A Thought Experiment for my fellow Americans: on 12.5.2020 at 10:38 pm PT ( IN 3 PARTS)
by VernonNickersonSchoolcoach
If I wrote a column tonight entitled: “America’s goal should be zero Covid cases,” and sent it to the NYT [New York Times] — [it would] get swiftly rejected." - Umair Haque
1.) THE ASK AND THE CONFESSIONAL
Okay America, you have until midnight Pacific Time Sunday, December 6, 2020 to cast your vote as to whether Economist Umair Haque's claim is TRUE or FALSE. If you don't vote, you will have a " Umair's statement is TRUE" vote cast on your household's behalf.
This "thought/action" experiment is my attempt to test a presumption I have held onto throughout the insanity of the past 12 months. Specifically: When given a choice, the overwhelming majority of voters in America prefer life over death and will always choose life. Narcissism, Exceptionalism, Nativism, Ageism, Racism, Sexism, Misogyny, Transphobia, Toxic Religiosity, Homophobia, and all other psychopathology in the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary branches of government notwithstanding, even POTUS45 would choose life and not nuke us all to smithereens.
Let me be the first(?) to say how, stunned, saddened, disappointed, and depressed I am after my relief over the results of our most recent Presidential Plebescite. My joy because that abominable, overwrought-yet-professionally-acted telenovela, "Trump’s MontyPythonFlyingCircus", was not renewed for another interminable and likely unsurvivable 4-year cycle was short-lived. Now that the votes have been counted ( and recounted multiple times depending upon who your State Governor is (?)) we are confronted with the reality that there is "no overwhelming majority" of Americans without an internalized death wish. This is true regardless of race, class, gender, or spirituality.
Half of us are bloodied, yet unbowed in our optimistic conviction that we shall overcome. Half of us have been partying like its 1999 since New Years Eve, 2019 and have no intention to allow a deadly pandemic to stop the celebration. Science and lived experience confirm that 'hangry', hungover, and guilt-ridden neurotic human beings will consistently make the risky and stupid choice, every damn time.
2. )THE LAMENTATION and PRAYER
Dear God from glory! At this point I am craving a grand SOCIAL!gesture; a Second Coming of Unconditional Love, if you will. I want to write for people who want to read and talk about what I have to say. I want to help people who want to be helped I want to cook for people who enjoy my cooking. I want to spend time with the people I love. I want to live and teach people who want to learn and live. God I think I miss that the most. Besides it's so much easier to for me to care for myself when there are people I can trust, care for and share with.
So, I am grateful for All my cousins
All my brothers and sisters beloved, my former and future SPED students, parents, teachers and administrators, all my KP folks!(where "!" = "exponentially"), my dentist and his team, the customer service department of Sparkletts water, random customer service teams at VZW, Spectrum, LA DCBA mediation, Lily and her boss, State Senator HOLLY MITCHELL, Jake and Carlos, my Terminix angels, my 90044-1452 ex-NeighborsExtraordinaire!, Affordable Movers, Inc., SFV, CA "New" Neighbors, the fearless! Comedy of Robin Williams and Jim Carrey, George Carlin and Dave Chappelle, and last, but first in the heart ❤ of this Amer-i-CAN, Principal Melissa Winters! She took a chance on me as an NPA/BII, and rejuvenated, encouraged, empowered, and advocated for a rabid-lifelong-learner/teacher, moi!
Just another days journey in pair-a-dice, and I'm grateful and GLAD TO BE AMONG THE LIVING! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍💯🤟🤞👌✌🙏✍🫂
3.) PARTING THOUGHTS
I asked Google:
Was there ever a time that their was no polio?
The answer:
This means that there is no year-round transmission of poliovirus in the United States. Since 1979, no cases of polio have originated in the U.S. However, the virus has been brought into the country by travelers with polio. The last time this happened was in 1993.
Follow up question: How was polio stopped?
The response:
Strategy. The most important step in eradication of polio is interruption of endemic transmission of poliovirus. Stopping polio transmission has been pursued through a combination of routine immunization, supplementary immunization campaigns and surveillance of possible outbreaks.
EPILOGUE
Now, read Umair's article, then VOTE:
https://link.medium.com/wZGWOvQYYbb
