Recently, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams asked Blacks and Latinos to refrain from “alcohol, tobacco and drugs” during the pandemic. As this virus has a vicious predisposition to attack minorities, it seems almost racially conspiratorial against us at times, but do I want to say that out loud and risk the negative publicity?
Sure.
One group of people that seems to be forgotten in all this however are the Indigenous. With many living on reservations that were suffering from a desperate lack of funds to begin with, tribes like the Navajo has seen such a spike in Coronavirus cases that the even Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico is fearful that the virus could “wipe out” entire tribes.
There has been an absolute absence of testing kits, protective health gear and cleaning supplies for tribes around the country, some affected more than others. I guess in a time of crisis, people that are doing bad do even worse, and who does worse than Natives?
Trump isn’t letting this crisis go to waste, stealing Indian lands from various tribes at a time when they are dealing with the sick and suffering—hand us come Covid-infected blankets so we’ll be at home. I sure hope that Stitt isn’t going to try to impress his true Godhead and use this to attack the Indigenous people of this state in his continuing war against them. But he probably will.
Remember, brothers and sisters: right now, the most revolutionary thing we can do is stay alive, if only to fight another day. To paraphrase the typically-misattributed Native adage, today is not a good day to die.
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Thank God for phở. The Vietnamese soup has been the ultimate life-restorer for me recently, pretty much the only thing I can keep down. I’ve ordered it a few days this week from the much-loved Phở Cuòng, a place I’ve written about a few times here.
It’s the place I always seem to run to in times of sickness and health.
As I waited for my order the other day, I spoke to the woman that runs the place, asking her how business was. Welling up with a few tears, she told me that it’s been “not so good” since the virus, mostly because people aren’t eating out as much.
When "upstanding" citizens are quick to blame Asians for the Coronavirus—some even resorting to violence to prove their flaccid point—it’s up to good people like you and me to help support their businesses, especially those that have provided us with nourishment for so many years.
I don’t want to lose Phở Cuòng in all of this.
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The art above is by Mvskoke artist Johnnie Diacon and is entitled “I Don’t Take Responsibility at All.”
Follow Louis on Twitter at @LouisFowler and Instagram at @louisfowler78.
