(1) I never thought anything like this pandemic would happen in my lifetime. There's no rational basis for that belief but I still held it.
Today I recalled memories of the initial 1980s-90s HIV-AIDS epidemic.
The GOAT came up on a playlist:
Today I recalled memories of the initial 1980s-90s HIV-AIDS epidemic.
The GOAT came up on a playlist:
(2) Freddie Mercury's death was the one celebrity death that stays with me to this day. An absolute musical genius. I was stunned at the time.
Homophobia had a big part in the ~36 M body count of that epidemic. Politicians politicize matters of life & death when it suits them.
Homophobia had a big part in the ~36 M body count of that epidemic. Politicians politicize matters of life & death when it suits them.
(4) Coincidentally I recently watched a doco series made in the UK a few years back. LGBT+ history is very interesting, whoever you are.
(5) Homophobia's negative effect on public health worldwide has a long history. Like other types of bigotry.
Of course, it only took a few years for the HIV-AIDS epidemic to include groups of people who didn't contract the virus through male same-sex relationships.
Of course, it only took a few years for the HIV-AIDS epidemic to include groups of people who didn't contract the virus through male same-sex relationships.
(6) Yet the original assumptions and prejudices remain, especially in parts of the world where unreformed religious beliefs dominate.
Where bigotry makes it harder for a group to access public health information and services, it is a factor in the outcomes.
Where bigotry makes it harder for a group to access public health information and services, it is a factor in the outcomes.
(7) Trump didn't start the resurgence of far right bigotry in the US, he cynically exploited it. By the time the numbers of adherents had grown to a national security threatening level on 1/6/2021, it was too late to easily address it.
But the US will address it.
But the US will address it.
(8) "National security" includes the security of citizens and visitors in the homeland. That's why several parts of the federal law enforcement system are part of the DHS.
A pandemic is always a threat to national security. So is a paramilitary insurgency. Strong terms for it?
A pandemic is always a threat to national security. So is a paramilitary insurgency. Strong terms for it?
(9) I think strong terms are required at this point. 1/6 was one visible part of a planned, attempted insurrection /coup. Sedition was clearly a feature of it. After 8 months of hearing about loving, patriotic people merely "trespassing" I'm past caring what they want it called.
(10) An epidemic & a pandemic became politicized.
Saving lives has got to be the priority in such things, right? Be part of the solution, not the problem.
#GetVaccinated, and offer help to others who may need it.
Photo source: nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-ou…
Saving lives has got to be the priority in such things, right? Be part of the solution, not the problem.
#GetVaccinated, and offer help to others who may need it.
Photo source: nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-ou…
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