Friday, September 10, 2021
EDITORIAL: 2001-09-11 / 2021-09-11
No man is an island
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls...
It tolls for thee.
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls...
It tolls for thee.
John Donne, 1624
Twenty years ago, there was a violent attack on the United States by foreign terrorists. About 3,000 humans were killed that day. Many more died in subsequent days and months from the debris and the cleanup of the debris, and even more people suffered injuries and medical problems.
We must remain constantly vigilant for the possibility of attack from foreign places.
The most important near-term foreign threats are cyber attacks. There are two kinds: 1) direct attacks - for example, to damage critical infrastructure, steal money or information, or interfere with financial transactions; and 2) disinformation attacks to interfere with truth and democracy, and rile up American domestic extremists, often using American social media companies like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
But today the greatest immediate threat to the lives, health, liberty and prosperity of those of us here in the United States, comes from the COVID pandemic and from domestic, anti-democratic acts and extremist terrorism.
The coup attempt on Jan 6, 2021 was the most extreme attack on American democracy and the Constitutional rule of law since the Civil War. It was preceded by lies and fantasies promulgated by irresponsible media and, most shockingly, by elected leaders.
Very disturbing is that some American lawyers, lobbyists, elected officials and government officials, who should know better, have facilitated, cooperated with, and amplified foreign disinformation efforts. And, the lies have not stopped, continuing to stoke and provoke new attacks on democracy.
COVID has infected more than 40 million people in this country and killed more than 675,000. More people are dying each week (and sometimes more in one day) than were killed in 9/11. Many, probably most, of these deaths were preventable; and most new illnesses and deaths are preventable. Elected officials that placed their own short-term popularity over public health measures, negligently contributed to the illnesses and deaths; those who still oppose vaccinations or masks, or promote large, crowded events without extraordinary precautions are negligently extending the pandemic toll of death and illness.
As John Donne recognized about 400 years ago, Each person's death or illness from whatever cause diminishes Each of us.
We The People, must all be vigilant and active in defending Life, Liberty, Equality, & Truth and promoting the pursuit of happiness. This was the premise of the American Revolution. And the promise of America!
