Publisher’s Point

from Athens Now August 21, 2020

Alternative Approach

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Copy Editor Yvonne Dempsey Sales & Distribution Degan Wilder Graphic Design Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott Contributing Writers D. A. Slinkard Lisa Philippart Ruby McCartney Sandra Thompson Anna Hamilton Deb Kitchenmaster Nick Thomas Eric Betts Jackie Warner Tim Lambert Roy Williams Mae Lewis

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 5 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 6 Calendar Of Events . . . . . 8 Slinkard on Success . . . . . . 9 From The Vets Museum . . . 10 PlayAction Sports . . . . . . . 11 Clean and Green . . . . . . . 12 Cooking With Anna . . . . 13 Cover Stories . . . . . . . 15 & 17 Health And Fitness . . . . . . 16 Lifelong Learning . . . . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . 20 Mental Health Minute . . . 21 Alternative Approach . . . 22 Special Feature . . . . . . . 24

What In The Wuhan Is Going On?

As I have been out and about of late, I have heard several variations on the theme of “I am so sick of this,” mean ing the cramp that COVID has put on things. Most goodhearted folks of both genders have put on their “mascara” (the Spanish word for “mask”) and pretty much taken it in stride, with a bit of grumbling along the way. Here in Alabama, we are wait ing for another 10 days to see if some of the rec ommended restrictions can be lifted. In California, a veteran warned at a heated city council meeting that though he is a vet, loves this country, and has put his life on the line to protect it, “people are starving” and they are not going to tolerate the draconian controls put on the California citizenry much longer. Meanwhile, in our own area, as of last week, Madison County had seen a 25% drop in re ported COVID cases. However, it seemed there was not much to celebrate as far as pub lic health officials were concerned, and Elkmont High School has closed temporarily. Dr. Fauci is out, Dr. Atlas is in, and some Tweeters are suggesting that the president killed his own brother by his COVID commands, or the lack of them. Repub licans have been called “plague spreaders,” and Democrats feel that it is racist to even mention Wuhan, (the city where it all began) in connec tion with COVID, because it happens to be

in China. I am wonder ing what would happen if the lab had been lo cated in Wabash, Winnetka, Winnipesaukee, or Waco? All the afore mentioned sniping has sadly become that to which we have largely become tone deaf. Just another day in Para dise… But speaking of Wu han, here is something that should give one a great deal of pause and at least a paltry attempt at head scratching, or banging, if need be. A few days ago in Wuhan, there were raves held at wave parks with celebra tors packed in the pools like sardines. They were frolicking in the water with brightly-colored inner tubes, and seem ingly not having a care or a mask in the world. And, just in case you have a different concept of “come on in, the water’s fine,” there is a club in Wuhan called the Space Club that is also packed, and it is not the only one. But wait, wasn’t it just in February that we were being told about metal doors of dwellings being welded shut with the occupants inside, and crematoriums rivaling the production rate of Auschwitz on a busy day? Then, to make things even stranger, China stopped testing in March and Wuhan hasn’t had a reported case of their “hometown Corona brew” since MAY. Well, I suppose it could be argued that if you stopped testing, you might not have any new cases to report, but does any of this seem odd to anyone besides me? The purpose of this “Pub” is not to make you want to overindulge at any watering hole, violate a recommendation, or endanger a soul in any way; it is just a semiplayful attempt at asking the obvious: What in the Wuhan is going on? We may never know...