Dear Fellow Isolates,
Ah. There’s a new word for you. Meaning, a person, thing, or group that is set apart or isolated.
How are you doing? How are you handling the sudden and drastic change to your regular life? It may be that this is so challenging that all you can think of is how to get through the day. It may be that you are every so often feeling so terrified that you close to having a panic attack. It may be that you are so overwhelmed with managing the work-from-home thing that you hardly have time to think about what’s happening. It may be that you are suddenly out of work and fairly panicked about how you are going to keep paying your bills. Or it may be that you are a health care professional and are on the front lines of dealing with the coronavirus, putting yourself at risk daily as you do your job.
If that’s so, then the first part of this letter is for you.
WHAT IF…
There is so much fear, and perhaps rightfully so, about COVID-19.
And, what if…
we subscribe to the philosophy that life is always working out for us, that there is an intelligence far greater than humans at work…
That all is interconnected.
What if…
the virus is here to help us.
To reset.
To remember.
What is truly important.
And then I ran across this on Facebook.
As some of you know, I have been doing a blog post everyday on the Western Front blog. Ideas to help us get through this time. If you haven’t read the blog lately, this is what you missed:
I particularly like the one about questions. And since most of you won’t click through and read it, I’m going to force you to look at the graphic.
We need to stay connected, so we are going to try a ZOOM meeting (video conferencing). We’ll plan it for 3 PM this next Sunday. You’ll get an invitation midweek with all the details on how to connect.
ACTIVISM IN THE AGE OF COVID-19
We will continue to do activism. Even though it may have a different shape than before. And we will present you with opportunities to stay involved in the fight. And first off, please don’t watch Trump’s press briefings. But, do consider watching Governor Pritzker’s daily briefings at 2:30 each day. If you haven't already, I think you’ll be most favorably impressed. You can find links a number of places, such as here or by watching the governor’s Facebook page.
If you'd like to watch the video of a teleconference from Indivisible national, especially a talk by co-founder Ezra Levin, you can find it here on YouTube.
Right now Congress is debating another bill responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We need to call our representative and our Senators and let them know what is important:
Demand That Your Representative Addresses the Coronavirus Outbreak
Congress has already started working on a third coronavirus response package intended to tackle the looming consequences of the outbreak. Decades of Republican efforts to hollow out the middle class and gut our safety net programs have left millions of people teetering on the edge. With the economy slowing down, Congress urgently has to act to preserve our democracy, and to protect families, workers, and low-income people from destitution.
Any effective response to this crisis must include the following three policies (and you can read more about what should go into the coronavirus response bill in our full resource here):
- Nationwide vote by mail, as laid out in the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act.
- Direct cash assistance to individuals and families, and strenuous requirements attached to any corporate bailouts.
- Universal paid sick days, family leave, and expanded Unemployment Insurance to fill in the gaps from the second coronavirus response bill.
Call your Representative and tell them that the third coronavirus package must include vote by mail, direct cash assistance, no unaccountable corporate bailouts, and stronger economic supports for workers and families!
PROTECT OUR CARE
join Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Protect Our Care, and health care advocates who were on the front lines during the fight to pass and then protect the Affordable Care Act, for an activists’ call on the 10th anniversary of the law’s passage. The discussion will highlight the tremendous progress that we’ve made in the past 10 years, as well as the fight we have ahead of us to protect it—especially in the midst of this health care crisis and the ongoing effort to sabotage and repeal the law.The call will be held tomorrow, Monday, March 23, at 4:30pm ET (3:30 CT)
Space is limited. To confirm your participation, RSVP using this form and the dial-in information will be emailed to you just prior to the call. the dial-in information will be emailed to you just prior to the call.
ICE
DEMAND THAT ICE STOP ARRESTING AND DETAINING PEOPLE DURING CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN: Even though several California counties are in shelter-in-place status and the whole country is hunkering down to maintain physical distance and restrict all non-essential activities, ICE is continuing business as usual in LA, arresting both undocumented residents and green card holders who have committed crimes. Let’s tell the Department of Homeland Security (202-282-8495; DHSSecretary@hq.dhs.gov; https://homelandsecurity.ideascale.com/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity/; Twitter: @DHS.gov) that this non-essential activity that limits physical distance is putting the health of all of us at risk. Let’s also ask our MoCs to introduce legislation to stop or severely restrict eligibility for arrest and deportation during this crisis.
Contact your elected representatives to demand they prioritize getting equipment to health care workers
SCRIPT: Hi, my name is [your name] from zip code [your zip code]. I'm calling to urge the Representative/Senator to prioritize personal protective equipment, including N95 masks, for our nation's healthcare workers. Even as they brace for more Covid-19 cases, many hospitals have already begun to run short of crucial equipment. Please urge President Trump to work with private sector companies to produce the essential gear that our health care workers on the front line urgently need in order to protect themselves, their patients and the public. Thank you.
COULD YOU SEW A MASK?
Now this is something I can’t do, but if you can sew, consider making masks for healthcare workers who have no masks but still must have patient contact. Go to this Facebook Group to find out more about what is happening locally.
So, there are things for us to do. But first, make sure you are taking care of yourself and being safe and washing your hands until they are raw (ok, an overstatement). And keep reaching out to people. Neighbors, friends, family. Reach out.
I hope you can reach out and join us this next Sunday.
Peace,
Etta
Please email us at westernfrontindivisible@gmail.com if you want to not receive this any more, or if you have any questions.
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