The suffering can't be measured in number of fatalities, which compared to all the diseases of the aged are small, but to the fear, the rareness of such a plague being beyond anyone's memory -- the pervasive feeling of suffocation by a miasma of microscopic entities too complex to understand that can reach us no matter our protections is overwhelming.
What exactly do I find good, maybe even exhilarating about such a scourge!!
First I have to give some background, the answer to "what kind of a life has this guy lived that he's enjoying the suffering of the entire world" Well, first of all I'm not. I have empathy for those who are living in fear, and compassion for those afflicted.
The pleasure, sometimes even happiness, can only be explained by describing my previous life that has been transformed, that just may resonate with others. No, I haven't cornered the cloth mask market, or discovered a secret cure for those afflicted. It's that after eight decades, I am living in a different world. It's a middle class suburb of San Diego, that we moved to based on a fantasy- that even though a lower status area, this time, we would find that community that provides a neighborly setting that I have sought all of my life.
It didn't. Rather it turned out to be even less than I had longed for -- actually all of my life. My wife and I just came back from a long walk, where we started to talk about our parents, all of them from a Jewish East European shtetl, and how their fears of being among non-Jews affected us, differently but with some similarities. Now, most of our faith (usually non-faith) first and second generation have done fine, the number of Democrats in the leadership of Congress being an illustration.
Stone sober, our walk had taken us to the land of Oz, that although threatened by evil, was full of laughter and joy. Those strangers in the land we came from only two weeks ago BC (Before Coronavirus) were now like family, as we walked past each other with a smile and greeting that said we are all together in this battle, so we step away as a sign of caring, of protection for you and your dog, or children from being harmed.
These seem to be the same people who I passed in silence before. The same kids who now I would eke out a smile with some silly joke, that would make her worried mother happy also. When we move to the side to secure that "social distance" that has become like a little dance, often with a tip of the hat to convey the irony of our now formalized routine.
For a while my spouse was engrossed in the catastrophe engulfing N.Y.C. since she had lived their until we moved west two decades ago. We had lived together on the top of a 40 story condo nestled a short walk from Central Park, Lincoln Center and the Hudson River. I had gotten involved, running for the nomination for the state legislature; although losing, getting to know Assemblyman Jerald Nadler in our joint effort to stop a mega-development of an aggressive developer who was later to make quite a name for himself.
I had gone cold turkey, no TV or Newspapers at all, while S. was following the carnage taking place in her home town. Her engrossed in the carnage from our viral enemy, my treating this lightly was unacceptable. "This is no joke" she said expressing her own fear that I would bring this scourge home on my unwashed hands. I could take it no more, to the point I had to take a long long walk, reaching the long strip under the high tension wires that had become a dog walk. There, like our loving pooches, we express no political views, as we care about each other species and party not interfering.
I allow myself to dream that when this scourge is defeated the sense any differences among us being subordinated to defeating our common enemy will remain. If this is a delusion that should be dissipated by the reality of our political divisiveness, it is one I will savor as long as I can. I know that this virus can and will be defeated, but the greater challenge remains, which is find a way to bring us --not exactly together-- but to a point where our differences can be hashed out civilly.
We atheist don't believe in God, but maybe we can make an exception this one time, and all pray that if this scourge is a message to us all, that the kind of hatred that now prevails will cease. and we will not allow all of the works of those who came before us to be in vain. We can have both social distance and neighborly love, something that I may have caught rather than the virus, that I happily share with all.
The prfound damage of Trump's pushing his "cure" for covid-19
This is published on the website of The Humanist Association of America 3/26/20
----addenda follows
----addenda follows
The deep damage of Trump's promoting the drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, effective for treating malaria, has not been broached by the media. In the widely viewed daily report on this pandemic, Dr. Fauci, delicately — yet forcefully — pushed back, explaining that there was only anecdotal evidence that the drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, may be effective. The dialog between the two, began with Trump saying“I’m a smart guy,” Fauci, acknowledging he couldn’t predict the drugs would work.and up saying, “I feel good about it. And we’re going to see. You’re going to see soon enough.
President Trump has hundreds of million's of fans, those who trust and admire him, in this and many other countries in the world, all fighting this global pandemic. Trump is, in fact, a smart man, as he reminds us of frequently, yet he could not explain a principle of epidemiology, "double blind verification of the efficacy of a medical treatment. Dr. Fauci chose not to go into this, as it would have damaged their tacit agreement, that he would correct only the very worse of Trump's actions, but would not do or say anything that challenges his authority.
Fauci did delicately —
yet forcefully — push back; explaining that there
was only "anecdotal evidence that the drugs, chloroquine and
hydroxychloroquine, may be effective." They engaged in a dialogue, that was really a battle of wills between the two, with the President concluding by saying, "Nobody's going to get killed by trying it"
It is certain that those who do have the Covid-19 will feel better after taking chloroqune. This is as certain as those who visit Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes to genuflect at the shrine do actually feel better, with some even living a bit longer based on their emotional boost. This a beneficial side of the "placebo effect" but there is also the vast harm that is done when there is widespread belief in a nostrum, a cure that is actually of no curative value.
There is another dimension, more profound and devastating that has been ignored by the media. Trump is known for his spreading hatred against institutions, such as the free press, the protection of the first amendment not limiting his calumny of any critical report defined as being "fake." Trump's introduction and enthusiasm for chloroqune is already having the effect of causing shortages for those with diseases that this actually helps..
This "blessing" of this medication by President Trump will divert his acolytes, which are not a small group, to shift see this untested medication as a cure for this fatal disease. The painful and distressing treatment that now is the only one that works, is excruciating for many, a version of national "lockdown." where the entire public is in virtual house arrest. The emotional distress, even beyond the actual inability to acquire necessities of living, is not a trivial matter.
While Trump is an intelligent man, he knows nothing about epidemiology. But ignorance about an area has never deterred his asserting expertise, made more vivid in his own mind by his never bringing into conversations those who have spent their careers in delving into complex areas, examples being Global Climate Change, the technology of evolving military weaponry or colonization of our planetary system.
Tragically, President Trump, by making specific suggestions of treatment for this pandemic, has politicize this tragic challenge to the world. Even if he eventually softens his enthusiasm for this drug, there is no reason to believe this will not have been assimilated by his base, and perhaps those of his style of leadership in other countries.
This seemingly benign recommendation, based on the divisiveness of our country, will only fuel such hatred that is little affected by the outcome of a few tests that are ongoing, among international venues. The brief effort of Trump uniting our country against a common enemy, his proudly stating on multiple occasions, "I'm now a war president" is only a fragile conceit, as he does not seem to understand the very concept.
The ancient Hippocratic Oath of physicians starts with, "First, Do No Harm." This must not be breached, especially by a President who is asserting his role as Physician in Chief in a war that he can't begin to understand.
------------The following is addenda to the above article------------------------
This quote that couldn't be located for the Humanist article, is from this CNN article, ""The nice part is," he (Trump) said last week, "it's been around for a long
time, so we know that if things don't go as planned, it's not going to
kill anybody."
More important is this report just posted in the NY Times, No, These Medicines Cannot Cure Coronavirus, it includes this:
As psychiatrists, we are worried about the shocking increase in people self-medicating with these drugs. To emphasize this point: These are not harmless medications. They could have serious consequences — like death.Doctors have known for decades that chloroquine and related medications like hydroxychloroquine and mefloquine can cause psychiatric side effects even after just one dose. While some patients experience mild anxiety, insomnia and nightmares, others have severe symptoms like personality changes, paranoia, hallucinations and even suicidal thoughts.
Extensive
testing of chloroquine is proceeding outside of agencies such as the
World Health Organization that Dr Fauci heads. This is sponsored by the
founder of Oracle, Larry Ellison, in defiance of the recommendation of
the medical research community, as described in this article.
=ll the leading
immortalists started out in tech, and all had a father who died young
(as Ray Kurzweil’s did when he was twenty-two), or absconded early (as
Aubrey de Grey’s did before he was born). They share an early loss of
innocence and a profound faith that the human mind can perfect even the
human body. Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, lost his adoptive
mother to cancer when he was in college—and later donated three hundred
and seventy million dollars to aging research. “Death has never made any
sense to me,” he told a biographer. “How can a person be there and then
just vanish?” Bill Maris, who conceived of Calico, said that, when he
pondered the inevitability of death, “I felt it was maybe our mission
here to transcend that, and to preserve consciousness indefinitely.”
Immortalists fall into two camps. Those who might be called the Meat Puppets, led by de Grey, believe that we can retool our biology and remain in our bodies. The RoboCops, led by Kurzweil, believe that we’ll eventually merge with mechanical bodies and/or with the cloud. Kurzweil is a lifelong fixer and optimizer: early in his career, he invented the flatbed scanner and a machine that reads books aloud to the blind. Those inventions have improved dramatically in subsequent iterations, and now he’s positive that what he calls “the law of accelerating returns” for human longevity is about to kick in.
I met with Kurzweil at Google, where he is a director of engineering, but he emphasized that he was speaking in his private capacity as a futurist. Though a few days short of his sixty-ninth birthday, he looked much younger. After discovering, in his thirties, that he had Type 2 diabetes, he changed his life style radically and began taking supplements. He swallows some ninety pills a day, including metformin; Basis; a coenzyme called Q10, for muscle strength; and phosphatidylcholine, to keep his skin supple. “How does it look?” he asked me, plucking at his forearm. “Supple!” I said.
Kurzweil thinks of such efforts, which attempt to slow aging by using current technology, as Bridge One to indefinite longevity. But he also subscribes to the belief that the body is essentially a computer made up of overwritable data and updatable apps. Therefore, we’ll soon be in the midst of a biotech revolution, which will offer personally tailored immune therapies for cancer as well as organs grown from our own DNA. This is Bridge Two, which he believes will bring us to longevity escape velocity within about fifteen years. “I’m actually a little more optimistic than Aubrey,” he said. Bridge Three, which he expects us to cross by the two-thousand-thirties, is nanobots—blood-cell-size devices that will roam the body and the brain, cleaning up all the damage that de Grey wants to fix with medical interventions. “I used to call it the killer app of health technology,” Kurzweil said, “but that’s not a good name.”
Immortalists fall into two camps. Those who might be called the Meat Puppets, led by de Grey, believe that we can retool our biology and remain in our bodies. The RoboCops, led by Kurzweil, believe that we’ll eventually merge with mechanical bodies and/or with the cloud. Kurzweil is a lifelong fixer and optimizer: early in his career, he invented the flatbed scanner and a machine that reads books aloud to the blind. Those inventions have improved dramatically in subsequent iterations, and now he’s positive that what he calls “the law of accelerating returns” for human longevity is about to kick in.
I met with Kurzweil at Google, where he is a director of engineering, but he emphasized that he was speaking in his private capacity as a futurist. Though a few days short of his sixty-ninth birthday, he looked much younger. After discovering, in his thirties, that he had Type 2 diabetes, he changed his life style radically and began taking supplements. He swallows some ninety pills a day, including metformin; Basis; a coenzyme called Q10, for muscle strength; and phosphatidylcholine, to keep his skin supple. “How does it look?” he asked me, plucking at his forearm. “Supple!” I said.
Kurzweil thinks of such efforts, which attempt to slow aging by using current technology, as Bridge One to indefinite longevity. But he also subscribes to the belief that the body is essentially a computer made up of overwritable data and updatable apps. Therefore, we’ll soon be in the midst of a biotech revolution, which will offer personally tailored immune therapies for cancer as well as organs grown from our own DNA. This is Bridge Two, which he believes will bring us to longevity escape velocity within about fifteen years. “I’m actually a little more optimistic than Aubrey,” he said. Bridge Three, which he expects us to cross by the two-thousand-thirties, is nanobots—blood-cell-size devices that will roam the body and the brain, cleaning up all the damage that de Grey wants to fix with medical interventions. “I used to call it the killer app of health technology,” Kurzweil said, “but that’s not a good name.”
Last Day at the Zoo
Started 3/15/2020 Posted 3/19/2020
The word "zoo" can denote an actual place - a collection of animals for display, or the word can be a state of confusion and disorder where reason does not exist. A widely covered speech by President Donald J. Trump, on March 13, 2020 was when he abruptly became a different person, like the fictional "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" The President in his previous persona had dismissed the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic as a "hoax" fomented by his many enemies, while the latter spoke like a world leader who accepted a challenging reality. The "last day"is a weekend the day before closing to the public for two weeks, even though unless this virus is miraculously eliminated from the world, it will possibly remain closed for months, even years.
For most people, adults as well as children, a zoo is like a circus for the entertainment of looking at different animals not seen elsewhere. Only at the "last day" did I appreciate this facility as an elaborate museum of the evolution of life on this planet -- every animal being an illustration of our Earth evolving over eons; such a rumination only at this moment when there is the possibility that human life as we know it could be at risk, brought down not by "evil empires" unleashing nuclear Armageddon but something different. Those with a scientific-atheist bent are amazed by the process, as they search for a way to defeat it. . For others, it is confirmation of action by a higher being, "God" in his many forms and incarnations-- such beliefs historically having resulted in wars, hatred and carnage.
For the first time in my many visits to this zoo, I looked at every animal through a different lens, some consigned to isolation without a mate; while other such as the amazing pink flamingos living in masses where the choreographing of their ballets have meaning that is still undecipherable to scholars who spend their careers in the attempt. Just as we humans, at times are individuals, we often often move in unison as the most disciplined Company of Marines or performers in a Busby Berkley film of the 1930s, We know how and why the Marines and the dancers do what they do, or why masses of others humans marched in unison to a more dire fate, yet the "how" and "why" of the same chorus of these birds is unknown.
There is another aspect of this "last day" at the zoo, which is my feeling towards the animals in cages had similarities with that of human visitors. With nothing to lose I started up dozens of conversations, that, in reaction to my own mood, were engaged by every single person. It could have been started by a smile and quip, or something more detailed like engaging a man from Australia on the culture of the aborigines who still are living the lives of those ancestors who were there forty millennia ago, with no connection to other cultures.
One bird had no companion at all, with the odd species name of "Secretary bird" These birds are a smaller version of the same extinct creature of which there was a sculpture only, large enough to have killed a human being the same way the living descendant can stomp to death a snake. I was fascinated by the living bird, as it was stamping to death an insect to eat, but if it were in the wild in it's natural environment it would be small bird or snake, so it could procreate and continue to survive -- perhaps for millions more years -- or until anthropogenic climate change or nuclear Armigedian intervenes. Such a creature, if never seen could certainly be depicted as the fruit of a Dr. Seuss' fantastic imagination, But only the ceramic model of it's ancestor is a human-created artifact, the actual bird is alive, stomping for food and walking his cage alone.
Having a last day at the Zoo, (actually spread over two days) was in anticipation of a civilizational catastrophe- either from COVID-19 or the over-reaction that disrupts the human interactions that have become integral to cultures everywhere. The warning of a type of sequestering, "social distancing" meaning not coming closer than six feet from another person. No one at the zoo, except two Asian out of the many thousands, wore face masks. I connected with people on a different level, one that resonated best with children who were just beginning to walk and talk. I put on my invisible bright red volunteer shirt that indicated I could be trusted as an official of the complex, and often just offered to help those who couldn't find their way in the byzantine maze of trails. When a grown up, especially men (in the olden days) can't find his way when studying a map, there is a sense of anger, despair and failure, a tiny dose of a destructive self image that is intolerable.
One man, whose cap read, "Viet Nam Veteran," had experienced this with his wife as they were studying the map. A few minutes later he was sitting by himself . His wife had gone on alone and after a minute or two of talking about how confusing it was to get around the zoo as I got up to leave he said, " I really appreciate your taking the time to talk to me." I knew exactly how he felt, how we all feel when the challenges of the world, whether making a living, or helping one's kids, or getting lost in the woods, life is not working, and at least there is someone who commiserates, understands -- asking nothing in return.
As the long day was closing that very well could mark the end of an era, a certainty for those who do not survive the pandemic, there was one interaction with a middle age couple that would not have happened in another time and place. They were an educated couple, introducing themselves as Ann and Ralph, with a slight accent, a decade or two younger than me. They were friendly and on the same intellectual wave length, our common antipathy towards Trump leavened by our agreement that he reflects tensions that predate him. My recounting as metaphor of him, how a supersaturated solution (reflecting stresses of society) congeals by adding a particle precipitant, a small crystal of solute (a single charismatic leader) was completed by Ralph. We began to talk about our lives and experiences. Ann brought up how we Jews faced discrimination, only a half century ago not being allowed to reside in some local neighborhoods. I affirmed this, but made the point that as a result of the rejection by the larger community, there is enhanced cohesion, a sense of belonging among other Jews.
With the announcement of closing, we started strolling to the exit. I continued our discussion, illustrating my point that the name for the human species, "homo sapiens" really should be demoted, as "sapien", meaning wise, entails a process of investigating and discovery "the scientific method" which is actually quite rare among we humans. I started to give an example, describing how Israel has no compunction to kill masses of Muslims in Gaza ....... At that point Ralph spun around, and confrontationally said, "I'm Israeli, and I'm not taking any of this shit that we are ruthless murderers........ " I tried to calm him down by finishing my example, but he had already reached his conclusion that I was one of the Israel haters, whmo he is not about to even talk to.
I thought about speaking louder, talking over him, explaining that the next sentence was to be......"and the Muslims in Gaza have no compassion towards the Israelis they kill or maim with their missiles." But I was not going plead that he hear me out. I simply waved them on as they sped up to walk away from me. I was hurt, yet also the exchange was a confirmation of what conversation has descended to. Among certain sects of Christians the phrase is "Get behind me Devil" meaning I will not even listen to your deceiving words. Experiencing a variation of this from the mouth of my fellow Jew with a PhD, after getting over the hurt of their rejection, turned out to be confirmation of my new understanding of our species. Yet the hurt lingers, as the intellectual confirmation does not begin to compensate for the destruction of this half hour long "friendship"
Postscript: Now, it's four days after the starting this essay -- the referenced Trump speech is ancient history. The "Two week" closure of the Zoo, has now officially been revised to last many months. The day after I started this essay the elderly (never precisely defined) were instructed/mandated by local governments to "shelter in place" meaning to stay at home- as if everyone had a home rather than a tarp to cover them at night. It also struck a chord with the restrictions after Kristalnacht, the beginning of the end for Jews in Nazi controlled Europe.
I got stuck trying to find a way to close out my essay, and could not seem to do it outside of a scholarly tome on evolution of species and the physical planet's vulnerability to destruction, such as the meteor that caused mass extinctions illustrated by multiple exhibits that were not as much fun as watching the animals. Knowing this could be my last visit ever to the zoo, I wanted to share what I had missed for so many years, going beyond this zoo as a circus, but what these caged animals,tell us about the commonality with their extinct forebears, and their close cousin who are entertained by them outside of the cages.
My Cousin, Martin Rodbell happened to write a poem to close out his Nobel Prize lecture in Stockholm earned for discovery of the G-protein, that ironically is a step in the possible defeat of the current pandemic. It expresses what I had been struggling to convey. I personally included it on his Wikipedia site, at the end under the heading, " Rodbell's Personal Philosophy of Science" and have prevented its removal, as poems are not usually a part of a scientist's biography. I will take the liberty of putting in italics words that put the current pandemic and economic collapse in the context of the unimaginable scope of time and extent of our universe.
To which I simply add, "Amen"
Related essay here on the life of Martin. Rodbell's wife during German occupation of the Netherlands
The word "zoo" can denote an actual place - a collection of animals for display, or the word can be a state of confusion and disorder where reason does not exist. A widely covered speech by President Donald J. Trump, on March 13, 2020 was when he abruptly became a different person, like the fictional "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" The President in his previous persona had dismissed the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic as a "hoax" fomented by his many enemies, while the latter spoke like a world leader who accepted a challenging reality. The "last day"is a weekend the day before closing to the public for two weeks, even though unless this virus is miraculously eliminated from the world, it will possibly remain closed for months, even years.
For most people, adults as well as children, a zoo is like a circus for the entertainment of looking at different animals not seen elsewhere. Only at the "last day" did I appreciate this facility as an elaborate museum of the evolution of life on this planet -- every animal being an illustration of our Earth evolving over eons; such a rumination only at this moment when there is the possibility that human life as we know it could be at risk, brought down not by "evil empires" unleashing nuclear Armageddon but something different. Those with a scientific-atheist bent are amazed by the process, as they search for a way to defeat it. . For others, it is confirmation of action by a higher being, "God" in his many forms and incarnations-- such beliefs historically having resulted in wars, hatred and carnage.
For the first time in my many visits to this zoo, I looked at every animal through a different lens, some consigned to isolation without a mate; while other such as the amazing pink flamingos living in masses where the choreographing of their ballets have meaning that is still undecipherable to scholars who spend their careers in the attempt. Just as we humans, at times are individuals, we often often move in unison as the most disciplined Company of Marines or performers in a Busby Berkley film of the 1930s, We know how and why the Marines and the dancers do what they do, or why masses of others humans marched in unison to a more dire fate, yet the "how" and "why" of the same chorus of these birds is unknown.
There is another aspect of this "last day" at the zoo, which is my feeling towards the animals in cages had similarities with that of human visitors. With nothing to lose I started up dozens of conversations, that, in reaction to my own mood, were engaged by every single person. It could have been started by a smile and quip, or something more detailed like engaging a man from Australia on the culture of the aborigines who still are living the lives of those ancestors who were there forty millennia ago, with no connection to other cultures.
One bird had no companion at all, with the odd species name of "Secretary bird" These birds are a smaller version of the same extinct creature of which there was a sculpture only, large enough to have killed a human being the same way the living descendant can stomp to death a snake. I was fascinated by the living bird, as it was stamping to death an insect to eat, but if it were in the wild in it's natural environment it would be small bird or snake, so it could procreate and continue to survive -- perhaps for millions more years -- or until anthropogenic climate change or nuclear Armigedian intervenes. Such a creature, if never seen could certainly be depicted as the fruit of a Dr. Seuss' fantastic imagination, But only the ceramic model of it's ancestor is a human-created artifact, the actual bird is alive, stomping for food and walking his cage alone.
Having a last day at the Zoo, (actually spread over two days) was in anticipation of a civilizational catastrophe- either from COVID-19 or the over-reaction that disrupts the human interactions that have become integral to cultures everywhere. The warning of a type of sequestering, "social distancing" meaning not coming closer than six feet from another person. No one at the zoo, except two Asian out of the many thousands, wore face masks. I connected with people on a different level, one that resonated best with children who were just beginning to walk and talk. I put on my invisible bright red volunteer shirt that indicated I could be trusted as an official of the complex, and often just offered to help those who couldn't find their way in the byzantine maze of trails. When a grown up, especially men (in the olden days) can't find his way when studying a map, there is a sense of anger, despair and failure, a tiny dose of a destructive self image that is intolerable.
One man, whose cap read, "Viet Nam Veteran," had experienced this with his wife as they were studying the map. A few minutes later he was sitting by himself . His wife had gone on alone and after a minute or two of talking about how confusing it was to get around the zoo as I got up to leave he said, " I really appreciate your taking the time to talk to me." I knew exactly how he felt, how we all feel when the challenges of the world, whether making a living, or helping one's kids, or getting lost in the woods, life is not working, and at least there is someone who commiserates, understands -- asking nothing in return.
As the long day was closing that very well could mark the end of an era, a certainty for those who do not survive the pandemic, there was one interaction with a middle age couple that would not have happened in another time and place. They were an educated couple, introducing themselves as Ann and Ralph, with a slight accent, a decade or two younger than me. They were friendly and on the same intellectual wave length, our common antipathy towards Trump leavened by our agreement that he reflects tensions that predate him. My recounting as metaphor of him, how a supersaturated solution (reflecting stresses of society) congeals by adding a particle precipitant, a small crystal of solute (a single charismatic leader) was completed by Ralph. We began to talk about our lives and experiences. Ann brought up how we Jews faced discrimination, only a half century ago not being allowed to reside in some local neighborhoods. I affirmed this, but made the point that as a result of the rejection by the larger community, there is enhanced cohesion, a sense of belonging among other Jews.
With the announcement of closing, we started strolling to the exit. I continued our discussion, illustrating my point that the name for the human species, "homo sapiens" really should be demoted, as "sapien", meaning wise, entails a process of investigating and discovery "the scientific method" which is actually quite rare among we humans. I started to give an example, describing how Israel has no compunction to kill masses of Muslims in Gaza ....... At that point Ralph spun around, and confrontationally said, "I'm Israeli, and I'm not taking any of this shit that we are ruthless murderers........ " I tried to calm him down by finishing my example, but he had already reached his conclusion that I was one of the Israel haters, whmo he is not about to even talk to.
I thought about speaking louder, talking over him, explaining that the next sentence was to be......"and the Muslims in Gaza have no compassion towards the Israelis they kill or maim with their missiles." But I was not going plead that he hear me out. I simply waved them on as they sped up to walk away from me. I was hurt, yet also the exchange was a confirmation of what conversation has descended to. Among certain sects of Christians the phrase is "Get behind me Devil" meaning I will not even listen to your deceiving words. Experiencing a variation of this from the mouth of my fellow Jew with a PhD, after getting over the hurt of their rejection, turned out to be confirmation of my new understanding of our species. Yet the hurt lingers, as the intellectual confirmation does not begin to compensate for the destruction of this half hour long "friendship"
Postscript: Now, it's four days after the starting this essay -- the referenced Trump speech is ancient history. The "Two week" closure of the Zoo, has now officially been revised to last many months. The day after I started this essay the elderly (never precisely defined) were instructed/mandated by local governments to "shelter in place" meaning to stay at home- as if everyone had a home rather than a tarp to cover them at night. It also struck a chord with the restrictions after Kristalnacht, the beginning of the end for Jews in Nazi controlled Europe.
I got stuck trying to find a way to close out my essay, and could not seem to do it outside of a scholarly tome on evolution of species and the physical planet's vulnerability to destruction, such as the meteor that caused mass extinctions illustrated by multiple exhibits that were not as much fun as watching the animals. Knowing this could be my last visit ever to the zoo, I wanted to share what I had missed for so many years, going beyond this zoo as a circus, but what these caged animals,tell us about the commonality with their extinct forebears, and their close cousin who are entertained by them outside of the cages.
My Cousin, Martin Rodbell happened to write a poem to close out his Nobel Prize lecture in Stockholm earned for discovery of the G-protein, that ironically is a step in the possible defeat of the current pandemic. It expresses what I had been struggling to convey. I personally included it on his Wikipedia site, at the end under the heading, " Rodbell's Personal Philosophy of Science" and have prevented its removal, as poems are not usually a part of a scientist's biography. I will take the liberty of putting in italics words that put the current pandemic and economic collapse in the context of the unimaginable scope of time and extent of our universe.
To which I simply add, "Amen"
To my Friends:Thoughts from “On High” By Martin Rodbell
Life on a roller coaster, oscillating from hither to yon, no respite for the iconoclast, wandering from dusk to dawn. Conjuring strange thoughts foreign and twice forbidden, like Prometheus unbound, this Nobelist climbs in vain to Andean peaks, seeking what most would proclaim insane.
Why, he ponders, are there no answers to protean questions when others thinking cleanly and simply with Occam’s sharp razor proclaim what seems obvious given the beam of their unerring laser. Nature, happily unfettered with philosophy, or with cunning, or with intent moves relentlessly onward or even backward with energy unspent while we mortals test and probe with twinkling machines blinking precisely at each movement, striving to unravel its irresolute randomness, its fathomless, unlimited, meaningless rush into spiraling chaos, oblivious of its multitudinous trials & errors which we pontifically believe must be unerring truth & resolution.
The laugh is on those who, burdened with pretensions of truth, believe they can fathom within 15 minutes of human existence what has transpired over eons of space and time in this Universe . So, I extol the intuitions encapsulated in the folds of my mind from whence occasionally they hurtle to the forebrain and in a twinkling of a proton’s discharge bring to fruition a thought, an idea borne on the feathery appendages of teeming neurons wedded in a seamless synergy.
Those fleeting moments are cherished as are those precious impulses imparted by the innumerable individuals who nurtured and instilled unknowingly their encrypted thoughts in mine. So, with these fanciful thoughts in mind I give praise to you - my friends, my colleagues, my soul-mates, my loved ones - for letting my soul and thoughts meander hither and yonder in this attempt at philosophy and poetry. We now belong to the Gods on high who praise us for our frailties and our achievements.
Original Submission, article based on the one sponsored by AHA on the web.3/28/20
The deep damage of Trump's promoting the drugs, chloroquine and
hydroxychloroquine, effective for treating malaria, has not been
broached by the media. In the widely viewed daily report on this
pandemic, Dr. Fauci, delicately —
yet forcefully — pushed back, explaining that there
was only anecdotal evidence that the drugs, chloroquine and
hydroxychloroquine, may be effective. The dialog between the two, began
with Trump saying“I’m a
smart guy,” Dr. Fauci, acknowledging he couldn’t predict the drugs
would work.and up saying, “I feel good about it. And we’re going to
see. You’re going
to see soon enough.
President Trump has hundreds of million's of fans, those who trust and
admire him, in this and many other countries in the world, all fighting
this global pandemic. Trump is, in fact, a smart man, as he reminds us
of frequently, yet he could not explain a principle of epidemiology,
"double blind verification of the efficacy of a medical treatment." Dr.
Fauci chose to challenge Trump on this, as it would have damaged their tacit
agreement that he would correct only the very worse of his actions,
but would not do or say anything that challenges his authority.
Fauci did delicately —
yet forcefully — push back; explaining that there
was only "anecdotal evidence that the drugs, chloroquine and
hydroxychloroquine, may be effective." They engaged in a dialogue, that
was really a battle of wills between the two, with the President
concluding by saying, "Nobody's going to get killed by trying it"
It is certain that those who do have the Covid-19 will feel better
after taking chloroquine. This is as certain as those who visit Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes to
genuflect at the shrine do actually feel better, with some even living a
bit longer based on their emotional boost. This a beneficial side of
the "placebo effect" but there is also the vast harm that is done when
there is widespread belief in a nostrum, a cure that is actually of no
curative value.
There is another dimension, more profound and devastating that has been
ignored by the media. Trump is known for his spreading hatred against
institutions such as the free press, the protection of the first
amendment not limiting his calumny of any critical report defined as
being "fake." Trump's introduction and enthusiasm for chloroquine is
already having the effect of causing shortages for those with diseases
that this actually helps..
This "blessing" of this medication by President Trump will divert his
acolytes, which are not a small group, to view this untested
medication as a cure for this fatal disease. The distressing treatment, that now is the only one that works, is
excruciating for many, a version of national "lockdown." where the
entire public is in virtual house arrest. The emotional distress, even
beyond the actual inability to acquire necessities of living, is not a
trivial matter.
While Trump is an intelligent man, he knows nothing about epidemiology.
But ignorance about an area has never deterred his asserting expertise,
made more vivid in his own mind by his never bringing into conversations
those who have spent their careers in delving into complex areas,
examples being Global Climate Change, the technology of evolving
military weaponry or colonization of our planetary system.
Tragically, President Trump, by making specific suggestions of treatment
for this pandemic, has politicized this tragic challenge to the world.
Even if he eventually softens his enthusiasm for this drug, there is no
reason to believe its efficacy will not have been assimilated by his base, and
perhaps those of his style of leadership in other countries.
His seemingly benign recommendation, based on the divisiveness of our
country, will only fuel such hatred that is little affected by the
outcome of the few tests that are ongoing among international venues. The
brief effort of Trump uniting our country against a common enemy, his
proudly stating on multiple occasions, "I'm now a war president" is only
a fragile conceit, as he does not seem to understand the very concept.
The ancient Hippocratic Oath of physicians starts with, "First, Do No
Harm." This must not be breached, especially by a President who is
asserting his role as Physician in Chief in a war that he can't begin to
understand==============
Revision of comment section-
Race, an etymological analysis
Etymology is a branch of linguistics that traces the origin,
development, and changes over time of a word in a given language. Race is a noun with one meaning being a population of species, including humans, or homo sapiens, that on the face of it, and as used in previous times having no implication of evaluation of the population on any specific aspect.
Only recently, the last century at most, has this term become fraught with affect, being far from the biological entity it had referred to in previous eras. This is especially true in it's variation, when referring to a singular or cultural adjective or noun, specifically "racist or racism." There are an wide array of words that have retained their common affect over long periods, and example being two words, "homosexual" and "Faggot." The former had been neutral for centuries, while the later has been invidious for many decades, and perhaps longer.
The full title of the seminal work by Charles Darwin in 1859 is On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. Darwin use was biological, similar to the concept of "sub species" used today. Those who focused on this particular area of the taxonomic spectrum were not referred to as being "racist" but if they chose to use the term in would be anodyne, without any assumption that their goal was other than understanding this rather complex concept of sub-species,
This brings us to the point of this essay, which is examine the word, its referent in the literature of biological animal taxonomy and how the very word that had described one with an interest in this subject has taken on the stigma of vile hatred towards the object implied by the word itself- race, usually a specific one.
There are those who would like the word to go away, and express this desire with, "Race is a human construct" as if every word that we use is other than this. Language itself is, of course, a human construct as no other species has managed the knack like we have." Bowdlerization of words to make the meaning go away has been tried before, and it doesn't work. Yet, to label one a racist is a solemn pronouncement of moral guilt, usually stated with either/and sadness or contempt.
According to the article in Wikipedia, meaning it's been vetted by dozens of scholars who have reached a consensus, race is subsumed under sub-species as defined in this article that is based on the extensive article on taxonomy. There are many, perhaps a majority of people who have strong opinions on this subject, and do not want to explore the word itself, its origin, or how it evolved into a central element of the culture wars that cover the Presidential election of 2020.
This subject is so fraught as this essay is being written that the alternative terms for race all are invidious, meaning containing an assumption that evokes a strong emotional reaction that defies reasoned discourse. This is illustrated by various dictionary definitions of sub-species, otherwise known as race, and thus such an individual is properly referred to as a "racist" as the suffix "ist" means one who explores a body of knowledge.
While it is impossible to refute the biological differences among sub-species of homo sapiens; intellectual capacity, or intelligence is only gauged by the functioning of a single organ, the brain. Average height, strength, vision, endurance or longevity can all be objectively determined, yet the attribute of cogitation, of capacity to manipulate information and ideas, require a more etherial process. To negate the premise that different sub-species of homo-sapiens have differing cognitive abilities has not been definitively refuted. Such cognitive ability is a word "intelligence" that is measured by a calculation of the individual or sub-species/race over the average of all homo sapiens.
It is here that I have come to the end of my essay, since just as biology, and the attempt to classify all living creatures is an ongoing effort, the results will only affect those in the sterile world of academia, and not the living humans of various races who will bear the consequences of what has evolved in a central element of the cultural divide of the United States of America along with the entire world.
We humans rely on illusions. For some it is a certainty of eternal life under the auspices of a benevolent supernatural being. For others it is the enjoyment of a life well lived, with the satisfaction of maybe even progeny who will benefit down the generations to come. One rare illusion is the belief that one has something to contribute to society, a special truth that will save us all. Among ancient Hebraic scholars this was promulgated to all of the Jewish children, that there will always be one in waiting for just that moment when God will call on him to save his creation.
Getting a handle on how various demographics think about God, a creator of ancient mythical proportions is not as easy as doing a survey, no matter how much resources are invested. How the question is posed can change the percent of believers in God by a third. This is described in the ongoing effort of the professional well funded Pew Research foundation, as described in this article that's long and complex
These are truly interesting, and challenging times.
Only recently, the last century at most, has this term become fraught with affect, being far from the biological entity it had referred to in previous eras. This is especially true in it's variation, when referring to a singular or cultural adjective or noun, specifically "racist or racism." There are an wide array of words that have retained their common affect over long periods, and example being two words, "homosexual" and "Faggot." The former had been neutral for centuries, while the later has been invidious for many decades, and perhaps longer.
The full title of the seminal work by Charles Darwin in 1859 is On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. Darwin use was biological, similar to the concept of "sub species" used today. Those who focused on this particular area of the taxonomic spectrum were not referred to as being "racist" but if they chose to use the term in would be anodyne, without any assumption that their goal was other than understanding this rather complex concept of sub-species,
This brings us to the point of this essay, which is examine the word, its referent in the literature of biological animal taxonomy and how the very word that had described one with an interest in this subject has taken on the stigma of vile hatred towards the object implied by the word itself- race, usually a specific one.
There are those who would like the word to go away, and express this desire with, "Race is a human construct" as if every word that we use is other than this. Language itself is, of course, a human construct as no other species has managed the knack like we have." Bowdlerization of words to make the meaning go away has been tried before, and it doesn't work. Yet, to label one a racist is a solemn pronouncement of moral guilt, usually stated with either/and sadness or contempt.
According to the article in Wikipedia, meaning it's been vetted by dozens of scholars who have reached a consensus, race is subsumed under sub-species as defined in this article that is based on the extensive article on taxonomy. There are many, perhaps a majority of people who have strong opinions on this subject, and do not want to explore the word itself, its origin, or how it evolved into a central element of the culture wars that cover the Presidential election of 2020.
This subject is so fraught as this essay is being written that the alternative terms for race all are invidious, meaning containing an assumption that evokes a strong emotional reaction that defies reasoned discourse. This is illustrated by various dictionary definitions of sub-species, otherwise known as race, and thus such an individual is properly referred to as a "racist" as the suffix "ist" means one who explores a body of knowledge.
While it is impossible to refute the biological differences among sub-species of homo sapiens; intellectual capacity, or intelligence is only gauged by the functioning of a single organ, the brain. Average height, strength, vision, endurance or longevity can all be objectively determined, yet the attribute of cogitation, of capacity to manipulate information and ideas, require a more etherial process. To negate the premise that different sub-species of homo-sapiens have differing cognitive abilities has not been definitively refuted. Such cognitive ability is a word "intelligence" that is measured by a calculation of the individual or sub-species/race over the average of all homo sapiens.
It is here that I have come to the end of my essay, since just as biology, and the attempt to classify all living creatures is an ongoing effort, the results will only affect those in the sterile world of academia, and not the living humans of various races who will bear the consequences of what has evolved in a central element of the cultural divide of the United States of America along with the entire world.
We humans rely on illusions. For some it is a certainty of eternal life under the auspices of a benevolent supernatural being. For others it is the enjoyment of a life well lived, with the satisfaction of maybe even progeny who will benefit down the generations to come. One rare illusion is the belief that one has something to contribute to society, a special truth that will save us all. Among ancient Hebraic scholars this was promulgated to all of the Jewish children, that there will always be one in waiting for just that moment when God will call on him to save his creation.
Getting a handle on how various demographics think about God, a creator of ancient mythical proportions is not as easy as doing a survey, no matter how much resources are invested. How the question is posed can change the percent of believers in God by a third. This is described in the ongoing effort of the professional well funded Pew Research foundation, as described in this article that's long and complex
These are truly interesting, and challenging times.
My Cousin - A Friend of Anne Frank-
This is in response to a dialog with a friend, John, where I tell him how the
coronavirus, COVID-19 order to "Shelter in Place"-- meaning I should
stay isolated, brought back the nightmare of Jews under the Nazi
regime, He responded with "They locked down the senior center and the
library. Then it rains for a week. What a country. How did Ann Frank
survive 2 yrs in an attic. ??
Anne
had companionship; her parents and another family, including a boy a
bit older with an ongoing "flirting relationship" And then she had her
diary, as she enjoyed writing, never dreaming that it would become a
vivid history of one small aspect of life during those years.
----------------
It
happens that a cousin of mine knew her as a child in Amsterdam. She is
now in her mid nineties, and I have exchanged a few emails with her.
There is a movie called the The Resistance Banker
based on actual events in occupied Amsterdam. It shows a young girl
who worked with the resistance movement who delivered contraband on her
bike, until she was caught, and then released. She didn't look Jewish
and talked her way out of it. She could very well be based on my
Cousin. Barbara Lederman Rodbell's participation with the resistance is
similar even to the use of a bike to deliver contraband to those in
hiding and her arrest.
Her story is available at this link
on three free videos from the Holocaust Museum in D.C. She tells it
from one who lived in the midst of a special variety of hatred where
human beings can be transformed into a mob, that rather than restrained
by law, are united by one who has become the embodiment of law, of a
nation with mystical roots and a promised transcendent glorious future,
that to be achieved requires the eliminating of those who do not
belong. Barbara shares talking about a love affair with a man of German
roots, who so abhorred what his country had become, that he would not
bring children into such a world.
Original submission of article on Trump's support of dangerous drug
J.B- Editor
I'd
like you to look at this, as it is a warning not written about, on the
damage of Trump promoting a treatment for the Pandemic. This
perspective has not been in the media, and maybe it grabbed me as I did
take a course in Epidemiology at Columbia Medical School as a Grad
student in psychology. The course consisted of all the studies that had
been wrong, which we were to write up after evaluating.
If
you have doubts about any aspect of it, the explanation of the harm of
promoting what could be a placebo, show it to one with credentials in
this field. I really don't even care if my name is on this, as I
genuinely feel it could politicize what to now has been mostly both
parties fighting the COVID-19 as a common enemy.
Regards Al
-----------------------
The human cost of Trump's pushing his "cure" for covid-19
The deep damage of Trump's promoting the drugs, chloroquine and
hydroxychloroquine, effective for treating malaria, has not been
broached by the media. In the widely viewed daily report on this
pandemic, Dr. Fauci, delicately —
yet forcefully — pushed back, explaining that there
was only anecdotal evidence that the drugs, chloroquine and
hydroxychloroquine, may be effective. The dialog between the two, began
with Trump saying“I’m a
smart guy,” Dr. Fauci, acknowledging he couldn’t predict the drugs
would work.and up saying, “I feel good about it. And we’re going to
see. You’re going
to see soon enough.
President Trump has hundreds of million's of fans, those who trust and
admire him, in this and many other countries in the world, all fighting
this global pandemic. Trump is, in fact, a smart man, as he reminds us
of frequently, yet he could not explain a principle of epidemiology,
"double blind verification of the efficacy of a medical treatment." Dr.
Fauci chose challenge Trump on this, as it would have damaged their tacit
agreement, that he would correct only the very worse of his actions,
but would not do or say anything that challenges his authority.
Fauci did delicately —
yet forcefully — push back; explaining that there
was only "anecdotal evidence that the drugs, chloroquine and
hydroxychloroquine, may be effective." They engaged in a dialogue, that
was really a battle of wills between the two, with the President
concluding by saying, "Nobody's going to get killed by trying it"
It is certain that those who do have the Covid-19 will feel better
after taking chloroqune. This is as certain as those who visit Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes to
genuflect at the shrine do actually feel better, with some even living a
bit longer based on their emotional boost. This a beneficial side of
the "placebo effect" but there is also the vast harm that is done when
there is widespread belief in a nostrum, a cure that is actually of no
curative value.
There is another dimension, more profound and devastating that has been
ignored by the media. Trump is known for his spreading hatred against
institutions such as the free press, the protection of the first
amendment not limiting his calumny of any critical report defined as
being "fake." Trump's introduction and enthusiasm for chloroqune is
already having the effect of causing shortages for those with diseases
that this actually helps..
This "blessing" of this medication by President Trump will divert his
acolytes, which are not a small group, to view this untested
medication as a cure for this fatal disease. The distressing treatment, that now is the only one that works, is
excruciating for many, a version of national "lockdown." where the
entire public is in virtual house arrest. The emotional distress, even
beyond the actual inability to acquire necessities of living, is not a
trivial matter.
While Trump is an intelligent man, he knows nothing about epidemiology.
But ignorance about an area has never deterred his asserting expertise,
made more vivid in his own mind by his never bringing into conversations
those who have spent their careers in delving into complex areas,
examples being Global Climate Change, the technology of evolving
military weaponry or colonization of our planetary system.
Tragically, President Trump, by making specific suggestions of treatment
for this pandemic, has politicized this tragic challenge to the world.
Even if he eventually softens his enthusiasm for this drug, there is no
reason to believe its efficacy will not have been assimilated by his base, and
perhaps those of his style of leadership in other countries.
His seemingly benign recommendation, based on the divisiveness of our
country, will only fuel such hatred that is little affected by the
outcome of the few tests that are ongoing among international venues. The
brief effort of Trump uniting our country against a common enemy, his
proudly stating on multiple occasions, "I'm now a war president" is only
a fragile conceit, as he does not seem to understand the very concept.
The ancient Hippocratic Oath of physicians starts with, "First, Do No
Harm." This must not be breached, especially by a President who is
asserting his role as Physician in Chief in a war that he can't begin to
understand
Conversation with Barbara Leberman Rodbell
alandsheila@yahoo.com
Barbara,
Don't think of it as any type of literary effort, just a simple expression of affection and admiration for you and Martin.
Martin's Poem.
Al
--- On Mon, 1/10/11, Barbara Rodbell <barbraland@earthlink.net> wrote:
From: Barbara Rodbell <barbraland@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Elka Fink and Earle Silber
To: "Rodbell" <alandsheila@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, January 10, 2011, 3:08 PM
Hello Al,
Barbara,
I am your late husband Martin's second cousin, and recently by a strange coincidence connected on the internet with the son of your childhood friend Elka. I've long been fascinated by the story of you and Martin, and felt regret that I had drifted away over the years from the Rodbell side of our family, even missing the time that you both attended the Cousins club, soon after Martin's international award.
My sister Arlene Epstein is still close to Earle, whom I believe was friends with Martin. She tells me how Earle many decades ago described the importance of Martin's research and predicted that some day it would be recognized as such.
As someone who has taken an interest in the interplay of religion and society, I was struck by "Thoughts from 'On High' " and inserted it into the Wikipedia article From this poem, I've speculated in an essay on Martin's philosophy in this area, and never hoped that I may someday have the opportunity to find out whether I'm even on the right track.
If you have the time, I would greatly enjoy sharing this essay with you.
Regards
Al Rodbell
Encinitas California
760-436-4234
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 8:48 AM
Dear Al,
I'm
afraid I can only consider your essay a literary effort as it was so
beautifully written. Somewhat to my chagrin, you have articulated the
essence of Martin's "quest" more precisely than I ever have. Your
statement that "Martin spent his life in his own resistance movement"
perfectly captures the spirit and passion of his research. He was in
rebellion against ignorance, even knowing the fantastically miniscule
contribution he could make in his (our) short lifetime. And I believe
that the horrors of the 20th century contributed to the passion with
which he worked. In fact, in measuring what was more important in his
research--the results or the process--I would say the process, hands
down. It was the search that mattered, that "wisp of a seedling after a
firestorm" as you so beautifully put it, that holds forth any
possibility of 'redemption' for the human race.
Thank
you so much for sharing your thoughts with me. But of course I am
curious about you: why this blog, what are your interests? Do keep in
touch.
All the Best,
Barbara
On Jan 11, 2011, at 10:03 AM, Rodbell wrote:
Barbara,
Don't think of it as any type of literary effort, just a simple expression of affection and admiration for you and Martin.
Martin's Poem.
Al
--- On Mon, 1/10/11, Barbara Rodbell <barbraland@earthlink.net> wrote:
From: Barbara Rodbell <barbraland@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Elka Fink and Earle Silber
To: "Rodbell" <alandsheila@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, January 10, 2011, 3:08 PM
Hello Al,
I
am very touched to hear of your interest in Marty's and my story and I
would be pleased to read your essay. As you know, the poem was written
and read by Marty as an acceptance speech at the Grand Fete of the Nobel
ceremony. Thus it has an deliberately exalted tone addressing the
excitement both of the occasion and the process of scientific discovery.
But I get ahead of myself. Why don't you just send your essay? I'd be
very interested to read it and promise to give my honest opinion.
All the Best,
Barbara Rodbell
On Jan 10, 2011, at 11:39 AM, Rodbell wrote:
Barbara,
I am your late husband Martin's second cousin, and recently by a strange coincidence connected on the internet with the son of your childhood friend Elka. I've long been fascinated by the story of you and Martin, and felt regret that I had drifted away over the years from the Rodbell side of our family, even missing the time that you both attended the Cousins club, soon after Martin's international award.
My sister Arlene Epstein is still close to Earle, whom I believe was friends with Martin. She tells me how Earle many decades ago described the importance of Martin's research and predicted that some day it would be recognized as such.
As someone who has taken an interest in the interplay of religion and society, I was struck by "Thoughts from 'On High' " and inserted it into the Wikipedia article From this poem, I've speculated in an essay on Martin's philosophy in this area, and never hoped that I may someday have the opportunity to find out whether I'm even on the right track.
If you have the time, I would greatly enjoy sharing this essay with you.
Regards
Al Rodbell
Encinitas California
760-436-4234
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