“I was trying to reflect the upbeat attitude of the team.” —Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley on why he misled reporters about Trump’s supplemental oxygen usage. Our team’s attitude is U-P-B-E-A-T! Go team! Look, I know things look grim. We’re metaphorically and maybe actually coughing up a lung. It’s cool though, because we have an …
Pep Talk: Please Reflect the Upbeat Attitude of the Team Read More »
As we observe the anniversary of 9/11 today, we should take stock of what our country has become. When those terrible attacks happened 19 years ago, we swore we’d come back stronger, more united, and better than ever. For a while, it looked like we might. But then we elected Donald Trump and we were exposed as a weak and divided nation. Trump and his followers haven’t made us great, they’ve made us pitiable. They’ve made us weak.
It’s easy to use the language of war to stir emotions and gin up patriotism, but it’s also irresponsible. We are not at war. We are faced with an international health crisis that will only be solved through global cooperation, sound scientific research, and proven strategies to slow the rate of contagion. It’s not as rousing as a war cry, but it’s more accurate.
It’s natural to be suspicious of something that is prescribed for the masses, but not practiced by the people in charge.
I’m not arguing for censorship; I’m arguing for editorial decision making. I believe strongly in the First Amendment. I believe in freedom of the press, even when I don’t agree with the press. But if a news organization is judged by what it covers, it should also be judged by what it chooses not to cover. Sometimes turning the camera off is the most responsible decision.
These young workers often make the bare minimum, but their work is important. These workers serve your food, tear your movie tickets, teach your kids at summer camp, and ring up your purchases at the mall. Most are not doing it for fun. They work because they need the money.
To Dan Patrick and any other senior citizens willing to die for the future economic prosperity of this country: thanks, but no thanks. Your death won’t solve a thing, but you can make a difference. You can start by recognizing that our current system is fragile and unsustainable. It isn’t working. Nothing that falls apart this quickly was particularly strong to begin with.
There is something very satisfying about the moment when a finicky sauce emulsifies and turns silky. Bread is inherently suspenseful.
I believe that we’ll get through this with strength and with grace, not because of our government, but in spite of it. I don’t have much faith in the Senate, but I have all kinds of faith in us.
If Limbaugh believes this particular virus is no biggie, he should invite a few infected folks to come sit with him in his radio studio and talk about it.