When I look around, I see people who are different in almost every way conceivable. Some are young, some are old; some are tall, some are short; there are people with yellow hair, black hair, brown hair, red hair, gray hair, white hair or no hair; some people have white skin, some black, some brown, some yellow, some red, and many a beautiful mixture of racial backgrounds; some have dogs, some cats, some prefer no pets; some are vegetarian, some carnivores; people can be straight, or gay, or bi- or trans, or asexual; some drink whiskey, some prefer beer, some drink no alcohol at all; some like bacon, some have trouble telling the truth; some like road trips (I do), some are homebodies; some are Republicans, some are Democrats, many are independents; some people like their coffee black, some white, some don't drink coffee at all; I have blue eyes, my six children have brown, green, and blue; some folks speak English, some speak French, algunos hablan español some speak Chinese, some speak Japanese, some speak Hindi, برخی فارسی صحبت می کنند, some speak Russian, some are multi-lingual; there are home-owners, and there are renters, some people have no home at all; some people like romcoms, some like vampire flicks; we have Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Parsi, Shiites, Sunnis, Catholics, Protestants, atheists, agnostics or polytheists; and then there is perhaps the biggest divide of all -- some people root for one sports team, while others root for its arch-rival.
Think Michigan-Ohio State. It doesn't get meaner than that.
So how do we possibly deal with all of these opposing tendencies, proclivities, and preferences?
I don't know. But I do know that demonizing each other is not going to help.
It's time for all of us, including our leaders, to cut the hate rhetoric and think a little more deeply about what unites us. If nothing else, we face a common enemy in Covid-19. It sickens and kills us regardless of political affiliation, religion, or sports loyalties.
Plus the one thing we can all do is vote. And the election is only three weeks away from Tuesday.
That's T minus 21. Think about it.
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* Are Astronaut-Style Face Shields the Future of P.P.E.? -- They may look high-tech, but so far there’s no evidence these devices are more effective than face masks. (NYT)
* Customers Still Like to Shop in Person, Even if They Get Only to the Curb -- Online orders have surged for retailers in the pandemic, as curbside pickup helps Americans satisfy their desire to hop in a car and drive to the store. (NYT)
* "I’m a pro-life evangelical. In supporting Trump, my movement sold its soul." By Stephanie Ranade Krider (WashPo)
* In the ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Sunday Biden led Trump by a 55% to 43% margin among likely voters. The poll was the third high quality national poll published this week that had Biden up by at least 10 points and above 50%. This is an unprecedented position for a challenger with a mere 23 days to go until Election Day. (CNN)
* Biden is favored to win the election. -- We simulate the election 40,000 times to see who wins most often. The sample of 100 outcomes below gives you a good idea of the range of scenarios our model thinks is possible. Biden 86%, Trump 14%. (538)
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Personal update: I have voted by mail, have you?
I'm gonna let your pass
And I'll go last
Then time will tell just who has fell
And who's been left behind
When you go your way and I go mine.
-- Bob Dylan and The Band
-30-
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