Monday, April 6, 2020

INCOMPETENCE PAR EXCELLENCE

     We all know that people have differing traits, skills and abilities. Some rise to a challenge while others fall before it, manifestly incompetent and worse, refusing to admit to that, thus endangering many more, no matter the situation. The above statement describes the current situation in America, much to the detriment of our survival, our trust in government and our hope for the future.
     No matter how annoying the British can be at times one cannot deny their stoicism in a time of terror, of national distress. When fate strikes that nation, no matter their previous divisions, they unite, solidly together as a nation, as a people. That has brought them through myriad troubles through the centuries. The foremost uniting factor at this point is a representative of past times and governments, almost a figurehead as far as power goes, yet has the power to inspire that nation - a 94 year old little old lady called Elizabeth II.
     The Queen has channeled her parents, her father, from his famous speech inspiring and encouraging the nation even as it was decimated by bombing raids. The members of the ruling family were involved in the war effort. They were of the people even as they stood tall with them.
     Yesterday, the Queen did just the same thing.
"The Queen speaks for the whole country" said the new Labour Party head. She reassured the nation that they will come through, be able to meet again, but now they are in for a tough time. She inspired, plain and simple.
     On the other hand, what do we have here, in the supposed leader nation of the Free World? We have a nincompoop, to put it mildly, but there is more to follow. He presents a figure of endangerment and cowardice. He does not lead the nation, but rather fractures it at the very moment that national unity is needed so very badly. His supposed briefings are rife with misinformation and downright lies. He pushes medications that are not proven and are dangerous in their misuse, even in their proper use. He stockpiles this medicine, causing a dangerous hardship for those who actually need it for their health problem, but refuses to stockpile, share and fix the necessary equipment to save the people of this nation - ventilators, respirators, beds, beds, beds, personnel, protective gear, and simple and plain words of inspiration. 
     "What do you have to lose?" he said time and time again. What? Only our lives, our trust, our hopes, our loved ones and friends. See, we do not have people following us with rapid tests administered multiple times a day, or have people checked for temperatures if they approach him. See, we, the common people, the poor deluded people of America are left to die by the thousands, be so very ill by the tens and hundreds of thousands, even as his go to guy, G-d help us, Kushner, bolixes the feeble response even more. Governors are left to beg and compete at a time when sharing is the way to go. Clear directions for loans and other aids of the relief bill are missing and the economic crisis deepens to a point almost beyond return. 
     "What do I know?" he asks. Absolutely nothing! That is the awful truth but then goes on to say that he has common sense and when that ever happened no one knows! He cuts off his experts, fires people who followed the law, inimical to him and his beliefs, is closer, ever closer, to shutting the press and media other than for the extreme right wing media, the poison pens of the country.
     There are inspiring words out there. "There were many nights when I've cried and I've never prayed more in my life," Pink said. Here is another, a woman who simply uses what she has to inspire others, send the right words at the right moment and does not ask for anything in return.To subscribe to the service is easy, simply text the word "BRAVE" to 484848 and let the magic begin. And Riley wanted to assure you, this is not spam. This is not a marketing ploy or for personal gain. She simply wants to ignite a spark of courage.  Or perhaps just to help and encourage others to give what they can of themselves. "I hope it helps inspire people to think about what talents they have, and they can use them in this time, because we all have something we can give. And frankly, we need everything that everybody has to give right now,” That is what we need and that is what we are so sorely lacking from this not a leader!
     So as we continue to die, some not even tested before that happens, as we continue to stumble and fumble our way through this, a "Pearl Harbor" moment, it is said, without a modern day FDR, we must fill the vacuum, be our own leaders, fill in the gaps and reach out, to those who help us in a true manner, donate what we can, volunteer to help those in need, present a positive face to the future. And yes, take inspiration from a true leader, that little old 94 year old representative of an anachronistic time, yet who is the best face we can present to the future, telling them that this generation did not fall, did not fail in its duty and struggled through together, learning valuable lessons for the betterment of the world and its population, its very existence. But from Trump? Feh!!
     Furthermore, we now have a question to answer. This particularly affects gated communities here in Florida and all around the country. Watching carefully, obeying the rules, we might stay safe, this endangered population. However, there are those who did not obey or were infected unknowingly. The question: Do we publicize the fact that someone has the virus and moreover, do we state the name so people can  figure out if they interacted at a time of tranfer of the virus. I truly believe we must do that and have had examples here of lack of obedience to rules, death, and lack of information as to those infected. Not good. Wrong, very wrong. This is an existential question and just as we would inform people of a Typhoid Mary, we must inform them of a coronavirus sufferer so as to better keep the rest of the population safe. We are here sequestered from all that we hold dear, so that we might return to our families and do not need endangerment more than is necessary to survive. Publicize the information. Give the data so that others might be safe.
    In the meanwhile, as usual, the new greetings and words of goodbye these days. Be well. Stay safe.

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