OP EDITORIAL
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
COMMENTARY: Adding Fuel to the Fire of Our Pandemics By Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Newswire Contributor
Harlem Community Newspapers | September 24. 2020
N
6
ero, the Roman Em-
COVID-19 with false comments
peror who legendarily
about the virus. First, he said it was
fiddled
Rome
going to go away, and that it was
burned is a symbol for an irre-
no more severe than the flu. Then
sponsible, ineffective, and callous
he suggested a drug, hydroxy-
leader who shows indifference to
chloroquine, that has proven to
people in crisis. The great Rome
be ineffective. Then he “jokingly”
fire took place in the first century
suggested Lysol or bleach to cure
AD. The fiddle wasn’t invented
the virus. He has prioritized the
until the eleventh century, so it is
economy over human lives, urging
Goya Foods. The President photo-
al to utter the words “Black Lives
unlikely that the hedonistic emper-
governors to open their states up
graphed in the Oval Office with an
Matter” reminds us (but we already
or played the fiddle while his city
for commerce, even as the number
assortment of Goya Foods and a
knew) that he doesn’t think Black
was burning. More likely, he was
of COVID cases has risen. Still,
maniacal grin. The First daughter
Lives Matter. His request that NA-
engaged in some trivial or sybaritic
he and his Education Secretary
posted a picture of herself, holding
SCAR driver Bubba Wallace apol-
act, regardless of the crisis.
are urging the full reopening of
a can of black beans. More than
ogize for reacting when he found a
Our 45th President puts Nero
schools for full-time in-person in-
200,000 people are dead, and the
noose in his area was spacious. His
to shame. Our country is burning,
struction, even though the numbers
first family is hawking beans!
response to a CBS interviewer who
with COVID cases rising, racial
suggest otherwise. They are saying
The President’s comments on
asked him about Black people’s
tensions rising. The President is
the schools that fail to meet their
both masks and race are incendi-
police shooting was to note that
pouring fuel on an already-flaming
demands will forfeit federal dol-
ary. It is irresponsible to making
white people are shot by police,
fire with his callous indifference,
lars—fuel to the fire.
face coverings a matter of indi-
too. “More white people, by the
while
ineffective leadership, and irre-
Since the economy closed in
vidual choice while COVID infec-
way,” the deflector-in-Chief said.
sponsible proclamations. He has
late March, there has been plenty
tions are rising. Politicizing masks
Black people are 2.8 times as likely
so utterly failed to provide a na-
of time to develop a coordinated
causes tension among citizens who
to be killed as whites, but perhaps
tional plan to combat corona that
response to COVID 19, develop
share public space. In Tulsa, Rev.
the President does not understand
Republican governors have called
a back-to-school plan, and get
Robert Turner has rallied outside
the concept of disproportionality.
him out. Notably, Maryland gov-
school districts the additional re-
xxx for reparations every Wednes-
Since the President refuses to
ernor Larry Hogan, who chairs the
sources they need to serve our na-
day for the past two years. On July
develop a national plan to address
National Governor’s Association,
tion’s young people effectively. In-
15, a rabid anti-mask white mob
the corona pandemic, even as the
excoriated Mr. Trump in a July 16
stead, he says he is leaving it to the
surrounded him, poured water on
death toll increases, deaths in-
Washington Post op-ed noting that
states, just like he left the acquisi-
him, called him “boy,” and assault-
crease, let him hawk beans. He is
our President seemed “more con-
tion of personal protective equip-
ed him. Confederate flag-loving
far more adept at that task than he
cerned about boosting the stock
ment to the states. Why doesn’t he
Trump has empowered these rac-
is ar running the country.
market or his reelection plans.”
do his job instead of playing golf?
ists to behave horribly.
Dr. Julianne Malveux is a DC-
That’s fiddling while Rome burns.
Fiddling while Rome burns,
And the President’s idiocy on
based economist and author. She
Forty-five fanned the flames
the President and his daughter
the Confederate flag suggests he
can be reached through dr.j@juli-
of fear and uncertainty about
Ivanka, are auditioning as shills for
does not know history. His refus-
annemalveux.com.
Vol. 25, No 39 September 24, 2020
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