The contentious presidential election. The rushed Supreme Court nomination hearings. A severely damaged economy with millions out of work and facing eviction. These are all good reasons why we don’t pause for just a moment to memorialize those who have been taken from us too soon in our fight against the pandemic. Life is exhausting … Continue reading
Nutty as it sounds, the sheriff in Ocala, Florida, has banned facemasks for his deputies in some on-duty circumstances. This comes at a time when his county had by the end of August 2020 recorded more than 8,400 confirmed cases and 170-plus deaths due to the coronavirus. Moreover, approximately 40 of the sheriff’s employees, including … Continue reading
I’ve been on lockdown for over five months, so I’m entitled to a little paranoia. In fact, paranoia has become the norm. Stay home, public health officials say. Your age and underlying health conditions put you at high risk of contracting the deadly virus. If you do go out, they say, avoid closed-in spaces with … Continue reading
Old lives matter if we cherish and protect them. But do we really cherish and protect them when there is a shortage of personal protective equipment and tests at nursing homes? Many have already died, but must even more die? Do old lives truly matter if our community doesn’t have a mask mandate or enforce … Continue reading
The pandemic raging out of control, with 5 million-plus infections and more than 160,000 deaths. Unrest in major cities still reeling from the death of George Floyd. And millions of Americans worried about the looming loss of unemployment benefits and the prospect of not paying their rent or mortgage or putting bread on the table. … Continue reading
Some say they wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a mask in public. Some say it’s an issue of personal freedom. You know, a First Amendment argument. You can’t argue against ignorance, but what if our open-faced neighbors knew that wearing a mask could save the life of their favorite grocery cashier? More than 100 grocery … Continue reading
I had just spent 24 minutes on the phone with my friend, a fellow baby boomer, when I saw the New York Times article on April 9. Americans are phoning in record numbers during this terrible pandemic. My friend had suffered numerous bouts with pneumonia and was cut off from her children and grandchildren to … Continue reading
Others have returned to work, and I’m still self-isolating during the coronavirus outbreak. No complaints, mind you, because I’ve found ways to stay sane and to stay connected with others. I have a seven-point action plan that has brought fresh purpose to my life, and maybe it will yours. Here goes: Lift others’ spirits. Call … Continue reading
What do the nation’s airlines and Burger King have in common? They are among the selfless companies helping America in time of need – during the throes of the coronavirus. The airlines, including JetBlue, United and Delta, transported volunteer doctors and nurses free of charge to the worst COVID–19 hot spots in America – New … Continue reading
Just when will my bubble burst? My heart aches for all of the families suffering losses due to the coronavirus. How painful it must feel to be barred from seeing their loved ones in the hospital? How excruciating it must be to be limited to brief FaceTime visits — especially at the doorstep of death? … Continue reading
Ron Cooper 