NOTES,  23 NOVEMBER 2020

Welcome, blog reader, on Monday, November 23, 2020. It is time for our weekly check-in on the crises of the day.

PANDEMIC. 

There is good news and bad news. First, the good news. We are on the cusp of having vaccines to prevent the infection of the coronavirus. Four pharmaceutical companies are about to deliver vaccines to the public in the next few months. The first, Pfizer, has applied for emergency approval from the FDA and expects to deliver the first doses next month. The deliveries will be prioritized with those most in danger (health care personnel) to be first in line. Most of us will be able to get the vaccine within six months. This is cause for great rejoicing.

The bad news is the pandemic is soaring continually to new high levels. Infections are out of control in many countries, as the United States. The latest numbers are alarming and staggering. According to our usual source, Worldometers, there were 4,155,562 new cases reported in the world last week, November 16-23. This is an 8% increase, the same rate as the earlier week. There were 69,214 deaths, a rising rate of 5%, the same as the previous week. Reported total cases stand at 59,096,027 and deaths at 1,395,528.

America continues to be the epicenter of the pandemic as it has been since the spring. Last week, the U.S. reported 12,590,220 cases, up 1,223,006, or 11%. This is record spread, up from the 10% of the earlier week. Deaths in the U.S. shot up from 8,133 the week before to 10,810 last week. As anyone who pays attention to the news knows, hospitalizations are out of control in many places in America. The health care system is under tremendous strain; and this will only get worse in the next few months as winter sets in. All signs indicate we are approaching the darkest hour of the COVID-19 pandemic. God help us.

The numbers in our local states are equally grim. South Carolina reported 10,788 new cases last week, up 6%. The previous week had seen 9,819 new cases, up 5%. The state also reported 171 deaths last week, up from the 76 of the earlier week. In all, 4,283 deaths have been reported form SC. The New York Times is reporting that cases in SC escalated 41% in the last 14 days while deaths shot up 71% in this period. Clearly, the plague is out of control in SC.

Charleston County is no exception. It reported 654 new cases last week, up from the 628 of the earlier week. The county is now listing 19,235 cases. It is also listing 4 deaths last week, for a total of 292.

The figures for Alabama are equally alarming. This state reported 14,684 new cases last week, up from the 14,135 of the previous week. AL reported 209 deaths last week, up from the 164 of the earlier week. This state has a total of 3,457 deaths from the pandemic.

In sum, the tunnel of the pandemic is ever darkening but there a light at the end of the tunnel. The next few months will be terrible. There will be sickness and death all around us. This will be bearable because we know a vaccine will be on hand soon. The cavalry is on the way. We must do the best we can until it arrives.

LITIGATION.

In SC, we are awaiting the reply brief of the Anglican diocese of SC in the South Carolina Supreme Court. Once they submit their written arguments, the SCSC will decide whether to hold a hearing, or go straight to a written decision. Both of these should happen in the next couple of months.

There is major news from Texas. The Episcopal Church and its diocese of Fort Worth have applied in the United States Supreme Court for "cert," that is, for SCOTUS to take an appeal of the Texas Supreme Court ruling that went entirely in favor of the breakaway contingent of Ft. Worth. I am now studying the TEC brief and will report back here soon. 

POLITICAL.

This is one crisis that has improved dramatically. The bottom line is that the American people reaffirmed their devotion to the democratic republic. They repudiated the attempt of a president and his party to subvert the Great Democratic Revolution. In the big picture this is tremendously important. It means the democratic revolution has prevailed over the counter-revolution. 

It does not mean, however, the crushing of the anti-democratic forces. They are still strong. After all, 47% of the voters chose Trump even after 4 years of having him in power. 

In my view, the clash between the revolution and the counter-revolution in contemporary America boils down to race. Just look at the results of the election. Sixty percent of white voters chose Trump while the vast majority of non-white voters opted for Biden. America is dangerously polarized along lines of race. And, we people who live in SC and AL know this better than most Americans. This is one reason why I was encouraged to see the Episcopal diocese of SC set up the Diocesan Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation. The Anglican diocese of SC has also shown signs of working for racial justice, a welcomed turn.

Racism is America's original sin and until we get a grasp on this, we will remain dangerously divided as a nation-state. In my opinion, Trump's basic appeal was to the white people who felt threatened by the rise of the non-whites in society. In another generation, whites will be the minority in America. As evidenced by the Trump phenomenon, white male power structures will not give up easily. I fear we are in for much more strife as reality sets in on those who feel under siege in what used to be the white man's country. But, this is a discussion for another day.

Crises are swirling all around us. In some ways they are getting worse, in some ways better. Among it all, I see tremendously encouraging signs of relief ahead. A vaccine is at hand. America reaffirmed democracy. Good people are working to make a better world. It is happening all around us if we only look. Besides, this is a week to give thanks. We have much for which to be thankful. I will count my blessings as I hope you will too. 

My Thanksgiving Day will be quiet, just with my little family at home, but it will be no less meaningful. Life goes on. For instance, my local church serves a Thanksgiving meal to any and all. This year, parishioners are preparing 700 meals, all take-out and home-delivered. For a quarter of a century, St. Luke's has done this winning for itself the reputation of service to the community.

My best wishes to you and yours at this time of thanksgiving. Remember, we are here for the living of this hour. Peace.