Yesterday, I had my first Covid-19 test in preparation for eye surgery. It was at a facility in Berkeley where everyone was masked and at a distance. They have you give the test to yourself -- sticking a swab up your nostrils -- while an attendant watches.
When I re-emerged to the parking lot, one of my younger grandchildren ran up excitedly: "Grandpa, do you have it?"
He meant Covid-19.
Afterwards, we drove a ways to where we could walk onto the U-C, Berkeley campus, where we encountered this beautiful Black Lives Matter tribute pictured above.
It is in a peaceful spot by a fountain, just some flowers and words drawn in chalk.
Under these circumstances, there's no individual place I'd rather celebrate than the great university at Berkeley. A leading center of research and thought, it also is the venerated home for freedom of expression in this country.
Generations of student activists have marched peacefully to demand an end to wars, racism, injustices of all kinds. This campus truly is a national shrine, which should serve as a beacon for all of us.
I taught there as an adjunct professor for over 14 years. Many of my students are still friends of mine, years later, and many have gone on to wonderful careers in journalism.
The reason it felt so good to be at Berkeley was I fear this is a dark week in American history.
Halfway across the country, a dangerously sick man is leading the charge of armed right-wing militias into Kenosha, Wisconsin, hoping to incite violence. He wants chaos because he thinks that will galvanize his base and help him win re-election.
His only hope of winning, actually, is to incite fear and anger among the under-educated and ignorant who are rebelling against the nationwide calls for equality and justice. These unfortunate souls ride their big trucks, waving their flags, flaunting their guns, as if they were some kind of patriotic force.
In fact, they are nothing but misguided thugs.
Be absolutely clear: There are not two "rights" in this matter; there is one right and one wrong.
The "law and order" thugs are in the wrong. They seek to undermine much-needed social change.
Activists in Berkeley have been leading the movements for that change for generations. In the Bay Area, they have helped establish a region where the ideals of equality and justice prevail., not perfectly but better than in other places. Now the battle has shifted to the parts pf the country where out-dated attitudes still hold some sway.
I have confidence that the good people of the Midwest, my home region, will reject Trump's manipulative rhetoric to soundly denounce him at the polls and rid our nation of the scourge of his reign. It is up to them. Californians want nothing further to do with this evil man.
We are at the crisis point, the tipping point in this battle.
May calmer and sounder minds prevail back in the heartland. so that the tyrant can be vanquished.
***
The news headlines portend trouble on Tuesday. I fervently hope no more people lose their lives over this.
* White House says Trump still planning to visit Kenosha after governor urges him to reconsider (CNN)
* Trump unleashes barrage of tweets in response to Portland shooting, says ‘big backlash’ to protests ‘cannot be unexpected--The president let loose roughly 90 tweets and retweets attacking Democratic officials and defending aggressive actions by his supporters in Portland. (Washington Post)
* Trump Embraces Fringe Theories on Protests and the Coronavirus -- In a Twitter barrage, the president advanced conspiracy theories claiming that protests are an organized coup and that the virus death toll is inflated. He also reposted a call to imprison New York’s governor. (New York Times)
* Portland mayor excoriates Trump: 'It's you who have created the hate' (CNN)
* Trump, Vicar of Fear and Violence -- He continues the old practice of stoking white victimhood for votes.(New York Times)
* Trump's favorability and perceptions of COVID-19 response stagnate post-convention (ABC)
* Biden condemns violence in Portland and calls on Trump to do the same (CNN)
* Big Oil Is in Trouble. Its Plan: Flood Africa With Plastic. -- Faced with plunging profits and a climate crisis that threatens fossil fuels, the industry is demanding a trade deal that weakens Kenya’s rules on plastics and on imports of American trash. (New York Times)
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***
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
Everybody look what's going down
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
Everybody look what's going down
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
Everybody look what's going down
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