Category Archives: Political Correctness

Why is there not a single trans voice featured in Harry and Meghans first podcast? Its a question that needs answering. The half-hour recording the couples first since signing a $25 million deal with Spotify sets out to explore the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on, as the Duchess herself puts it, people from all walks of life. Given this description, excluding the trans community from participating seems, at best, problematic perhaps even sinister. Why leave trans people out in this most public of discourses?

This editorial decision a slap in the face for an already marginalized community seems all the more surprising because of who has made it. While the rest of us have spent 2020 hunkering down and cursing the gods, Harry and Meghan have made no bones about aggressively pursuing woke dollar. They have unblinkingly positioned themselves as the millennial king and queen of political correctness, frequently releasing videos in which they rail vaguely against privilege. Memorably, Harry used one of these videos to say the British Commonwealth, the institution for which his grandmother is the living embodiment, needs to acknowledge the past even if it is uncomfortable.

Anyway, the podcast deal announced very shortly after the $100 million Netflix deal is the latest escalation in this campaign: a kind of high stakes meta psychodrama in which these two pushy ex royals ride the Windsor family brand as far as they can stateside, at the same time apparently subverting the journalistic media they claim to loathe by lucratively becoming part of it. The company they have formed for this purpose, Archewell, has described the podcasts it will henceforth expensively produce as being to build a community through shared experiences, narratives and values.

The first podcast, trans people ostracization aside, is everything youd expect. It begins with the regal thanking of healthcare and frontline workers (as if the sacrifices these people have made have been made for the duke and duchess themselves). Meghan then rather grandly explains that she has spent the holiday season, not, as you might expect, counting her money, but contemplating all people who have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss as a result of COVID-19.

After that, there is just time for Harry to urge listeners to sit back and grab a cozy beverage, before the platitudes begin rolling in, in earnest. Various guests mostly liberal celebrity friends of the couple start by unselfconsciously describing themselves (philanthropist, poet, an explorer of consciousness etc.) before, against a deeply irritating Disney-style soundtrack intended to guide the listeners emotional response, delivering statements such as: humanity is ready for a new story. Through new context, new meanings, new relationships, we are giving birth to a new humanity.

At one point a woman who is described as a person who brings healing to communities of color tells us something I have learned about myself this year is how much of a spiritual practice simplicity and solitude can be. Another described as a democracy advocate tells us: most of all, I gave myself permission to be sad, so I could find joy on the other side.

Throughout, its this type of fare, precisely the sort of thing one suspects that people who have to worry about such base concerns as working to put food on the table, tend not to say to one another. Surprisingly, no one quotes Maya Angelou until the 18th minute, but when it comes its a zinger: my wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are and to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. (You go, Meghan.)

Amazingly, and revealingly, of all the contributors, it is Elton John who sounds most sane and connected to reality. He speaks frankly about the nightmare of alcoholics being unable to attend AA meetings during lockdown and the manner in which normal people have had to deal with losing loved ones and jobs. Its been the worst year Ive ever known, and Im 73, he says.

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And then were back to meaningless platitudes. Without the dark, the stars cannot shine, someone says. A self-described street poet tells us: 2020, thats a very hard year for me to call my friend. And then Meghan begins to bring proceedings to a close by informing the listener: no matter what life throws at you, trust us when we say: love wins. Harry agrees. Love always wins, he says, supportively. So true, Meghan adds.

Perhaps there is a demographic that finds this kind of thing not only edifying, but enlightening. If there is, my suspicion is these people value style above substance: they prefer the manner in which things are said in a smoky, croaky, faux intellectual voice, perhaps than the content of what is being said. Certainly, Meghan is very pleased with her voice. She seems lately to have obviously styled her intonations on those of Barack Obama himself, the great liberal deity with the quadrophonic voice. If this podcast venture doesnt work out, shes certainly got a future in the ASMR game.

Ultimately, the podcast is a bit of a cheat the contributions by Meghan and Harry are mercifully minimal. Instead, they use the old trick of all journalists paid by the word for interview pieces: they just provide short links to the words of others. But we will find out more about them as people, presumably, in subsequent episodes, when they will have to sing rather harder for their supper by filling the airtime themselves. Then well really discover the scale of their ambition for world domination, and also, perhaps, the reason for their strange erasing of trans people from the COVID record.

This article was originally published on The Spectators UK website.

Read the original here:

Harry and Meghan's podcast of political correctness - The Spectator USA

Editor:

As a former Cub and Boy Scout, I was very disappointed when the Boy Scouts caved to political correctness and started enrolling girls. My Boy Scout leaders taught us how to be responsible, caring and productive men. I dont know what the Girl Scouts taught because it was meant for girls.

I was sad to read that the Girl Scouts sued the Boy Scouts over enrollment issues (Legal battle between Girl, Boy Scouts heats up, Reading Eagle, Dec. 27). This is another example of how political correctness is negatively affecting organizations geared to teach boys and girls how to be good people.

It is a shame that this age of ridiculousness has just about ruined two organizations that were founded to educate, encourage and allow youth to develop leadership skills and respect nature.

How about we let boys be boys and girls be girls. Lets appreciate the different developmental needs of boys and girls.

How about we go back to common sense?

How about we stop pretending that all this nonsense is moving our country forward when all its doing is causing more division.

I remember my oath and still try to live by it: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and Country and obey Scout law, to help other people at all times to keep myself physically strong mentally awake and morally straight. How about we go back to that, or does it just make too much sense?

Eric Mazur

Bern Township

Here is the original post:

Letter: Lawsuit over Scouting a sign of some sad trends - Reading Eagle

Why is there not a single trans voice featured in Harry and Meghans first podcast? Its a question that needs answering. The half-hour recording the couples first since signing a $25 million deal with Spotify sets out to explore the psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on, as the Duchess herself puts it, people from all walks of life. Given this description, excluding the trans community from participating seems, at best, problematic perhaps even sinister. Why leave trans people out in this most public of discourses?

This editorial decision a slap in the face for an already marginalised community seems all the more surprising because of who has made it. While the rest of us have spent 2020 hunkering down and cursing the gods, Harry and Meghan have made no bones about aggressively pursuing woke dollar. They have unblinkingly positioned themselves as the millennial king and queen of political correctness, frequently releasing videos in which they rail vaguely against privilege. Memorably, Harry used one of these videos to say the British Commonwealth, the institution for which his grandmother is the living embodiment, needs to acknowledge the past even if it is uncomfortable.

Anyway, the podcast deal announced very shortly after the $100 million Netflix deal is the latest escalation in this campaign: a kind of high stakes meta psychodrama in which these two pushy ex royals ride the Windsor family brand as far as they can stateside, at the same time apparently subverting the journalistic media they claim to loathe by lucratively becoming part of it. The company they have formed for this purpose, Archewell, has described the podcasts it will henceforth expensively produce as being to build a community through shared experiences, narratives and values.

The first podcast, trans people ostracisation aside, is everything youd expect. It begins with the regal thanking of healthcare and frontline workers (as if the sacrifices these people have made have been made for the duke and duchess themselves). Meghan then rather grandly explains that she has spent the holiday season, not, as you might expect, counting her money, but contemplating all people who have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss as a result of Covid-19.

After that, there is just time for Harry to urge listeners to sit back and grab a cosy beverage, before the platitudes begin rolling in, in earnest. Various guests mostly liberal celebrity friends of the couple start by unselfconsciously describing themselves (philanthropist, poet, an explorer of consciousness etc.) before, against a deeply irritating Disney-style soundtrack intended to guide the listeners emotional response, delivering statements such as: humanity is ready for a new story. Through new context, new meanings, new relationships, we are giving birth to a new humanity.

At one point a woman who is described as a person who brings healing to communities of colour tells us something I have learned about myself this year is how much of a spiritual practice simplicity and solitude can be. Another described as a democracy advocate tells us: most of all, I gave myself permission to be sad, so I could find joy on the other side.

Throughout, its this type of fare, precisely the sort of thing one suspects that people who have to worry about such base concerns as working to put food on the table, tend not to say to one another. Surprisingly, no one quotes Maya Angelou until the eighteenth minute, but when it comes its a zinger: my wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are and to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. (You go, Meghan.)

Amazingly, and revealingly, of all the contributors, it is Elton John who sounds most sane and connected to reality. He speaks frankly about the nightmare of alcoholics being unable to attend AA meetings during lockdown and the manner in which normal people have had to deal with losing loved ones and jobs. Its been the worst year Ive ever known, and Im 73, he says.

And then were back to meaningless platitudes. Without the dark, the stars cannot shine, someone says. A self-described street poet tells us: 2020, thats a very hard year for me to call my friend. And then Meghan begins to bring proceedings to a close by informing the listener: no matter what life throws at you, trust us when we say: love wins. Harry agrees. Love always wins, he says, supportively. So true, Meghan adds.

Perhaps there is a demographic that finds this kind of thing not only edifying, but enlightening. If there is, my suspicion is these people value style above substance: they prefer the manner in which things are said in a smoky, croaky, faux intellectual voice, perhaps than the content of what is being said. Certainly, Meghan is very pleased with her voice. She seems lately to have obviously styled her intonations on those of Barack Obama himself, the great liberal deity with the quadrophonic voice. If this podcast venture doesnt work out, shes certainly got a future in the ASMR game.

Ultimately, the podcast is a bit of a cheat the contributions by Meghan and Harry are mercifully minimal. Instead, they use the old trick of all journalists paid by the word for interview pieces: they just provide short links to the words of others. But we will find out more about them as people, presumably, in subsequent episodes, when they will have to sing rather harder for their supper by filling the airtime themselves. Then well really discover the scale of their ambition for world domination, and also, perhaps, the reason for their strange erasing of trans people from the Covid record.

More here:

Harry and Meghan's podcast of platitudes - Spectator.co.uk

Letters that appeared on The Durango Heralds opinion pages in 2020 reflected the breadth of issues in La Plata County and the variety of perspectives that can be applied.

In the first few months of 2020, the Herald published numerous letters supporting an end to single-use plastic bags. Green repeat-use bags also plummeted in popularity. Dont use a bag at all, said one writer use a cart.

Then the enormity of COVID-19 struck and letters about bags abruptly ceased.

Beginning mid-March the coronavirus became the topic, many letters offering similar messages: Mask-shaming was criticized, as were businesses lax in requiring masks. Tourists were not wearing masks. Lets reduce the anger in the country, and its not Republicans versus Democrats, but life or death, wrote another. A couple of others said the virus was being blown out of proportion and fostering political correctness.

Parks should be open, including a track for high school runners since it is much safer outdoors.

A subsequent big issue of the year for letter-writers was the proposed pedestrian bridge that would cross over busy 32nd Street on the west side of the Animas River. Its potential appearance in a high-in-the-air-location a first along the Animas River Trail grated. How could this have been sprung on us? many asked, having been unaware of the many months of city planning behind it. (The citys acquisition of property on the east side of the river will make possible a subsurface crossing instead.)

National attention to racism particularly in regard to public sculpture trickled down to Durango when it was pointed out that Toh-Atin Gallerys Chief on 9th Avenue might be racist in its design and should go. In a flurry of letters, the sign was condemned and defended. The sign remains, as its owners said theyve heard no criticism from the Native Americans they know.

In the November elections, the two county commission races were at the forefront. Independent candidates, for all their appeal, discovered one value of party membership: Democrats are disciplined in writing letters supporting their own. Other political topics included opposition to the electoral college; praise for incumbent Rep. Scott Tipton, who would lose his primary; and a letter urging the eventual winner, Representative-elect Lauren Boebert, to be more positive. Readers were cautioned about leftism and power-drunk Democrats.

Numerous letters faulted Republicans, especially Sen. Cory Gardner, for their allegiance to President Trump.

Letter-writers split on the issue of reintroducing wolves to the wilds of Colorado: Some welcomed the prospect, while others feared their arrival.

Dozens of perennial topics arose, such as the desire for La Plata Electric Association to free itself from a 30-year contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission (although one letter praised its move toward more renewables).

Writers expressed general concern for the homeless and support of their temporary camp at Purple Cliffs, although one writer argued that providing more services attracts more homeless.

The Herald was faulted for not printing more positive news in a time of crisis; for twisting virus reporting to criticize the president; and for endorsing Michael Bloomberg in the Democratic primary for president.

Several letters said Michael Smedleys writing of the Action Line column would be missed.

Community members who took the time to write their opinions to the Herald did not disappoint in 2020. We look forward to more of the same in 2021.

Read the original:

Our View: Looking back at 2020 in Letters to the Editor - The Durango Herald

Many in Connecticut, including most of its news organizations, are gushing about President-elect Joe Biden's choice of state Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, a Meriden native, to be secretary of the U.S. Education Department. News reports say the president-elect picked Cardona in large part because of the support he and Governor Lamont have given to keeping schools open amid the virus epidemic.

This gush couldn't be sillier.

For most schools in the state are not really open but operating entirely with internet classes or alternating erratically between in-person classes and internet classes. Since March when the governor began exercising emergency power to rule by decree during the epidemic, he has dictated to businesses, restaurants, and even churches, but he has only urged schools to stay open, declining to order them to do so, lest he offend the teacher unions, the most feared special interest. His position and the commissioner's in favor of keeping schools open has been only a pose, though those gushing about Cardona misrepresent it as policy.

Having been commissioner for less than a year and a half, Cardona can't be blamed for not having changed much about Connecticut's schools. But then he can't be credited with much either. The embarrassing gap between the performance of white and minority students, which has caused years of handwringing, has not diminished during Cardona's tenure, nor has student performance improved generally. Nor has there been any candid acknowledgment from anyone in authority that school performance is not at all a matter of school financing but mostly a matter of parenting and that the state's main education policy is only social promotion, which cripples education.

Able as Cardona may be, having been a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent, he has not made Connecticut's schools any more of an example and has no national reputation.

So why his selection by the president-elect? It is because of his heartening personal story and, more so, his Puerto Rican ancestry. The Democratic Party is obsessed with racial, ethnic, and gender balance, the president-elect has been told that he must have a Hispanic in his Cabinet, and choosing Cardona mobilizes political correctness against support for putting a national teachers union leader in the education secretary's office.

Indeed, not being a teachers union leader may be the highest qualification that can be expected from an education secretary appointed by a Democratic president.

Until the 1980s the state's political parties put much effort into balancing their state tickets by ethnicity, often splitting the gubernatorial nominations between Irish and Italians, assigning to Poles the nominations for the old congressman-at-large seat, and reserving treasurer nominations for Blacks and secretary of the state nominations for women. There was often room somewhere for a Jew, and political anti-Semitism was extinguished with Abraham Ribicoff's narrow election as governor in 1954. A woman easily made it to the top when Ella Grasso was elected governor 20 years later.

But ethnicity in politics doesn't resonate much in Connecticut anymore, perhaps because the state has grown up a bit politically and because, while the rise of someone from a disadvantaged group is always encouraging, it has happened often enough for people to realize that, if just given a chance in power, the disadvantaged can disappoint as much as anyone else and that no matter who wins, taxes go up but student test scores don't.

Education in the United States is almost entirely local and the federal education secretary has little authority over it. Mostly he can distribute federal money, highlight what he considers improvements, and make noise.

President Trump's education secretary, Betsy DeVos, has not been very expert but at least knows that teacher unions serve teachers, not students. If Cardona even hints at such understanding, his ethnicity won't save him or the president from the fury of the unions, which already may be resentful that they aren't getting all the patronage they expected.

Chris Powell is a columnist for the Journal Inquirer in Manchester.

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So what exactly are Cardona's qualifications? - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com

Many in Connecticut, including most of its news organizations, are gushing about President-elect Joe Biden's choice of state Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, a Meriden native, to be secretary of the U.S. Education Department. News reports say the president-elect picked Cardona in large part because of the support he and Governor Lamont have given to keeping schools open amid the virus epidemic.

This gush couldn't be sillier.

For most schools in the state arenotreally open but operating entirely with internet classes or alternating erratically between in-person classes and internet classes. Since March when the governor began exercising emergency power to rule by decree during the epidemic, he has dictated to businesses, restaurants, and even churches, but he has onlyurgedschools to stay open, declining to order them to do so, lest he offend the teacher unions, the most feared special interest. His position and the commissioner's in favor of keeping schools open has been only a pose, though those gushing about Cardona misrepresent it as policy.

Having been commissioner for less than a year and a half, Cardona can't be blamed for not having changed much about Connecticut's schools. But then he can't be credited with much either. The embarrassing gap between the performance of white and minority students, which has caused years of hand-wringing, has not diminished during Cardona's tenure, nor has student performance improved generally. Nor has there been any candid acknowledgment from anyone in authority that school performance is not at all a matter of school financing but mostly a matter of parenting and that the state's main education policy is only social promotion, which cripples education.

Able as Cardona may be, having been a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent, he has not made Connecticut's schools any more of an example and has no national reputation.

So why his selection by the president-elect? It is because of his heartening personal story and, more so, his Puerto Rican ancestry. The Democratic Party is obsessed with racial, ethnic, and gender balance, the president-elect has been told that he must have a Hispanic in his Cabinet, and choosing Cardona mobilizes political correctness against support for putting a national teachers union leader in the education secretary's office. Choosing Cardona also avoids having to choose between the leaders of the two largest unions.

Indeed, not being a teachers union leader may be the highest qualification that can be expected from an education secretary appointed by a Democratic president. Besides, Connecticut should know better by now than to expect much from ethnic firsts in high positions in government.

Until the 1980s the state's political parties put much effort into balancing their state tickets by ethnicity, often splitting the gubernatorial nominations between Irish and Italians, assigning to Poles the nominations for the old congressman-at-large seat, and reserving treasurer nominations for Blacks and secretary of the state nominations for women. There was often room somewhere for a Jew, and political anti-Semitism was extinguished with Abraham Ribicoff's narrow election as governor in 1954. A woman easily made it to the top when Ella Grasso was elected governor 20 years later.

But ethnicity in politics doesn't resonate much in Connecticut anymore, perhaps because the state has grown up a bit politically and because, while the rise of someone from a disadvantaged group is always encouraging, it has happened often enough for people to realize that, if just given a chance in power, the disadvantaged can disappoint as much as anyone else and that no matter who wins, taxes go up but student test scores don't.

Education in the United States is almost entirely local and the federal education secretary has little authority over it. Mostly he can distribute federal money, highlight what he considers improvements, and make noise.

President Trump's education secretary, Betsy DeVos, has not been very expert but at least knows that teacher unions serve teachers, not students. If Cardona even hints at such understanding, his ethnicity won't save him or the president from the fury of the unions, which already may be resentful that they aren't getting all the patronage they expected.

Chris Powell is a columnist for the Journal Inquirer.

See the rest here:

Cardona's qualifications are what he is and what he isn't - Journal Inquirer

As the Washington Football Team continues to trip its way through one of the leagues most confusing quarterback situations of the season, the person who gets asked about it more often than anyone is sitting in Jacksonville.

OK, thats a slight exaggeration. Washington coach Ron Rivera gets asked about his quarterback room more than anyone. But Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Jay Gruden isnt far behind.

He has one of two ways to go,'' said Gruden, the former WFT head coach when Haskins was selected (though not by Gruden or any of Washington's other football people). "He can either learn from this and rebound and take advantage of the next opportunity and work his tail off or not. ... The next opportunity he gets, Im sure hell be ready to go.

In Washington, the view might be that Gruden's comments are nothing but political correctness.On Monday, Washington released 2019 first-rounder Haskins, a player chosen by WFT owner Dan Snyder against the wishes of then-head coach Gruden.

READ MORE:Vomit & 3 Better Choices: Inside The Washington Football Team Drafting Of Haskins

Hes a good quarterback,'' Gruden said. "Hes a first-round draft pick and unfortunately it hasnt worked out the way anybody really thought, including myself. I never thought hed be released this early in his career.

Certainly not. But his inconsistency and apparent disregard for protocols as a leader that ultimately made the decision for Rivera.

Haskins wentunclaimed via waiversand now becomes a free agent. Gruden agrees with our view (see below) that the young QB will get a second chance.

READ MORE:The 3 Reasons Washington Football Team Ex Haskins Will Get A Second Chance

Yeah,'' Gruden said. "Big quarterbacks that can rip it are hard to find. I think theres a lot of things he needs to work on obviously as all young quarterbacks do if he continues to work in the offseason and work on his mental and physical approach to the game diligently like pro quarterbacks are supposed to do, then sure, he can do it.

That is obviously an insinuation from Gruden that Dwayne Haskins failed to do that during Gruden's time in Washington ... and during Rivera's time as well.

Read more from John Shipley on the Jaguars at SI here.

See the rest here:

Gruden Reveals Thoughts On WFT Ex Haskins - Sports Illustrated

Good riddance to the old year, many of us likely are saying. Unless youre older than 60 and can remember 1968 or if youre one of the few surviving World War III veterans, 2020 was the year that set the standard for turmoil, anxiety and fear, a year dominated by life-changing factors: COVID-19, the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and a turbulent, endless election season.

It was the year that masking up, social distancing, and cancel culture became dominant new terms in our dynamic linguistic landscape. While cancel culture typically refers to the online ostracism of a person who ventures too far against political correctness, I like to apply it to the virus that canceled culture this year, from concerts to plays to festivals and sporting events.

I am writing this on Thanksgiving Day, the quietest T-day for me since my Army days half a century ago. Just Jeanne and I munching turkey and dressing, nobody else, out of COVID caution. But the quiet made it easier to focus on what Im thankful for: enough to eat, a roof over my head, and friends and family, even if I havent seen many of them for nine months. Thankful too, if you havent yet had the COVID, thankful for friends who have survived it. Thankful for all the front-line workers in health care and assisted living, in grocery stores, in mail trucks and delivery trucks and garbage trucks, in convenience stores and day care centers. Thankful that we can apparently still do a peaceful transition of power in this country.

Death dont have no mercy in this land

So sang the Rev. Gary Davis in 1961, and certainly the virus had no mercy on the families and friends of its numerous victims (not to mention the so-called long-haulers who survive but struggle with lingering after effects). In addition, Greater Mankato lost some real luminaries in 2020. Let me start with Kevin Oldridge. Kevin wasnt a politician or city official or prominent artist. But he was the Neighbor of the Year, as I called him in my July column. Hell be chuckling from wherever he is now, saying, I bet you guys miss me! when the first big snowfall hits. Because he always, without anybody asking, would spend hours clearing out the alley in our neighborhood, then the sidewalks and driveways of at least five or six neighbors. I will miss not only his endless cheeriness, but also the sound of his snowblower firing up at 6 a.m.

Steve Murphy sold insurance by day and played music at night. And did he ever quit smiling? Oh man, that guy could play guitar. And he loved to fix guitars too. I would take my guitars to him for repairs and adjustments, and there would be cheery conversation, and when I returned to pick one up, he would always under charge me. A true music Hall-of-Famer.

Speaking of musicians, Ralph Bailey was a superb guitarist, songwriter, musicologist and gentle historian. The trio, Steiner, Bailey and Knauff was the predecessor of my brothers City Mouse band. Ralph also co-founded the Maple River Band, along with other musical endeavors.

It was impossible to suppress a smile when Dixie Johnson was in the room. Mentor to hundreds of young women during her years as director of Bretts Teen Board and as church youth group leader, she always sparkled.

We lost Jim Buckley at 92. Born on the Fourth of July, he became an All-American citizen in our town: 19 years as YMCA executive director and co-founder of the Mah-kato PowWow, or Wacipi, which endeavored to overcome the sins of 1862.

We lost my friend Ted, a proud veteran who was coy about telling anyone that he, from little old Mankato, was a key member of the small group that planned one of the most controversial military moves ordered by Nixon and Kissinger during the Vietnam War: the mining of Haiphong Harbor in 1972.

Bob Galloway was one of my favorite business people. Shrewd but folksy, he was never above sharing a cup of coffee with an ordinary guy at the Wagon Wheel. How many good jobs did he save for Mankato? And his tenure with Ridley will linger, symbolized in the dramatic altering of the downtown skyline in recent years.

There are too many names of those weve lost to list in this small space; forgive me for my oversights.

****

Quick, random question: Do you, too, regret you didnt invest in Zoom llast March? How many Zoom gatherings did you take part in over the holidays?

****

Despite the trials of the past year, theres an unusual amount of optimism heading into our coldest month, chiefly because new vaccines mean we might finally subdue the worst effects of COVID and get our economy back to normal. Its a good bet that most of us would welcome a year with less drama. So hail the new, ye lads and lasses, and a Happy 2021 to all!

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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From the valley: Fast away the old year passes - Mankato Free Press

As millions of people have had their Christmas hopes dashed or face the prospect of going without food, homes or vital healthcare, the UK government is busy trying to divert attention from its bungling. It also seeks to channel the anger and scorn it might expect to receive over its mishandling of the pandemic towards foreigners, minorities or overstretched public services. With the prospect of yet more needless suffering and death ahead, we should not let it succeed.

The spread of the coronavirus has posed tough challenges to the authorities across the world. But Boris Johnson and his crew have handled it extraordinarily badly. The new strain of Covid-19 makes matters worse but viruses can be expected to mutate, especially if they spread among large numbers of people. And the choices the cabinet made allowed this to happen.

The lockdown delay and other policy decisions in March, when the prime minister set an appalling example of ignoring scientific advice, resulted in soaring deaths. That pattern of delays and dangerous recklessness, so that the virus spread and eventual restrictions were tighter than they might have been otherwise, would continue. Incredibly, in parts of England recently plunged into tier 4, just days earlier ministers had threatened legal action to force schools to stay open. This would have left some pupils self-isolating over Christmas while others unwittingly infected their grandparents.

In ministers eagerness to stuff money into the pockets of private sector giants, testing and tracing were also botched. Local public health teams who could have handled this far better were pushed to the sidelines, though often worked hard to avoid even more catastrophic consequences.

Against this background of failure likely to get worse as Brexit bites ministers have been busy trying to stir up culture wars. Presumably they hope that those voters who are not part of the ruling class but backed them a year ago will not realise how badly they have been betrayed.

Liz Trusss speech was one recent example, clumsier than that of Kemi Badenoch. Women and equalities minister Truss argued for an approach led by facts not by fashion that takes on board economic inequality, without mentioning that her party had blocked a law tackling this and had widened the gap. The shocking death rate among working class people in general, with even higher levels for those who are black and minority ethnic, disabled or both, reflects the type of country this government has helped to create.

As hospitals fill up and quality of life for most people goes down, any claim that the nations most serious problems include too much political correctness will be rightly dismissed by much of the population. A supposedly divisive approach to tackling racism, homophobia and transphobia is not what led to this crisis.

'Pretty clear' tighter restrictions are needed, says SAGE adviser

Yet scapegoating can take hold amidst chaos, along with rivalry among the oppressed for scarce resources and opportunities. Also attempts to further privatise the NHS and other public services and take away democratic rights will continue.

What can we do to keep tackling discrimination of all kinds while not letting this government off the hook?

I believe we should keep drawing attention to its lethal bungling during the pandemic and the human cost and the hollowness of its claims to champion anyone other than itself and a few cronies.

We should also resist attempts to divide and rule, for instance challenging prejudice in ways that recognise that nobody is perfect and allow for forgiveness. Mutual care among those of us who are minority ethnic, LGBT+ and/or disabled is vital but we need to reach out to achieve sustained change.

Space should be created for listening, sharing stories and explaining, in human terms, concepts which may be unfamiliar or confusing. Amidst such (largely avoidable) suffering and loss, compassion alongside clear thinking and commitment to justice is not a source of weakness but rather a great strength.

Originally posted here:

The public shouldnt take the fall for the governments bungling - The Independent

Killeen-area residents are starting the year with a piece of big news: Fort Hoods name will be changing in the near future.

Thanks to Fridays Senate override of President Donald Trumps veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, the clock is ticking on removing the names of Confederate leaders from U.S. military installations. That includes Fort Hood, which was named for Confederate General John Bell Hood.

Both houses of Congress agreed to put the name-change language in the NDAA last summer, and President Trump vetoed the bill, partly because of his objection to the mandate. But now that Congress has overridden the presidents Dec. 23 veto, the move to rename the post is moving forward.

The renaming wont happen overnight, of course. The language calls for the secretary of Defense to make the change within the next three years.

Before that takes place, a series of events will have to play out.

The NDAA establishes an eight-member commission to work on the issue, setting up procedures for removing the names and proposing a process for renaming the bases.

Within 60 days of the bills passage, the commission must hold its first meeting, with its initial briefing mandated by October.

It is likely to be a drawn-out process, but then again, it should be.

Our local military post has carried the name of Hood since it was first established here as Camp Hood in 1942 nearly 80 years ago.

In the intervening years, thousands of our service members have called it home returning to our community after seeing combat in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.

Others have deployed from Fort Hood but have not returned from the field of battle, making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. Fort Hood mourns and honors their loss, as do all of us in this community.

Fort Hood and the local region forged a strong bond over the past eight decades, and many Army commanders have commented on the tremendous level of support they experienced while serving here, at what is often called The Great Place.

Changing the posts name wont change that dynamic, nor should it.

Nor should renaming Fort Hood erase the decades of honorable service rendered by the brave men and women who have marched under its guidons.

Certainly, there are legitimate reasons for removing the names of military leaders whose cause was associated with racism and slavery.

But in erasing those names, we must be careful not to diminish the historical significance of these military installations or the contributions of those who served under their flags.

Several former Fort Hood commanders have expressed an openness to renaming the post, with the name of the late Gen. Richard Cavazos suggested as a possibility for the installations new identity.

Certainly, Cavazos, a III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general from 1980 to 1982, had a distinguished career and was well respected in the ranks.

His bravery during Korea and Vietnam earned Cavazos two Distinguished Service Crosses, a Silver Star Medal, two Legion of Merit awards, five Bronze Star Medals for Valor, a Purple Heart Medal, a Combat Infantry Badge and a Parachutist Badge.

Cavazos, who died in 2017, was also the Armys first Hispanic four-star general so naming the post in his honor would be acknowledgement of the military branchs diversity.

Of course, renaming Fort Hood has its drawbacks as well.

Thousands of service members have served at Fort Hood, and for many, it represents a significant part of their military careers.

In addition, dozens of businesses have included Fort Hood in their names, including Fort Hood National Bank, Fort Hood Harley Davidson and Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors.

Theres also the issue of renaming Fort Hood Street in western Killeen, a major thoroughfare that runs from the eastern entrance to the post to Killeens southern city limit.

Another major name change would be required for Killeen Fort Hood Regional Airport.

Needless to say, it will take some time to get accustomed to the posts new identity and all the corresponding changes that will take place in our community.

But the impending rebranding which may come sooner than three years if President-elect Joe Biden decides to move up the timeline should not be viewed merely as history and tradition giving way to political correctness.

To do so would diminish both the pain caused by perpetuating the Confederate legacy and the distinction with which our posts soldiers have served over the past 81 years.

Instead, the name change should be received with the same open-mindedness that Fort Hoods leadership showed when presented with the recent independent review of the post in the wake of Spc. Vanessa Guillens disappearance and death last spring.

The three-month review, commissioned by Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, provided nine findings and 70 recommendations on improving Fort Hoods command climate and its impact on soldiers safety and welfare.

In committing to move forward with implementation of those recommendations, Fort Hoods commanders began the important process of better protecting the men and women entrusted to their care.

Certainly, change can be difficult especially when it is dictated from the outside.

However, the committee charged with renaming our military installations has the opportunity to rebrand our Central Texas post with a name that both lives up to its proud heritage and better reflects the values of our community.

In doing so, they can take a symbolic step toward making The Great Place an even better one.

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OPINION: Changing name of Fort Hood cannot erase its proud history - The Killeen Daily Herald