Teargas and coronavirus in the air

An English expression, now cliché, fits the moment:
When the going gets tough, the tough get going – meaning when the situation becomes difficult, the strong work harder to meet the challenge.
Meeting this moment – pandemic and protest – further challenges the challenged.
Further wearies the weary.
Further endangers the endangered...
Wish I could be in Washington D.C., where thousands bravely continue to meet the moment. (Photo essay )

News blues…

Alcohol.
What to say?
[South African Medical Research Council] SAMRC modelling predicts that 5,000 patients a week will flood hospitals with injuries related to drinking. Professor Charles Parry, director of the SAMRC’s alcohol, tobacco and other drug research unit, which conducted the modelling, said of the 2.2-million trauma cases in SA each year, 40% are alcohol-related. “Under lockdown, weekly trauma admissions decreased from 42,700 to about 15,000.”
Trauma specialists said that during the first two months of lockdown, trauma admissions dropped by 70% at hospitals in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Those declines, according to the SAMRC, are now being dramatically reversed.
“We have seen an explosion in stabbings, accidents and assaults. It’s a nightmare. All are linked to unbanning alcohol,” the specialist said.

***

Numbers climb
Vasbyt!
South Africa’s health ministry announced the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 climbed to 45,973 yesterday, an increase of 2,539 cases in the past 24 hours.
This indicates 11,616 new cases and 247 deaths since Monday, June 1, when the country moved to Lockdown Level 3.

Bite the bullet!
United States, since last Sunday, 4,430 deaths reported - 1,036 of which occurred between Thursday morning and the same time Friday. Total confirmed cases nearing 2 million.

***

Since it’s Sunday, a day of rest, I’ll not mention the abysmal Donald J Trump and his abysmal lack of humanity.
I’ll leave it to The Lincoln Project and their new ad to point out that Trump’s “new brand of leadership isn't leadership at all…”

Leaders take responsibility. Donald Trump isn't capable of that.
America's history is full of strong, compassionate, capable leaders. No matter their party or their goals, they all had one thing in common: success or failure, they took responsibility for the good and the bad.
But Trump? It's always someone else's fault.
And if it's not someone else's fault, it's "fake."
And if it's quite obviously not fake, he "won't take any responsibility at all."
This country is crying out, desperate for real leadership. Let’s remind Americans what that looks like.  (1:00 minute)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Yesterday, I allowed Lockdown Fever to fester.
I didn’t Weed Walk.
I didn’t talk to the dogs, birds, monkeys, fish, spiders, or plants.
I didn’t even obsessively check my iPhone’s battery’s Last Charge Level.
After a stint eradicating canna plants... I simply hunkered down and allowed feelings of horror and dismay to wash over me.
We will  get through this annus horribilis (to quote the queen)... won't we? 
Perhaps Christopher Robin’s reminder to Winnie-the-Pooh can help,

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Amen.


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