Covid-19, a year

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We’re in the midst of many serious troubles in our country, and it’s really important to be engaged in the struggle for sanity for our present and for our future.

Today is about one year since Covid-19 started to enter the world vocabulary.  The first case in the U.S. was Jan. 2020.  The first death was in February.  The most recent death count for the U.S. as recorded by Johns Hopkins is 439,536.  (to compare: there were about 450,000 U.S. war deaths in WWII, 291,000 military.  The U.S. population then was 132-140 million, compared with 330 million current U.S. population.)

Life is serious business these days in the U.S. and Covid-19 is only one issue, and at my little corner I’ll keep focused on important issues as I see them, nowadays basically political and economic.  But all isn’t dismal, and every day something comes in my mail, e- and otherwise that’s brighter.  Here are some positive things from just this past week.

Friday evening CBS evening news had a great piece, which I saw and Molly later passed along.  You can view it here.  Molly: “Wow–talk about creativity!!  And–put yourself in the place of the drivers! What would you do if someone came up to you in your stranded car  and said…”.hey, want a free covid shot right now?”

Dick: Friday, we took our 91 year old neighbor to get his Covid-19 shot.  The process at the clinic was very efficient and well organized.  It is good to see such a process in person.  My spouse, who was with Don, totally unexpectedly also got her shot, offered by the Director, and received with gratitude.  (I don’t qualify till after February 2 due to a recent unrelated vaccination.  But it’s coming.)

A few days ago,  a  homemade greeting card came from a Catholic Priest responding to a question I’d asked.  The card cover speaks for itself.  I don’t know the Priest; I was simply asking a question in behalf of the same elderly friend whose mother grew up in the Priests parish over 100 years ago.

Homemade Greeting Card using poetry of Laura Kelly Fanucci.

Such gifts are worth thanks.   I’m sure the author doesn’t mind her website being shared – that’s why she has a website.  Here it is.

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And, finally, you can’t pass on this YouTube offering sent by a retired teacher.  Trust me.  It’s only three minutes or so.

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In the same time frame, I was ‘talking’ on-line with a friend, Brian, in Brooklyn NY.  Brian sent along a drone view of his area of Brooklyn.  I asked to share, and he said ‘fine’, and here it is.  I told him that I had never been to Brooklyn, and only once to NYC, so Brooklyn exists only in my minds-eye.  Here is the accompanying note from Brian:

HERE IS AN UNDER 14-MINUTE VIDEO OF THREE NEAT THINGS IN BROOKLYN 

1) St. Barbara’s RC Church,

2) The First Church of God in Christ; and,

3) The Williamsburgh (with an “h”) Savings Bank Tower. 

All are less than a 20-25 minute bike ride from our condo.  Actually the First Church of God is just a block away, catty-corner from Broward Park. It was built in 1923. And it’s strange: it used to be a synagogue.  Usually in Brooklyn it’s the other way, churches become synagogues.  (Up in Williamsburg, for example.)

I first became aware of St. Barbara’s in 2005 working at a nearby credit union.  I took pictures of it back then (in the video), and now have followed up. It was built in 1910.

And the Williamsburgh Savings Bank tower is higher than Hollie the drone can fly.  She can go only to 400 feet but the tower is over 500’ high.  It was the highest building in Brooklyn until 2010 in fact!  You’ll be able to see in the drone’s video how that has changed, now.  It was built in 1927.

Some Wiki:

THE CHURCH OF ST. BARBARA is a Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, located in northern Brooklyn, New York, in the Bushwick-Ridgewood neighborhood. 

Address: 138 Bleecker St, Brooklyn, NY 11221

Opened: 1910

Style: Baroque Revival architecture

The Historic First Church of God in Christ building was constructed in 1923 as a synagogue, known as Shaari Zedek, for a wealthy German Jewish population.[1] Purchasing the house of worship in 1969, the Historic First Church of God in Christ retained most of the building’s architectural heritage in spite of its ecclesiastic transformation

THE WILLIAMSBURGH SAVINGS BANK TOWER is a skyscraper located in downtown Brooklyn., Located at 1 Hanson Place between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street, the tower is one of the borough’s architectural icons. The tower was constructed from 1927 to 1929 as the new headquarters for the Williamsburgh Savings Bank.

Prior to 2010, when it was surpassed by the Brooklyner, the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower was the tallest building in Brooklyn at 37 stories and 512 feet (156 m) tall.  It is among the tallest four-sided clock towers in the world, and contains clock faces that are 17 feet (5.2 m) in diameter. Since 2007, the building has been converted into luxury condominium apartments under the name 1 Hanson Place.

Author Jonathan Ames created a “Most Phallic Building” contest which followed an article he wrote for Slate magazine, in which he claimed that the Tower was the most phallic building he’d ever seen. The character of the same name in his HBO show Bored to Death moves into the building in the third season.

The tower or its interior has been seen in the films Prizzi’s Honor, Catch Me if You Can, Going in Style (2017 ), John Wick, the music videos “Empire State of Mind” and “No Stylist”, as well the TV shows Pan Am, Law & Order, Bored to Death, White Collar, Gossip Girl, and Boardwalk Empire.

I shared with Brian a snapshot of my own: one by my brother, John, via drone, of one of our growing up towns, Sykeston ND, the other taken by myself enroute to or back from the Statue of Liberty in late June, 1972, 49 years go.  The Twin Towers were just being completed then, and as I recall only one had opened.

Enjoy.

Late June, 1972, snap by Dick Bernard

Sykeston ND pop ca 125 by drone 2018 by John Bernard

POSTNOTE AND PERTINENT: I would encourage taking the time, later, to read this post I filed Jan. 27, relating the upcoming impeachment trial.  It is comments from several persons about the current state of affairs in our United States.

 

Insurgency and Counterinsurgency….

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POSTNOTE Jan. 30, 2021:  On or about Feb. 8, 2021, the Impeachment trial will begin in the U.S. Senate, relating to events including Jan. 6.  The most comprehensive summary on the issue I have thus far seen is this post, filed overnight, Jan. 30.

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This post is an invitation to consider where we, as individuals, stand in this divided nation at this point in our history.  Following are several diverse opinions which came to me this month, which I think are worthy of your time to read.  They speak for themselves.  Where do you fit in this big picture?

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This chilly morning in Minnesota I elected to do my walk indoors at the nearby community sports center.

This day the normal quarter-mile route was split in two.  Next door was a group of perhaps 30 police practicing.  “Move back” was the tactic being practiced when I walked by the first few times.  It was mindful of the unrest we’ve witnessed recently.  I’m sure it was not a coincidental activity – the recent events at our Capitols have focused on relationships of all sorts and the roles of law enforcement and government in these.

On our walking path, which was fairly crowded partly because of reduced space, four old guys (my age group) sauntered along, abreast, chatting.  All were moving slowly, causing the rest of us to have to go around them.  Envision two cars driving slowly and abreast on one side of a busy four lane highway.  The only alternatives for others are to stay behind the cars, or to pass on the shoulders.  I don’t think it even occurred to the men, all friends, that they were not respectful to the rest of us.  (They did wear masks, which are required.  They didn’t keep social distance.  They were basically oblivious to us.  No one suggested to them they were a problem; we had the luxury of being able to go around them.)

Back home, an e-mail from Jeff included a link to a column in today’s New York Times.  Here is the pdf version: Robert Grenier NYTimes 1/27/21 “How to Defeat America’s Homegrown Insurgency”

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Here are the “homegrown” opinions from my inbox in recent days:

1 – from D, Jan 15: I suspect that many, if not most, of the people who attended Trump’s rally on the morning of Jan. 6 were simply there to support him. Among those folks, a certain percentage believed that Trump won the election but “they” stole it from him. They weren’t happy about it, but knew that Biden would take office and they would work to further the Trump agenda and help him retake the White House in 2024.

A smaller, much more dangerous, subset of the rally attendees, were the TRUE true believers. They believed that Trump not only won the election but that he absolutely would continue in office after the inauguration. Further, they believed that they had support from people in congress, the vice president, and law enforcement. All they had to do, they believed, was show up at the capitol and they would be welcomed with open arms. When met with resistance, they were shocked. Kind of like the religious end-of-world predictors who simply cannot believe that the world is still intact after their date certain. A woman who had been maced was incredulous that once she’d forced her way into the capitol, the police maced her. These people feel betrayed and won’t simply go away. No one knows what they do next. Hopefully, they will be marginalized and Republicans who know better will finally put country before self interest and work to repair the damage done by four years of lying incompetence and malevolence.

2 – from KB, Jan 20: Interesting line in the David Ignatius piece you linked in postnote 2:

“But even as the Biden administration attacks the most seditious members of the insurrection, it should consider a tactic that’s quite radical in the current political climate — listening to the other side.”

Immediately after Trump’s surprising 2016 victory there was a lot of talk among the pundits about their collective failure to understand the mood of America and anticipate that result. I wonder if the pundits, or political leaders, have become wiser since then? Listening couldn’t hurt.

Thoughts towards a better world.

3 – from K, Jan 21: Mr. Biden is being naive to think his election can bring unity back to our country.  Half the voters are joyous while half feel betrayed and saddened.  For more than 4 years Dems and their media acolytes have been filled with bigotry, hatred, and spewed vicious verbal venom at Trump and have repeatedly called him an illegal president, setting the stage for the ensuing civil unrest which plagues us today. Remember the “peaceful” ? transfer of power Trump received for 4 years after his election? There is such profound hatred in Dems they even want to silence the 75 million Trump voters and have even mentioned deprogramming them!  Democrats and the media would scream to high heaven if they were purged from all social web sites. So much for free speech!  Notice the liberal ACLU is silent!  Have you noticed since the election the overtly biased media have sidelined their offensive team and have sent in their defensive team?   Several million Americans expect Mr. Biden to screw up our country so bad that the 2022 election will be a retributive bloodbath for Dems, with even many moderate Dems voting to oust many liberal Dem socialists.  With Biden and or the media crowd calling Trump voters thugs, racists, deplorables, white nationalists, and terrorists they now expect unity from Trump voters?!?!?!  In 2020 Trump campaigned TO the people (note his huge crowds), while Biden avoided campaigns and interviews and hid in his basement and let his vengeful friends talk DOWN to Trump voters and engaged mainly in electioneering.  Biden will achieve national unity when pigs fly, or maybe possibly when Dems utter a SINCERE mea culpa to purge their hatred and bigotry for people on the other side of the fence.  The Dems not only have knocked Trump down, they kicked him while down and now want to rub salt in his wounds. This disrespectful bigotry by the left may even cause Trump and his half of the country in 2022 to rise like a Phoenix out of the ashes from the Dem’s dumpster and quell the Dem egotistic power trip.  Please spare me any (usual liberal slay the messenger) response and instead call for a genuine peace treaty and extend an olive branch as kind of mind changing atonement meds to the swamp leftists in an attempt to purge their chronic systemic bigotry, systemic hatred, and systemic intolerance of American citizens who walk along a different path towards a free great productive country, while carefully and thoughtfully avoiding socialistic leg hold traps and the bottomless puddles of liberal quicksand. We can now watch for a rising China and a sinking United States, many more “Made in China” and less “Made in America” products in our stores; more illegal aliens; increasing American employee layoffs; jobs and companies moving to China; more citizen victimization; higher taxes; increasing homelessness; more goofy gender classifications to de-sex or re-sex   the population; higher gasoline prices if even available; continued contempt for American history, and the green light for the destructive cancel culture crowd.  One area which Biden certainly will excel will be in the sheer number of vindictive dystopian bass ackward executive orders he will sign.  Trump built a wall at the southern border to keep out illegal aliens, but Biden built a fence around the Capital Building with 25,000 armed guards to keep out legal American citizens.  For several months Dem mayors and Governors let protestors riot, brutalize police, destroy, burn, and pillage many cities with impunity while police were ordered to stand down.  Anyone arrested went to jails with the revolving door type of Democrat justice. But when Republicans rained on the Dem’s parade police had to arrest as many as possible, take them to jail and throw away the keys. One green goon suggested Iowa corn fields be converted to windmill farms that won’t produce during calm weather, or solar farms that won’t produce at night. Imagine enduring Iowa’s July and August weather without air conditioning when the temp and humidity hover in the high 90’s, also what are we going to eat, tofu, rice, and raw fish produced in non-unionized China wet sweatshops?
PS: Unity may return when Dem’s offer atonement for their incessant uncivil behavior, and promise to govern to the center rather than just for the aspiring Banana Republic leftists.

4 – from L, Jan 22: What an incredibly uplifting [Inauguration] day!!II

…. the Devil is finally gone .  Yet we know  his vestiges will live on… And we need realize that
So sad to say, no family support here. Just so sad. My [family members] supported that devil. I believe it’s all about the dollar, again, so sad to say. Not even discussable…
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5 – from JP, Jan 26: So…my thoughts on GOP and Dems and 2022 and 2024
The Republicans are going to have a purge or some type of reckoning. However mainstream media folks seem to think that the moderates/never trumpers/financials will purge the Trumpist/authoritarians from the party.  Personally I think it will be the opposite.
After 30 years of pandering to a narrowing demographic and outright engaging in blatant or mild racism and Christian nationalism….the base of the party is obviously Trumpist.
So the moderates need somewhere to go…do they set up a 3rd party?  Or does Trump set up his Patriot Party and essentially take 70-80 percent of the current GOP with him?
One way or another there has to be a home for that increment … which even with Stacey Abrams increasing diverse turnout… is really a major reason for victories in Georgia and Arizona. (and WI and MI).
This leads next to the Dems… they have their own problem… the progressive Left and the rest of the party.  If the progressive left is allowed to be ascendant, then those GOP moderates and independents may quickly go back to the other side in 2022, 2024.  So, strangely, it stands to reason that hopefully Schumer, etc. understand that [Sens] Manchin and Sinema (yes yes DINOs) have a place in the party.  If they have to run against a fractured GOP , they have chance to win.
So, I say as I said before, do what FDR and others did before, aa) deliver results for the hoi polloi,   bb) succeed with Covd-19  cc) co-opt the Left’s ideas and make them palatable to the middle.
An Example: Universal Health insurance. I saw someone say that it is in fact a capitalist friendly idea…because it enables workers to make upward mobility and advance to new jobs and companies and states without having to worry about insurance.  It also allows entrepreneurs (been there, done that) and small businesses to remove a huge cost and time efficiency consumer from their overhead.  Even big business would benefit from the lower overhead of HR costs……  the main losers are essentially the drug companies and the insurance companies…..and to some extent the big medical service corporations and medical device manufacturers…..that is the 30% $$$ that could be recaptured.
The kicker is making the benefit exceed the cost (new taxes)……
I see this similar problem in messaging with the new “Green Economy”…. by and large when I hear Dem strategists and progressives talk about it they talk about new jobs that will be created.  They sound a lot like the new jobs created in high tech.   And we know where that left the “hillbilly elegy” crowd in the Rust Belt and rural/small towns.  I aint against the Green Economy, but the pie in the sky bit gets a bit tired ……
Forward.
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6 – Jan. 30 from Annelee, who grew up and lived in what became Nazi Germany (1926 till 1947), and is now 94, and very troubled by recent events in her long time home in Minnesota.  Here is a letter received from her today, shared with her permission: Annelee Jan 30 2021
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POSTNOTE, comment from Dick:   Most of my career was in labor relations as a Union staff person in a collective bargaining and grievance processing position.
My experience taught me that dispute resolution always was superior to “win-lose”.  It was never perfect; indeed, a good agreement had positives and negatives for both sides.  But even strikes were temporary speed bumps.  Both sides learned from their shared experience.
So, I lobby for deep conversation and compromise always.
In the current division in our country I am not so sure that this will work.   As I mentioned to a friend on the opposing side recently, the Democrats seem to be a more inclusive group; the current “Republicans” (yes, RINO) have an exclusive view.  The distinction is “me” vs “we”; “mine vs ours”; “belief” vs “fact” and on and on.  I articulated my own philosophy on the parties August 1 and 2, 2020, “D’s” and “T’s”.
Succinctly, for many years, the now-T’s have incessantly played hardball, which has reaped what we all are now experiencing: bitterness and division.  Getting back to some equilibrium will probably have to take a hard-ball tack, rather than compromise.  I don’t like saying this, but this is how I see it.  Trump was an ugly teacher and his acolytes will carry on until stopped.
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COMMENTS:

response from Carol to K:

This is in response to K who sadly is oozing with hatred but then blames the Democrats for being haters…
I hated Trump and who he was before he ever won in 2016.  I knew I did not care for presidents who said a female interviewer had “blood coming out of her wherever,” or who bragged about the size of his genitals in a campaign debate.  But I, like many others, did try to give him a grace period.  After all, he assured us he was going to pivot to being “presidential.”  But of course, he hit the ground lying about his inauguration crowd – and never stopped lying.  (I also have a “thing” against being lied to.)
(And I remind K that a number of Republicans have stated that their party leaders, led by McConnell, met in 2008 and agreed to oppose literally everything that President Obama did – before he took office.)
My hatred and alarm only grew as Trump trashed our democratic norms, trashed our foreign alliances, and in fact trashed each and every person who didn’t worship him.  But it wasn’t until AFTER the November election that I fully realized he was either 1) totally evil, or 2) totally insane.  (I think I still haven’t really decided which.  Possibly both?)  I will never forgive him for what he did to me, and my country, over what was already a difficult holiday season because of “social distancing” and the like, with his nonstop tantrums over bogus election claims, recounts and lawsuits.
No, Democrats and the media did not “set the stage for the ensuing civil unrest.”  Trump set his own stage, piece by harmful piece.  Anybody who cannot see that he was totally responsible for the abhorrent Jan. 6th attack on our Capitol – well, they have no eyes.  Daily they are tracking down and arresting participants in that riot who say, “Well, our commander-in-chief TOLD us it was our duty to do it.”  I do think that he overplayed his hand, and only wanted violence in the streets that day so that he could call out “his” militia and hopefully overturn the election.  But this is what happens when you carefully groom and nurture a monster – sometimes they grow bigger than you planned.
Folks like K evidently blame all Democrats for anything one Democrat does or says.  “Deprogramming”?  Come on.  But then they hurry to let us know that they don’t personally support what happened in the Capitol…
Biden won the election fair and square.  Even kids in Little League learn to accept defeat without trying to destroy everything and everybody in their sight.
some factchecking:
“Remember the ‘peaceful’ transfer of power Trump received,” K asks.  Well, yes, in fact I do.  Obama I’m sure was sick at heart that Trump had been elected; however, he and his staff bent over backward to share information and help the incoming administration.  For the good of the country that he loved.  Trump’s administration?  Not so much.  For weeks they stonewalled, not even providing Biden’s team with what he needed during the transfer period.  And I’m pretty sure I saw Barack and Michelle there on Trump’s Inauguration Day, putting on a brave face.  For the good of the country.  (By the time of the Biden’s inauguration, Trump was probably golfing.)
“Trump built a wall at the southern border.”  Actually, no, he didn’t.  Apart from scheduled replacement of wall that was already up, they built a piddling amount.  “Biden built a fence around the Capital[sic] Building.”  Actually, no, the fence went up before Biden became president…
K says: “For several months Dem mayors and Governors let protestors riot, brutalize police, destroy, burn, and pillage many cities with impunity…”  I’m curious about that.  Could he/she please list those “many cities” that were pillaged for “several months”?  My son lives in South Minneapolis, and the unfortunate riots there after Floyd’s murder lasted three or four days before the National Guard and additional law enforcement that the mayor and governor called in had it under control.
Oh, and as far as “Made in China”?  Does K not know that Biden just decreed that government vehicles would be made in America?
Etc.
I don’t expect folks like K to ever attempt “unity.” Their buy-in on hatred and lies, unfortunately, is too strong.  Deep down they have to know Trump used them, but will never admit it.  I think it really is a cult.
If they refuse to even care about facts, they should not be surprised when they are disparaged by the other side.  Because if we no longer have a mutual respect for facts and the truth, our country is toast.

Haiti, et al

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We’re in the Age of Zoom (my apologies to competitors).  Even as a retiree with 21 years seniority, I have at least 3 Zoom events this week.  Two are listed below, and worth checking out..

  1.  Coffee Hour on Haiti, Sat Jan 30, 10 to noon CST.  All details here.
  2. Today, was a very stimulating full day brought to us by Global Minnesota, who said: “Global Minnesota’s International Day of Education Symposium. Today we tackled urgent questions about how we design the future of learning in a world now highly aware of both pandemics – Covid-19 and Climate Disruption. Thank you for tuning in. So much depends on us. We hope you left feeling inspired, informed and engaged. In the coming days, a full replay will be available on [Global Minnesota’s website].  Please note: the “full replay” is not yet available.  Simply check back every few days.  The entire agenda was very interesting, particularly for anyone interested in education policy and practice in these days of Covid-19.
  3. I am very willing to forward via this means notice of other virtual events which seem relevant.  Send adequate detail.

Impeachment (2)

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The U.S. House of Representatives formally delivered the article of impeachment to the U.S. Senate at about 7 p.m. this evening.  The Trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 8.  I will reserve this space for opinion, as this matter develops.

The originating blog post was Jan. 13, 2021.  Is is here.

UPDATE Jan. 26: Washington Post Editorial Board: “The Trump era’s predations are still emerging”

Commentary on Jan 25: Just Above Sunset “The Formalities” here.

 

Resurrection

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PRENOTE: Tomorrow, Monday Jan 25 is the International Day of Education Symposium, presented by UNESCO.  Details here (scroll down to first item).  I’m registered.

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Most every day I take an “abstract-random” drive, just to get out of the house for a bit.  It’s my Covid-19 daily therapy.  It works.

Yesterday, my spur-of-the moment drive was back to 27th at E. Lake St. in Minneapolis to see my place, where the Gandhi Mahal restaurant used to be.  Gandhi Mahal was one of the many victims after George Floyd’s murder Memorial Day 2020.

Here’s yesterday’s photo.  Gandhi Mahal, indeed the entire block on which it stood, is still a vacant hole in the ground.

site of Gandhi Mahal, Jan 23, 2021, about 3 p.m.

Today’s Minneapolis Sunday StarTribune had an intriguing headline on the bottom of page 1: “RIOT AID NOWHERE TO BE SEEN” about the aftermath of Memorial Day week in Minneapolis.  I read on to see if any mention was made of Gandhi Mahal and its owner, my friend, Ruhel Islam.  There was specific reference near the end of the article on page A10:

“Ruhel Islam said he is forking out $80,000 to clear away the site of his destroyed restaurant, Gandhi Mahal.  He said city officials have not offered to reimburse him any of those funds.

“Just make it easy for us,” Islam say.  “Don’t make so much process.  We’re dealing with so many things in our lives right now.”

[Steve] Poor [Minneapolis director of development services]. said he is not sure if any of those owners will receive assistance since they hired their own contractors.  He said city officials are still ironing out those details.

“We can’t just give people money,” Poor said, “It’s illegal.”

Personal opinion: all of these comments, by both Islam and Poor, make sense.  This process isn’t, and cannot, and will not be, easy.

Eight months later, almost to the day, Gandhi Mahal is still a hole in the ground; its entire block a vacant lot.  But it’s neighborhood, including Gandhi Mahal, is being resurrected.

Over the months I’ve heard most of the “yah, buts…”

But I’ll make some suggestions anyway:

I’ll be sending another $100 to Ruhel Islam, no strings, to assist as he rebuilds.  I invite your participation.  Send me a check or other non-cash method, in whatever amount, made/payable to  Ruhel Islam, and I’ll get your letter, unopened, to him, two weeks from now.  Send to Dick Bernard, PO Box 25384, Woodbury MN 55125.  On the envelope put “RI” or similar in the lower left corner.

If you’re in the south Minneapolis area stop in at his interim location, “Curry in a Hurry” at the corner of 31st and Franklin Ave.

Or, alternatively, do something similar for someone else similarly affected in these last eight months.

I was back to that corner this morning, to take a few more photos.  Resurrection is happening.  Recovery is more than simply a soundbite.  Find some way to get involved.

Ruhel and his many fellow victims will appreciate it.  .

27th Ave at E. Lake St Minneapolis Jan. 24, 2021.  Gandhi Mahal would have been at the near center left between the traffic light and the snow-covered pile of dirt.  Every building on that side of the street has now been demolished and removed.

Gandhi Mahal as it was Nov. 13, 2016.  This photo was taken in the meeting room area.  The restaurant was a popular community gathering place.

Jan. 24, 2021: New building under construction two blocks north of Gandhi Mahal near the now reopened Aldi’s.

Ruhel Islam with my friend and peace and justice advocate Lynn Elling Dec. 2, 2015. Lynn was nearing the end of his life, and Ruhel and singer Larry Long and I went down to the Nursing Home where Lynn was then resident. Ruhel brought lunch from Gandhi Mahal. Lynn died in February, 2016, and Ruhel was at the Memorial Service in May.

POSTNOTE: So, who did the mayhem in Minneapolis-St. Paul and other places, like Portland and Kenosha and on and on?  There were protests, but that is different than mayhem – burning buildings, breaking windows and on and on.  So, re the local versions of the U.S. Capitol assault of Jan. 6, 2021.

My opinion:  Other than those already arrested and identified by media, I have no idea, of the specifics, but you can believe that the culprits will be brought to justice, though it will be more months and perhaps even longer.

The violence was perfect for ThePastMan, who went on the “law and order” offensive – until the U.S. Capitol disaster occurred.

Be patient.

Last night we watched the strangely addictive 48-hours – which specializes in real-life whodunnits sometimes many years old.

Last nights laid out a 30 year old murder in a small town in Alabama.  It was a true cold case which happened in the days before things like DNA.  In this case, it was a lady who had first-hand knowledge of what happened (but was not involved in the case itself), who finally came forward and told a story nobody had heard earlier.   Perhaps it can be watched at the programs website.  The town was Ozark Alabama.  The key word is Beasley.

Those involved in the Capitol mayhem are learning quickly the possible consequences.  Minneapolis was the pioneer, and the element of surprise has slowed down justice.  Just wait.

COMMENTS (More at end of post):

from Rebecca: Dick: Thanks for writing about my neighborhood and our mutual friend Ruhel Islam. I have not yet ordered from Curry in a Hurry, but I will. And make a donation online.Scott and I love Ruhel, supported him through his expansion 2 blocks from our house, the disaster that destroyed his place and Migizi’s just as they were creating an every-expanding presence of hope and unity in Longfellow at 27th and E. Lake St. We hope  that he can stay in this area. He is a really hard-working, spiritual activist and people-person. I guess that he isn’t a saint or a perfect man, no one is, but many of us, like you and me, call him brother.

from Maria: Thank you Dick for your today’s reflections on ‘resurrection’ and photos. I have vivid and fond memories of our meetings with various peace and justice groups at the Gandhi Mahal, especially with members of the Advocates for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. I still contribute to them.

So moving the photo with Lynn Elling…
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from Jeff: interesting that two more guilty pleas for the police precinct arson shows both right wing and left wing radicals involved.

I tend to think people discount the ability of the mob mentality at night to embolden young males to do crazy things……less politics and more frenzy.
[Do] you know that Gandhi Mahal was attacked for sure by right wingers?
response from Dick:  to the preceding sentence, no, I don’t know.  As previously noted, however, the truth will out.  I do know that Ruhel Islam was well respected by the community, and made many civic contributions.  His restaurant would be a very unlikely target.
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from Dennis: Dick, thanks for sharing this update and interesting, important Resurrection story — much appreciated! I’m pleased to mail you a check in the morning.

 

We “…of…by…for….”

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PRENOTE: Monday Jan 25 is the International Day of Education Symposium, presented by UNESCO.  Details here (scroll down to first item).  I’m registered.

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Call to Action: The last phrase of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, Nov. 18, 1863, says it all: “…government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

The supreme authority of this Democracy, our Republic, the United States of America, is articulated in the very first sentence of the Constitution of the U.S., “We, the people….”

We, the people, own the success, or the failure, of this complex system called the United States, and the planet of which we are only a small but very significant part.  This is truer now than it has ever been.  We will determine what we are, and what we will be.

What the future will be now is in the hands of my children’s generation (ages 40s and 50s).  There are big risks…and opportunities…in their near and more distant future.  We elders can advise them; but they will decide their fate, and that of their children.

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We have now seen the beginning of the 2021 New Year and the change in government in a way few of us have likely ever seen.  2021 reminds me of the late 1960s.

Monday, Jan. 25, basically begins the New Year of our U.S. government.  Of course, there have been actions of that government in the last few days, but for reasons we all had an opportunity to observe in real time, we are off to a particularly ragged start with multiple and very serious issues facing us.

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So, where do you stand as this New Year begins?  And how do you make sure your voice is heard by those who make decisions as your representative at the local, state and national level?

Do you know who has been elected to represent you at all levels, from local to national?  And do you know how to effectively reach them, all of them?   If you were in their shoes, how much would they appreciate your way of communication with them?  

Your “circles” are important too…the people you know, and who know you.

Write down their names and how to connect with them…and connect, if nothing more than a brief note to begin.  They will notice.

Sure, you’re only one, but you are one.

Identify a hero, somebody who you think has made a positive difference. Here are a few Gandhi quotations to start with.

You can’t impact on the system by yelling at the television; or saying to yourself that your opinion doesn’t matter anyway; or that those who surround you in various ways – family, etc. – are fools; or that your lawmaker must listen only to your opinion; or that the winner takes all, and the loser has no voice.

President Biden’s mantra “build back better” is not an idle phrase.

You..and me…and everyone…are a voice of one.  That is what a democracy is.  You are the future.

POSTNOTE: Just Above Sunset: Thinly Veiled Innuendo; George Conway in today”s Washington Post.

COMMENTS:

from Fred:  A friend sent a concise Washington Post review of our ex-prez.

“We didn’t need to go through all this. We really didn’t. The economy and stock market would have soared with or without Trump. In fact, it would have done even better without him. We didn’t need to lose 400,000 Americans to delay and denial. We could have collaborated and found early solutions. We could have built a much stronger country over the last four years by encouraging diversity and international cooperation and networking, rather than chaos, divisiveness and isolation, and we could have been working on climate change for four years, instead of wasting precious time. All this waste, all the squandered opportunities and possibilities simply to feed one man’s ego. It is lucky that America has such a superabundance of resources and benefit of geographical location that we can afford to be so reckless with our democracy. A lesser country would have gone under. Let’s never again take our democracy for granted.”
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response from Dick: when this disastrous four years began in 2017, the United States had less than 5% of the world’s population, and about 23% of the World’s wealth. Here’s the data: Wealth of UN Countries.  Quite certainly the disequity of wealth within the U.S. itself is now far worse than it was then, a result of major tax cuts which disproportionately benefited the already richest Americans; and the pandemic which has disproportionately impacted the least wealthy.

Inauguration

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The first event of Inauguration Day happened at about 5:30 p.m., a memorial to the now-400,000 Covid-19 deaths since last January.  There were 400 lights, each signifiying one-thousand deaths.  It was brief and very impressive.  A nurse sang “Amazing Grace” – her singing has gone viral.  Here’s tonight on YouTube.  Note the second song at the same space, sung at the same event.

TV Screen Shot Jan. 19, 2021

3:30 a.m. Jan. 20: This initial comment on soon-president Joe Biden and vice-president Kamala Harris will be very brief.

They are the perfect team to lead this country at a time of incredible crisis in many areas.  There’s will be an extremely difficult job.  All presidents have extremely difficult jobs – impossible to please everyone – but Jan. 20, 2021, is near the top of any list I can imagine, including WWII.  But that’s a conversation for later.

I have liked Joe Biden since the beginning.  His strengths are just exactly what our country needs.  I’ve mentioned them before: he’ll change the tone of our country; he has far more relevant experience than most anyone who’s ever run for the office, local office, U.S. Senate, Vice-President.

His life experience has amplified his empathy for others.

His mantra will be, I think, helping the United States of America, which includes all states and all of us.

I don’t know as much about Kamala Harris, but the fact that Mr. Biden chose her has great meaning; and she is the first woman, to have ever held the office and for this and many other reasons everyone knows will bring a new and fresh perspective to governing this country.

The critical link, now, will be every single one of us.  To continue to be for, and not against.  As the sidewalk sign I saw at the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic said so well on April 8, 2020: “Smile.  We will get through this Together!”

Forward.

At entrance to Carver Park walking trail, Woodbury MN April 8, 2020.

POSTNOTE: Yesterday, I took the hour and 50 minutes to watch, on-line, the 2011 film “The Wave”, about a high school teacher who did an experiment with autocracy.  The film is German, subtitled, and is very powerful and appropriate, especially for today’s unrest in the U.S.  I rented it through Amazon for $3.99.  I think it is available at other places as well.  Tomorrow night a group of us will do an on-line conversation about it.  If you are interested, check the website for Global Solutions MN, and scroll down to Third Thursday films.  This is a continuing program and you are invited to participate from wherever you live.

POSTNOTE 2: One of the headlines in The Washington Post columns this morning says “Joe Biden’s fundamental challenge is to root out the domestic insurgency” by David Ignatius.  I agree, but only to the extent that the task really falls to each and every one of we citizens where we live.  We know these people in our own environments.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

From Mary K: Smile, we will get through this. God Bless America  I will look for “The Wave”. Ciao.

from Fred: Nicely stated. I agree with your depiction of Joe Biden and, as the shadow from the last four years lifts, look hopefully to the future.

from Lydia: [See] link to April 1961 Speech by JFK on the press (you can read or listen to it). I immediately thought you’d find it of interest/inspiration.

from CNN’s “Reliable Sources” for Jan. 17, 2021: Remember how presidents used to speak?

With Biden about to take over, it’s a good day to read or re-read inaugural speeches, and other compelling addresses by past presidents. I re-read John F. Kennedy’s 1961 speech to newspaper publishers, which contains a lot of wisdom about democracy, national security, and the power of the press. Kennedy spoke of “our obligation” — both his and the news media’s — “to inform and alert the American people, to make certain that they possess all the facts that they need, and understand them as well — the perils, the prospects, the purposes of our program and the choices that we face.” Read or listen to the speech here…

Screen Shots: Jan 20, 2020, White House, Bidens

Vice-President Kamala Harris and her husband. about to enter the Vice-Presidents office, Jan. 20, 2021

White House, Jan. 20, 2021

Martin Luther King Jr.

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Today is Martin Luther King Jr. day, the Third Monday in January.

MLK was born Jan. 15, 1929 and died by assassination Apr. 4, 1968, at the age of 39.

I remember where I was when I heard of his death.  I would guess you do, too.

This is a good day to reintroduce six lectures on racism given by six white professors from St. Thomas University, St. Paul, in February and March, 2020.  I think they are still accessible here.  Scroll down to “Featured Resources, Becoming Human….” for the brief descriptor and viewing information.

I saw the first three presentations in person In February at the Basilica of St. Mary.  The remaining three were the first cancellations due to Covid-19, but the professors elected to continue them on-line.

Have a great day.

NOTE: While at the Global Solutions website note some other events upcoming in the near future, and visit there once in awhile.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from Gail: Thanks, Dick.  I just listened to MLK’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech, and also the one he gave in Memphis the day he was assassinated.  “Democracy Now” airs them every year on MLK Day.  We should remember that his “Beyond Vietnam” speech was given a year to the day before he was assassinated.  I suspect that the date was selected to send a message that that’s what happens to prominent people who claim that “The United States is the biggest purveyor of violence in the world today.”  I am quite sure that if he were alive, King would make the same claim.

from Kristin: I subscribe to the “Anti-Racism Newsletter” (here) and yesterday’s message included audio, transcript and other links to several MLK’s speeches. I recommend subscribing!

History

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The Inauguration of President Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris is Wednesday January 20.  If you are interested, check here.

About noon today (Saturday) I took the short trip over to the Minnesota State Capitol, just to see what was happening in our state’s possible ‘war zone’ in the wake of The Capitol insurrection on the 6th of January.

The trip is a short one, albeit on slick winter roads, and near the Capitol on the wall of the Minnesota History Center I saw this sign.  Nothing could be more appropriate for today.

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Indeed, every instant of our lives is history.

Over 20 years ago, in the first year of the then-Newseum in Rosslyn, VA, I saw the quotation, “news is the first rough draft of history“.

We – all of us –  make history every instant of every day by what we do, or not.  History is far more than the President or the favorite celebrity we love to love…or hate.  History is US…every single one  of us…all of the time.

To my left, today, as I took the above photo, down the street perhaps a half mile at the most, stands the Minnesota State Capitol.  This day, the major streets into the Capitol area were blocked off, and supervised by an unknown number of law enforcement personnel.  The morning paper said that people could walk in to the Capitol area.  There were few of these this dreary day.

I turned to my left and took a photo.  This was the scene from my History Center vantage point shortly after noon today.

Minnesota State Capitol about 1 p.m. Saturday Jan. 16,2021.

Where Rice crosses John Ireland Blvd was a single highway patrol vehicle, a military tactical vehicle, and ordinary wooden barriers.  This was also true across the way at Cedar St., which is also the site of the National Guard facility; and likely the same at other access points around the Capitol area itself.

In the distance, by the Capitol steps area, one could see people who probably were security personnel, and that was about all.  But no doubt this piece of real estate was covered.

Here’s what the Minneapolis Star Tribune had to say this evening about what was happening at the Capitol steps area about the time I was there.  There may have been a few protestors there while I was.

What will transpire the next few days?

I don’t know.  Nobody does.

There’s plenty of speculation, and loads of preparedness everywhere.

I’m going to go out on a long limb and predict that the next few days, everywhere, will essentially be non-events, at least in terms of crisis.  Photos of empty streets will dominate.  And that quiet will be a good thing.  But that doesn’t mean that the problem of violent anarchists is over.  I could as easily be wrong.  Sure, there could be incidents.  Try to keep them in their proper perspective.  Don’t empower hate.

For the moment, the thugs, including the President, Guilani and Brooks, have had their awful fun.  Several people lie dead; our government officials and we, too, are traumatized.  But remember there were less than 10,000 Americans – a tiny fraction of the 330,000,000 of us – attacking and violating our national Capitol building.  We need to keep this in mind.  It was quiet in my neighborhood on the 6th, and likely in yours, too, and has been since.  Peace outnumbers War by many times over.  But this is no time to rest easy.

The soldiers from this point on have to be each and every one of us, refusing to be cowed into silence.  Each and every one of us know people who are susceptible to, perhaps even supported, the violence we’ve seen on television.  People who’ve bought the false stories.

We need to be witness to sanity, in all of the many peaceful ways available to us.  We cannot stand by and tolerate the insanity we watched unfold.  We cannot be silent, or depend on somebody else to be our voice.  We need to be our own voice.

I saw this Gandhi quote in a book I’ve been reading, and it fits our history, now: “The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.”

It is time to begin the march towards sanity.

Previous related posts on Jan 6, 13 and 15, 2021.

POSTNOTE Jan. 17: I took another drive to state Capitol area today, essentially the same situation as yesterday.  Lots of news in the Sunday Minneapolis Star Tribune.  Here’s a particularly relevant and distressing article that appeared only in the print edition (click to enlarge): StarTribune front page Jan. 17 2021

Minnesota State Capitol steps about noon, Sunday Jan. 17.  Appeared to be a rehearsal by security people.  Telephoto from south end of the Capitol Mall near Veterans Service Building and the USS Ward Memorial.

Overnight Jan 18, 2021: Just Above Sunset, “Quite Dangerous People”.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from Jerry: Thanks for your blog, Dick.  I read it saying “yes” a number of times.  The old Japanese proverb “may you live in interesting times” is certainly true today.   On Martin Luther King day we realize how far we still have to go to assure  equality and justice for all.

from JoAnn: Right on!

from Barry: Thanks for the report Dick.  For some of those folks I think they are a bit surprised that they are in trouble and may actually/hopefully face consequences. Trump however is as always delusional. Will he ever suffer a negative consequence?

from Brian: This is one of your best posts. I love the picture of the state capitol building. Thanks so much for sharing. And I agree with your spirit.

from Florence: Thanks, Dick.  Good food for thought.  Peace and joy this week and throughout 2021.

from Julianne: I read the [Star Tribune] article twice. Waterbury was indeed calling on the crowd in MN to move to the governor’s home to get him. She had asked for him to talk with her one on one. What the intent was to move to the governor’s mansion is unclear. Were they going to storm into his house and was the crowd deflected by the police? Not clear in the article what their intent was but the police removed the governor’s son to protect him, so it appears that the threat was real. What was the purpose of the threat? She says she is willing to die for her goal. What goal? Was it to keep the “Republican president” in place despite the results of the election? Was this a government takeover to prove – what? My family in Wisconsin feels threatened by living in a Republican dominated community in a Republican state. They are planning to hunker down even more than what the pandemic requires because the threat feels real to them. The multiracial daughter of one of her friends feels threatened anywhere in her community and even with her friends. Fear rages and anger is widespread and is growing within this country. The anger is diverse and the fear it generates is spreading. I am at a loss for words. Trump has fed on this anger and has become the focal point of the anger from many sides. He loves it. He owns it. He has become its leader. Our whole country is at a loss as to how to define it. But it is real. We are clearly divided into many different parts until the anger has become one anger. We all lose because of it and our country loses because of it. And the world looks on in shock, bewilderment, and sometimes cheers at our fallen country. I really don’t have words express my personal feelings of loss and of fear.

Overnight very early Jan. 19:  Just Above Sunset nicely sets the stage for the next chapter of America:“Somehow Making History”.  Regulars at this space know I’m a fan of the retiree in Hollywood who composes the column most days, I think was his hobby.  I encourage folks to subscribe.  The price is really right!

Kathy, out in Oregon writes last evening: Am so enjoying the break from last 4 years of over 11,000 tweets that were constantly broadcast daily on even NPR.

You know Dick- you’ve said you are inundated with so much information coming at you but I’d like to suggest you give Dr Heather Cox-Richardson’s daily Letters from an American a read.
She is featured on Bill Moyer’s bi-monthly blog. She is history prof at Boston University from Maine who has been shepherding  us thru the troubles of this past year with her daily Letter… sometimes adding a photo her husband has taken. I like her because she doesn’t sensationalize the events, she puts things into a historical perspective and always leaves us with a bit of hope. She will keep this up through Biden’s first 100 days. However, we’ve formed a community that may continue on.
You may want to give it a peek.
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Dick, responding: I enthusiastically agree with Kathy’s recommendation of Heather Cox-Richardson’s post.  Whatever happens in the next 48 hours, we Americans will wake up on Jan. 21 with an opportunity to start over…we’ll see how WE do.
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overnight, very early Jan. 20: “The Very Last Day”
overnight, very early Jan. 21: “The New Old World”

The Covid-19 vaccine

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Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Jeff in Burnsville MN, raising a concern with his legislator about the timeline for Covid-19 vaccine.  I am reprinting his letter, and the legislators response with Jeff’s permission.  NOTE TO READERS.  Constituent letters are aways effective.  Best to write to your own representatives at whatever level: your state legislator, your congressperson, etc.  These days, via e-mail is probably the best way to communicate.

Jeff’s letter to his State Senator and Representative Jan. 14:

I am writing this email to both my representatives together to ask why  Minnesota is lagging in its distribution of its allocated Covid 19 vaccines.  According to the NY Times as of January 13 only 32% of the allocation has been distributed.  Michigan, North Dakota and South Dakota are all higher, I just saw the Governor of Kentucky say that his state’s 50%+ vaccination rate was not acceptable.  

Moreover, when I interact with family and friends I find there is no idea of when anyone will get vaccinated.  My daughter in law is an RN working in Ramsay county (she lives in Eagan) and she got her first shot last week, but I was told by a dentist yesterday that healthcare workers in Dakota county in the same risk category have not been told when they will get the shot.  My spouse is an RN working in disabled group homes in Dakota County and has been told  by her employer she is in the 3rd wave and will be notified when she will get vaccinated.  (according to the MN health dept website she qualifies as 1c I think as group residential homes and staff are specifically mentioned in there) The employer cannot tell her when, and obviously doesnt know. (news reports show disabled adults are in one of the highest risk categories for infection and mortality)  Friends who are 65 and 75 + age groups with and without health conditions continue to tell me they dont know. 
It frankly is a mystery. 
On the other hand friends who are 65+ with no health conditions in my birth county in rural Michigan are being vaccinated now and are able to call their local hospital and get appointments to come for their first shots in the next week. 
Can you please find out what is causing this lack of any definition?  And also the low % of distribution for Minnesota compared to other states?   Please contact the Governor and the MN Health Dept and see what answers can be given.  
Hey, I am a strong Democrat so I know the botching of the Covid response by the current National administration is a factor, hopefully that will improve under Pres. Biden, but it still doesnt explain the low vaccination rate here, and the seeming lack of good information or planning on when citizens in the various groups can estimate when they will get the vaccine or even how they find out?
Thank you. 
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Response from Jeff’s State Senator on the same day.
Thank you for reaching out. I first want to say that this is an issue I am following very closely and advocating strongly for. I wanted to get back to you right away with a quick response, and let you know that I have requests in for more answers and am happy to pass those along as I receive them. As of the beginning of this week, Minnesota had not physically received much of our recent allocation. So while we have been allocated a number of doses, and they show up on the tracking, we have not actually received them from the federal government in Minnesota. That should change now as doses that were previously being held back by the Trump administration are now being released to states. 
However, I do not believe we have adequate answers for how we will be catching up and getting our population, both those frontline workers and the general population, vaccinated as soon as possible. I can assure you this is something I am watching closely, and I’m happy to get back to you again later this week or early next week as I receive a response to my inquiries.
Kind Regards,
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COMMENTS:
from Mary: I have a background in Social work and Public health and wish to request you spearhead an effort to identify and locate Seniors over 70 living independently in community…then share with the public health department who is developing strategy..Our state has no existing structures to prepare for their vaccination fo Covid…Churches would have the initial trust, would design release of information and could also continuously update the contact information of these folks….through the use of existing social justice volunteers, parish nurses, secretaries  etc…This is a very compassionate action to offer our health connection efforts…..

Since I started work in the 70’s we have diminished public health services. The pathway to vacinate these independant seniors is not built  To build this network through funding in the state is not likely to be quick enough..Health providers are stretched.
Vacines are offered to the batches of people easy to find currently…
Please spread this idea widely….
I helped develop and expand services for the disabled in dakota county. In 1970 we found those unserved folks by having the Mrs JCCs call every home and ask if anyone had a disabling condition….now ,that is not feasible .  I know churches and YMCA are attempting to keep phone contact….lets bring our community to focused action..