So you all know how I feel about the current president. I’m not going to go into it, except to say, right now, I’m tired, I’m scared, I don’t know when things are going to get better, and I’m worried about what life is going to be like once the immediate threat is over. Young, healthy people are dying from a virus we were told was no worse than a serious flu. It now turns out that, several weeks ago, we should have been observing protocols we were repeatedly told were unnecessary, and it appears that if the entire country had adopted social distancing and mask protocols a month ago, well…
Hindsight is 20/20. We will learn what we did wrong – those of us who respect science, anyway.
But this is unchartered territory, and while so many have shown unprecedented humanity, compassion, and heroism – AND THANK YOU – I don’t think I’m the only person who is white-knuckling it and really, really, REALLY wishing that the person in the Oval Office cared more about his people than himself.
Over the last several weeks, he has shown himself to be exclusively focused on what is good for Donald Trump, displaying the misogyny (“don’t be a cutie pie”) and contempt (“you are a terrible reporter”) we have come to know so well. He has had a million chances to comfort and unite his people. He has squandered every single one of them.
And some people who support Trump have even issued death threats against Anthony Fauci, M.D. because he has dared to speak science to Trump’s nonsense. Others continue to insist that his administration’s response was perfect, that he has done everything right, and that he is ever beyond reproach.
Over 7,000 Americans dead as of today. The first death was on February 29, 2020. That’s over 200 people every day since. It’s expected to get worse. Even if you believe Trump is perfection itself, and that every decision he has made has been the best possible alternative to contain and prevent further infection, the fact remains that over 275,000 Americans are sick, with many more surely to come.
And so, it might be nice for them, and for their families and loved ones, for their president to provide words of solace – even if it’s not his fault (some of it is), even if his response has been “perfect” (far from it), because that’s what leaders do. You know. To give comfort to those who are struggling. It’s called “empathy.” Doesn’t cost a dime.
It might be nice also for the caregivers on the frontline – the ones who are working endless shifts without proper PPE or sufficient equipment, the ones at risk for getting sick themselves, the ones who are self-quarantining in a basement or a garage to keep their families safe – for their president to issue a heartfelt, humble, “thank you.” It’s called “gratitude.” Also free of cost.
Haven’t seen either. Don’t expect to.
Donald Trump is a horrible, horrible human being. If you didn’t know it before, now you do.
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