy cameras trying. to catch a photo of … well .. a whale.. is fabulous !
I loved the whale photo by Eric Smith. But, my question is, who is watching who?
Thank you, Dan, you are a shining star among all the darkness perpetuated by the naysayers. I often wonder are their actions as a result of not being asked or forced to sacrifice? In our Country’s history there have been many times when our citizens have had to sacrifice either because of economic reasons or wars. In fact as in the case if the Cold War, we did sacrifice by taking steps to protect ourselves in case of an attack.
Our recent wars have not required a draft as we now have a “citizens” military and use purchased services for meal preparations and other behind the lines duties instead of military personnel.
I think that all of our citizens be required to enter in a civic corps whether military or other service such as the America Corp or Job Corp or Medical Corps or wherever we need their service to benefit our Country. In my opinion, this could not only instill pride in the younger population as having served their Country but create better citizens.
As I read and hear those who denigrate science, I realize that it is the very process of science that baffles them. They apparently have had little scientific method experience, nor understand the iterative process that brings clarity. What makes intelligent exploration possible is the understanding that knowledge comes based on the facts at hand. It cannot be static. Like the law, it remains steady, but must be open to change and adaptation.
Dan, there was a time that you might recollect, from when we were young. It was a time when the vast majority of Americans would have readily understood the fact that getting vaccinated to defend against the pandemic is not really about themselves. That getting vaccinated is about their country. That getting vaccinated is an act of patriotism. That getting vaccinated is about defending the rights, values and lives of fellow Americans. That it is about civic responsibility as important to the future and well being of their nation as was the Cold War, and the defeat of Soviet totalitarianism. That getting vaccinated is about defending the future of America's most cherished and important core values. That everyone, regardless of their personal views, who is an American ought to get vaccinated, putting aside their personal issues for the sake of the fundamental values of the nation. It was never perfect, but it was better than it is now. Much better than it is now. Instead of promoting patriotism and civic responsibility many in the media are sensationalizing sporadic incidents of irrational dissent against vaccination, making matters worse rather than better. If that is the indication of what is happening to America, eroding its core values and principles, surely the future is going to be extremely grim in every regard, and not simply the matter of the pandemic. If America is to effectively confront and resolve its many internal and foreign challenges, then it must return to that stance of patriotism and civic responsibility. Not only return to what it knew of that in the past but it must improve upon it.
I really think that Republican leaders who keep sowing misinformation should be held legally accountable for the deaths they are causing.