Tag: #Texas

Guns and ‘Murica

Guns and ‘Murica

There was no urgency to write this blog. I knew another mass shooting would happen sooner or later. I didn’t have to tie it to Buffalo or California. The next shooting would come along soon enough. I wasn’t disappointed. Texas happened this past week.

Gee, if they can’t stop mass shootings in Texas, where they have more guns per capital than any other state in the US, what chance does the country have? Where have all the “good guys with a gun” been? Taking the day off? Or, maybe that just doesn’t work. The armed school guard at the school in Texas? Nope, didn’t help. The police response in Texas? A bit slow.

Here in Virginia, there was actually progress made in 2020 and 2021, and several sensible gun laws were passed (and no, no one’s guns were taken away). Things change quickly though. What did our current Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears (R) blame the issue of mass shootings on when she recently spoke at the NRA convention in Texas?

“We took prayer out of our schools … fathers are not present because we have emasculated our men … and mental health is deteriorating, worsened by covid protocols.”

You read that right. Constitutional separation of church and state, emasculated men and covid are the cause of mass shootings. You can’t make this stuff up.

I agree with the Lt. Gov about one thing. Mental health continues to be an issue. By definition, could anyone conducting a mass shooting, NOT have mental health issues?

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were 213 mass shootings already this year in the US. There have also been 27 shootings at schools causing injuries or deaths.

After Texas, all of our politicians called out the same tired platitudes of thoughts and prayers, while wringing their hands. Someone added the brave thought of “we can’t allow this to become normalized in America”.

Guess what? It already is normalized, commonplace, and pretty much inevitable in America. I have little faith that this will change in my lifetime.

As with many other serious problems in the USA these days, we don’t have the moral courage to address, or even attempt to address this issue. We no longer try to solve tough problems here in America. That skill is apparently no longer in our DNA.

In Texas, the record at the 911 center recorded these calls from a little girl in one of the classrooms that was attacked:

  • At 12:03 p.m., a girl called 911 for a little over a minute and whispered that she was in Room 112, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven C. McCraw.
  • She called back at 12:10 p.m. reporting multiple people dead, he said, and again a few minutes later, to say there were still a number of students alive.
  • “Please send the police now,” the girl begged the dispatcher at 12:43 p.m., 40 minutes after her first call.

Unfortunately, there were no good guys with guns, no police and no legislators on the call to immediately respond.

I have little faith that this will change in my lifetime, but I’m going to do everything I can to work and effect that change.

Africa and Covid Testing

Africa and Covid Testing

In three weeks, we depart for Africa. We’ll have our first (but not last) Covid PCR* test 48 hours prior to departure. In fact, it will be the first of four Covid tests during the vacation. Although the State Department says we shouldn’t travel to South Africa, Zimbabwe, or Botswana due to Covid, it turns out all are much safer than traveling to Florida.

When we board our plane here in the States bound for Johannesburg, South Africa, we need to show the result of a test taken not more than 72 hours prior to our departure. When we enter Zimbabwe, a day after arriving in South Africa, the TEST RESULTS themselves can’t be older than 48 hours PRIOR to the beginning of our travels. Given that it takes at least 16 hours here locally to receive test results back (for a PCR test, not the rapid test), the logistics are doable, but a bit … challenging.

A week later, when we travel from Zimbabwe to Botswana, we’ll need another PCR test. Eight days after that, when we return from Botswana to South Africa, we will receive our third PCR Test. Finally, when we return from South Africa to the States, we will have our fourth Covid PCR test. None of the tests can be older than 48 or 72 hours, depending on each country’s requirements, hence, the number of tests required. Karen, our travel agent, has already scheduled the tests in Africa for us.

Our Covid PCR Tests are Already Scheduled in Africa

The Department of State is currently warning against travel to Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa due to the increase in Covid cases in all three countries. Here’s the interesting part. The current number of weekly Covid infections per 100,000 people in each of these countries is:

Zimbabwe – 13 infections per 100,000 people

Botswana – 318 infections per 100,000 people

South Africa – 136 infections per 100,000 people

Guess what Covid weekly infection rates are per 100,000 people in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi?

Florida – 691 infections per 100,000 people

Louisiana – 720 infections per 100,000 people

Texas – 397 infections per 100,000 people

Mississippi – 753 infections per 100,000 people

The United States over all – 306 infections per 100,000 people

Seriously. And they are worried about us traveling to South Africa, Botswana and Zim.

In Africa, the precautions don’t stop with the tests. We will fill out health questionnaires at border crossings and hotels. At the Safari Camps where we are staying, the staff are all 100% vaccinated. If they depart the camp, they are retested upon return, and all staff are temperature tested twice daily. They will also temperature test us once per day. All staff members are masked. They will clean and sanitize all public and private areas as they are used.

Is there risk in going on this trip? Sure. There’s always risk. In addition to Covid, there is also the chance of malaria, typhoid fever, cholera, hepatitis, tetanus, stomach distress, and assorted other diseases.

Cath and I, along with our friends Bill and Sharon have discussed the risks and received continual updates from Karen. For Covid, we will mask as needed, distance from others as required, and wash our hands frequently. Although the vaccination rate is not as high in these countries as it is in the US (due to vaccine access), they are doing the right things to minimize the risks.

As to the other diseases, it’s amazing. They have these wonderful things called vaccines and vaccine boosters now that take care of several of the diseases. For the rest, good hygiene and drinking water only from known sources solves most potential issues. As a side note, Cathy and I have had our International Vaccination cards for decades – they are a great way to keep track of the current status of all of our vaccines, boosters and shots. It’s unclear to me whether owning these card makes us a part of some International Communist conspiracy or not :-).

International Vaccination Certificates are a Great Thing to Have.

All four of us are unbelievably excited about the trip. Originally scheduled for September of 2020, we postponed a year, due to covid overall. Now? We are ready to go.

Risks? Yes, we are ready to take some risks, and travel to Africa. Just don’t ask us to go to Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi or Texas. There are some risks we just won’t entertain.

Addendum:

• For international travel, you must have a PCR test, not the rapid test. It is considered more reliable. Unfortunately, it takes longer to receive the results.

• US Covid statistics are at this link if you want to look up your state: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailycases_7daycasesper100k

• African Covid statistics were provided via Reuters. You can look at countries world wide at the following location: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/botswana/ They provide US overall statistics there as well, which match closely to CDC statistics.