EDITORIAL/OPINION

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Taking Earth Day to Heart

Illustration by Perisha Gates, NASA.

The spring, the summer, The childing autumn, angry winter, change Their wonted liveries, and the mazèd world, By their increase, now knows not which is which — “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Act 2, Scene 1

Earth Day, the brainchild of Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin), began 50 years ago, on April 22, 1970. Full of hope for healing the planet, it helped to initiate positive changes in everyday acts like recycling, as well as governmental action in empowering the Environmental Protection Act, followed by a new Clean Air Act.

The event was one of several aftershocks that year of Woodstock the summer before, helping to set off a political and cultural march into the future that also created divisions in the body politic (which are still with us).

In the five decades since, as Earth Day became a worldwide movement, we have paid increasing attention to the extinction of species, the contamination of our earth’s atmosphere and climate change.

Above all, Earth Day is a day to embrace both nature and science. Maintaining the earth means managing — using but not using up — the resources we have.

This year, however, Earth Day is taking place as an unexpected and silent enemy attacks our bodies, throwing our comfort in nature and confidence in science into turmoil.

We are anxious, confused, fearful and depressed. Many are ill, many have died and many, thank goodness, have recovered. Some feel that we are turning a new chapter in our national history. What that will mean is yet unrevealed, a chrysalis of sorts.

While confined to our homes, we seek out words of wisdom on how to behave, how to go forward to make things right. We would do well to consider the words of William Shakespeare, whose birthday is tomorrow.

A focus on Shakespeare led Deepak Chopra, a doctor at the intersection of science and spirituality, to write recently: “Social isolation gives us time to examine our lives in a new light, suddenly faced with economic collapse, empty streets, current panic and future uncertainty, and death appearing out of nowhere — in other words, the conditions that confronted every person on a daily basis during the lifetime of Shakespeare. What feels horribly abnormal to us was routinely normal for him and every member of the human race in the 16th century.

“But if you put Shakespeare and the plague together, something mysterious emerges. Despite every threat of disease and death, crime, poverty, political oppression, and religious fanaticism … not to mention widespread illiteracy, no public sanitation, and no police force, these horrendous circumstances didn’t wipe out creativity, discovery, love, compassion, and a vision of higher ideals.”

We are grappling with this virus and will win the day, perhaps transformed along the way. Let us be aware that we can and will soldier on with our powers of creativity and love. Let us remember that the earth needs not us, but we need it.

Today is Earth Day. Take it to heart.

What are your corona-tainment recommendations?

Now More Than Ever, Your Vote Matters in Ward 2

BY MONICA L. ROACHÉ

Neighbors, now more than ever your vote matters in the upcoming election for Ward 2 Council member. Your vote represents the desperately needed call for action as we come together to support our beloved community. This is not a time for division, pointing fingers or name-calling, but a recognition that it is important for residents of Ward 2 to ensure they are fully engaged in the democratic process to elect our new leader in the Council.

As many of you may know, right now we are absent Ward 2 leadership and representation on the District Council; our member seat is vacant. Therefore, it is crucial that we all rally to get out and vote to select the best candidate to move Ward 2 forward during these unique times in our city and our nation. For the first time in many years, Ward 2 is having a competitive campaign season, with one Republican candidate and eight Democratic candidates vying for the coveted position of Ward 2’s Council member-elect.

In the midst of all that we face due to COVID-19, it is especially important that we stay informed and participate in the upcoming election. If it’s a question of “Whom should I vote for?” — since there are a number of candidates — I recommend that you explore each one of their campaign websites. Take time to find out who are the people running and get a sense of what they’ve done for Ward 2. Most important, you must determine if an individual running is a trustworthy candidate and a person who is up to the challenge of representing Ward 2.

Due to COVID-19, all candidate forums are being held online, which gives us all an ample opportunity to participate and to observe candidates’ responses to questions.

Friends, like many elections which will be held across the country during these extremely challenging times, most polling sites in the District of Columbia will be closed. Therefore, the DC Board of Elections requests that voters obtain their absentee ballots by visiting dcboe.org and downloading the “Vote4DC” mobile app or by calling the Board of Elections at 202-727-2525. Early voting runs from May 22 through June 2. All of these measures have been put in place to help us fulfill our civic duty to vote, but to do so safely and securely as we practice social distancing and quarantining.

Spread the word regarding the upcoming election, so that as many Ward 2 residents as possible have the opportunity for their voices to be counted during this 2020 campaign season.

Monica L. Roaché, Ph.D., a former Georgetown advisory neighborhood commissioner, is an at-large committeewoman of the D.C. Democratic State Committee.

Letter to the Editor

Thank You!

Your publication is like “comfort food” in these uncertain times! Thank you and your team for such a positive, informative and helpful paper.

COVID-19

Covid-19 stinks. We were all as happy as minks. Until this came along, we were singing a happy song. Now everything is such a bore. Covid-19 is a big sore. We wear masks every day, probably ‘til May. Were all stuck at home, it feels like a big dome. With no way out, all we can do is pout. The connection is bad. It makes everyone sad. There’s so much laundry to do. I wish I could help too. All we can do is sit. It’s like sitting in a pit. Dad has so many calls. We’re left to roam the halls. Covid-19 is a big bend. We all want it to end. BY TYLER ELIZABETH ROSENTHAL AGE 10, 4TH GRADE, ST. PATRICK’S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL