I was surprised to get a personal postcard from President Trump today, and twice – once in my home mailbox, the other in my post office box.
I thought at first it was a re-election message, then saw it seemed to be from the CDC listing their guidelines for dealing with the coronavirus.
(Update, it looks like the taxpayers did pay for this promotional message. It apparently is an official government document. The President, according to the Washington Post, is also demanding that his name be on every check the government sends out to people.)
Millions and millions of postcards, even tens of millions, got this postcard. It looks official, and if it isn’t, there is no identification anywhere on the card stating who authorized it or paid for it. Maria and I both thought it was from the government.
I wondered if some SuperPac didn’t print it and send it out if so it’s pretty slimy because it was designed to look like it was an official message coming from the CDC. Perhaps it is a government document. Either way, it seems wrong to me.
Exploiting death and suffering for political reasons is low, even by today’s standards.
The card was also dishonest in its message.
The President is not a doctor or scientist and has openly disagreed with much of what the CDC has been saying or recommending for months. I can’t say if he is right or wrong in his views, but he is not a person I trust when it comes to science or medicine.
This was disturbing in itself but also confusing since President Trump seemed to be endorsing guidelines and recommendations he has said almost daily he doesn’t believe in.
And if he needed to send me a postcard, why couldn’t he at least say what he really does believe? Or maybe quote some of the people who do know what they are talking about?
I did wonder how much that card cost and how many mortgages it could have paid for frightened and needy people.
Politics seem to haunt us these days everywhere we go. I was starting to believe the President when he said things weren’t really so bad and we needed to be normal again. It could have killed me.
The postcard came at an important day for me, I have decided to completely shelter-in-place in the farmhouse and on the farm (and except for my walks with Zinnia and/or Maria).
The President says we should go back to work in a couple of weeks, and he doesn’t care much for science or scientists. He believes climate change is a hoax, and that solar windmills cause cancer. I suspect that is not what anyone on my Corona Virus Board Of Directors thinks.
I’ve paid careful attention to the news about the virus so that I can know how to protect myself and aid others.
I’ve watched a lot of hours of advice online and on cable news, as most of you have.
I’ve appointed my own Carona Board of Directors, and I am genuinely sorry to say the President is not on it. I don’t mean to be part of the insidious plot to undermine him by believing the virus is a serious threat.
My Board of Directors is Dr. Anthony Fauci, by most accounts, the most knowledgeable expert in infectious diseases in the world, my Governor, Andrew Cuomo, whose honest and heartfelt daily press conferences have sustained and informed me, Maria, my loving and tough-minded wife, and Sue Silverstein, a theology and art teacher at Bishop Maginn, a good friend and a person of genuine faith.
I am always surprised to learn how much Maria loves me, she has been fighting for me all week. I admit to writing some of what she said off as just worry. I apologize for that. I guess I’m not used to real love.
All four of them have given me the same advice this week.
I need to stay home until told otherwise.
I am 72, have heart disease and diabetes. I don’t wish to get the virus or give it to anyone else. I respect my life and am not ready to leave it. Or Maria.
So I’m stopping the few interactions with the outside world left to me.
No more treks to Jean’s Place to support them buy lunch. No more trips to the convenience store to buy cigarettes for the tough old ladies at the Mansion, nor more visits to the Post Office. No more trips to the supermarket, Maria is taking that over.
Maria has volunteered to do many of these things, and she and Sue have teamed up to get me to listen, which is not something I do naturally or well. I have trouble seeing myself on a risk list.
I hope this will only be for a week or so, but I’m luckier than many.
I can do much of my Mansion and Bishop Maginn work from home. I can write as much as I want on the blog and take as many photos as I want all day. I’m still the cook and chief bottle washer.
I can stay in touch with everyone I need to stay in touch with by Skype, Zoom, e-mail, phone, texts, social media, or cell.
And my walks with the dogs are in isolated places, there are no other people.
I will still commune with the donkeys, visit the sheep, walk in our woods, listen to the doctors. I have a lot of things to write and research, a blog I love, good books to read, and a full list of shows to catch up with on Netflix, HBO, and Amazon Video.
And I hope to meditate and re-kindle my love affair with solitude. I’ve worked at home for years, and I know the importance of routines and discipline. Walk, eat well and sitting at the table, regular bedtimes, good music and rest.
The idea of being confined like this is as unnatural to me as it is to so many others. I can hardly believe what is happening.
But there comes a time when you just have to choose the people you listen to thoughtfully.
And look beyond to the other side. And I am so sorry about the growing numbers of sick and dying people.
This is a critical time in the life of this virus, the experts say it will fully reveal itself over the next two or three weeks.
This is a time for me to listen, to stifle my frustrations and impulses, to batten down the ego, grow up and do what I am told. And hopefully, along the way, do some good. In particular, I want to help the Mansion residents get through this difficult time, and make sure the Bishop Maginn students and refugees have enough to eat.
Stay tuned. You will be hearing as much from me as you can stand.
Got the same card. Had the same reaction. Appreciate your thoughts and insights.
Wow. I thought for a moment you had been listening to my Willa Cather wife and children concerning my desire to move about. Other then age, I’m not as much at risk as you are. So let’s both be smart and listen to our love ones. Your blog has been a daily part of my life for years. Thanks.
Gotcha George, my idea is to be around strong women and do what they tell me to do..life works out better that way…
Jon…
We got a cv card too. I ran a search on the G-10 type of postal permit printed on the card. in the past this permit no. was used only by the USPS. So who directed the USPS to initiate this mailing? The card references the coronavirus.gov website, which is a collaboration of the WH, CDC, and FEMA (and also Apple, that worked on the website and online screening tool).
Turns out it was the President. This is an official U.S. government document, he has also ordered that his name be the one signed on all the checks going out to people..
When you get your stimulus check, just remember whose pocket it came from . . . not his, but ours.
I hope you use this experience as an opportunity to reflect on some of the frankly mean pot shots you took at people who thought you were irresponsible to go the Bronx Zoo (you praised the zoo for not closing and the New Yorkers for not thinking about the virus), and your peculiar anger at a woman from your town who made the decision to shelter in her house rather than spread the virus (you called her fearful and talked disparagingly about her). If you and others had listened to the advice of experts at that time, rather than belatedly now, New York wouldn’t be in such dire circumstances as it is. You also had the zany idea that the Bishop Maginn kids (by the way, you consistently pronounce it wrong–it’s ma-GINN, not MAG-in) should gather together in one of their homes rather than isolating themselves, and you mocked anyone who told you otherwise. Sometimes others are right, and your tendency is to immediately heap scorn on anyone who disagrees with you. I hope you manage to do better in the future.
Narita, thanks so much for your message. I’d love to take the opportunity to take another mean shot at you, another social media vampire who can’t mind her own business and projects your own panic and anger onto others. Can you possibly write a post that isn’t hostile?
I was delighted to go to the Bronx Zoo, and while I wouldn’t go today, I think it was quite safe to go then. We had a great and memorable time and all of us are alive and healthy. I am grateful for having the experience and I am also happy for the chance to heap scorn on you once more. It is God’s work. I think the worst virus in America right now consists of people like you writing nasty and ignorant messages like this, you help to spread the disease of forgetting how to be polite or civil to other people.
We felt so good about getting that trip in before the world shut down. It could be a very long time before we can go back. It seems like another world that day, a beautiful and peaceful day before the chaos and the fear. Your message is no more persuasive or thoughtful – or accurate – than the first. Just lot of pus. You seem an odd one to lecture me about being mean – your message seethes with mean-spiritedness.
I’m sorry you can’t leave people to make their own choices in life. I’m sure you will get through the virus fine, I’m sure you will relish social isolation. The Bishop Maginn kids are doing great, and thanks for asking, since you seem to care a lot about them. Best, Jon
But again, you’re not understanding the point–whether or not you felt “good” about your trip, it contributed to the problem. Even more, you used your influence on the blog to belittle someone who was doing the good, responsible thing by staying home–you said you were “angry” at her, and so did your wife. Just admit that you made a mistake!
Narita, you CAN write a message without overt hostility! This is good news. I can only respond this way and then will move on. First, I am glad I went to the zoo. No official, state local or federal suggested travel to the zoo was dangerous at the time, and I am unaware that it contributed to any problem in any way. If you have any actual evidence for your wobbly claim, please state it.
Secondly, you don’t seem to accept that I don’t run Bishop Maginn High School, I was not present for any discussions about where the kids would be and how they would share the computers. The school conferred with state and local health officials and followed every single recommendation they gave. Those changed repeatedly.
The school asked me to help provide computers to the students that didn’t have them and I did. I was asked for no recommendations regarding the corona emergency and made none.
Obviously, as they learned more, their policies evolved, responsibility and openly. I am not in charge of the school. So no, I am not aware of any mistakes I made, except taking your false accusations more seriously than they warranted and spending more time talking to you than your pompous messages warranted.
I’m not big on being bullied into apologizing for things I didn’t do. Feels a bit Stalinist to me.(Or maybe this is what you want: Narita, I’m so sorry for all those penguins and tourists I killed and all the refugee students and families who are stricken and hospitalized because of my arrogance and stupidity. Does that work for you? And of course, for endangering the lives of almost all of the women I love, my wife, daughter, and granddaughter. I would check on them, but I don’t care about people the way you do… Happy?) Will you go away now?
And here’s one more for you to huff and puff about. I am happy to see you are able to utter a sentence without insult or cruelty. My wish for you is that you keep it up. And stay healthy.
Every time you type, you contribute to the noxious atmosphere of public discourse in America. One day I hope you will see that as a mistake, as is my wasting so much time on it and enabling you. I’m not holding my breath. I am often angry when people like you lie about me and tell me what to do or what I did without any regard for truth. If you don’t like it, get lost. In fact, get lost anyway. Why are you reading my blog at all since I’m so evil?
And P.S. I must be in an awful mood to take so much to have this absurd conversation when there is so much going on in our world. Shame on me. That IS a mistake. God bless the zoo. I love you and miss you.
I’m glad you are sheltering Jon. New York is being hit hard and I fear people from the city will try and travel to rural areas such as yours. I can’t say I blame them but it will increase the danger. At least your governor seems to have sense as does my own. My 52 year old son, who lives, with me, is my Maria, but I worry since the things I read say this is an even greater danger for men than women. They are still trying to figure out if it is because men smoke more and take greater risks or if it is a genetic thing. Stay healthy and sane.
Mine went into the beautiful fire tonight, in my fireplace. Thank you for the warning.
🙂
Similar thing here Jon, I’ve just heard that everyone in the UK is to get a letter from Boris Johnson and that this will cost the Country over 5 million pounds, as I don’t recieve enough income to pay tax I shouldn’t complain about this, but my goodness what a lot of good that 5 million could have done when there are so many in desperate need. I’ve given up watching the news broadcasts, when you’re alone in your house they just make me feel more afraid. I don’t know what difference he thinks a letter will make, there are still many stupid people ignoring the self isolation and risking others catching the virus. There, I’ve had my moan I might feel a bit better now!
A beautiful little fire in my fireplace, woke up to birdsong, one of my favorite sounds. Regardless of the weather, and I’m way north of you, northerners tip of the state, I always sleep with my window open and a a lot of blankets and sleeping bag. Carry on !
Last time I checked Donald Trump is still our president. The so-called “political” post card you characterized was a reiteration of the guidelines released almost two weeks ago by the White House Coronavirus Task Force (CNBC March 27, 2020 posting). If everyone follows those guidelines the threat of the COVID 19 virus will be less. In these times of uncertainty, people need to listen to the advice from experts (CDC) which is the basis of the postcard message and not add to the confusion that is on the internet — such as to ignore these guidelines from the CDC by symbolically by throwing the post card away.
I hear you Bob, but why was it cast as “President Trump’s recommendations, when they were the recommendations of the CDC, which President Trump has repeatedly said he disagrees with. Why is he pretending these are his beliefs? And how much did it cost? And is he exploiting the crisis to win an election? I’m not sure I have the answers to these questions, but I would be happy to know your thoughts. Does anyone here doubt that Donald Trump is our president? I don’t recall ever seeing a Presidents’s name on a CDC alert…Please don’t play the left/right grievance game, we don’t do that here. Nobody here is picking on your poor, sainted guy. This one bothered me, and I think my questions are quite legitimate.
Trump is campaigning for reelection.