No justice, no peace

IN an obvious and deliberate attempt to divert the attention of the American public from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic that has already killed over 105,000 and the protests that have erupted in at least 30 United States cities over the murder of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands (or knee) of white police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, US President Donald Trump chose to double down instead on what he called China’s “misdeeds,” ranging from espionage to violation of Hong Kong’s freedoms to “raiding our factories” and “gutting” American industry.

It was a classic example of what embattled politicians resort to when things go awry at home — focus on a problem, real or imagined, with a foreign adversary.

Unfortunately for him, Trump’s move did not seem to achieve the intended effect.

The dreaded Covid- 19 has not been stopped on its tracks, so to speak. In fact, it is now likely to spread even more on account of the violent protests raging across the nation in total disregard of precautionary measures to guard against the virus due to the Floyd murder and the unjustified killings of other black people in the recent past.

Prominent among the placards carried by protesters are the words “No Justice, no peace,” which encapsulates the reason for the pent-up and deep-seated resentment of colored people, particularly the blacks, against racial discrimination in the US dating back to the age of slavery.

Will justice ever come to the blacks in the US? Not in my view. Racism among the whites, although not all, in the land of milk and honey will persist till kingdom come. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “dream” will remain just that, a dream.

And not just for the blacks. Except for a handful, the colored people in the US, too! I have seen, read and experienced enough to be able to say this with conviction.

I also think the whites do not really want non-whites to settle down in the US, even legally.

Don’t they realize that their forebears were themselves settlers? Now, they even discriminate against the native Americans, the Injuns… who are colored!

All these… from a country that preaches democracy, equality and, above all, human rights to the international community!

!@#$?%&,,,, (Expletive)

New Cold War?

Trump’s promised retaliatory action against China is bound to evoke, well, a similar reaction from it.

And China is not exactly incapable of inflicting harm on the US.

To quote CNN, “Trump’s announcement was a multipart salvo in what has been a steadily escalating confrontation playing out over trade, telecommunications, the media, student visas, the South China Sea, the coronavirus and, most recently, the question of Hong Kong’s autonomy.”

In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said:

“Some political forces in the US are taking China-US relations hostage and pushing our two countries to the brink of a new Cold War.”

He did not specify what moves China will take to respond to Trump’s threat.

What is worrisome is that a Cold War could easily turn into a Hot War if the rhetoric and retaliatory actions on either side escalate.

As Richard Fontaine, the chief executive officer of the Center for a New American Security, said:

“US-China relations are in full crisis. We’ve hit the floor and keep falling through it. Beijing will retaliate in response to the Hong Kong steps the administration takes, and then the ball will be back in the President’s court. Things will get worse — potentially much worse — before they get any better.”

Let us hope that the relations between the two behemoths do not deteriorate any further, which could possibly lead to an armed confrontation. That would be most disastrous for mankind.

No vaccine, no classes

As a former academic, I agree fully with President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Walang bakuna,walang klase ( no vaccine, no classes)” decision.

However, there appears to be confusion over what the official government decision is. The reason appears to be the statement of Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd at a Senate hearing that it would be “safe” to reopen schools on August 24.

I also do not buy Duque’s suggestion of online learning as an alternative to a classroom setting. Not only is online learning ineffective. It would also be unfair to the majority of our students who cannot afford computers or the cost of Wi-Fi.

I believe the President should clarify the government position on the matter once and for all.

Fabunan antiviral injection

My friend Jun Bautista drew my attention to Fabunan, a patented anti- viral drug against dengue developed by Washington-based Filipino doctor, Ruben Fabunan. The drug is supposedly effective in the treatment of Covid-19.

Late last April, Palace spokesman Harry Roque urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to check if Fabunan is indeed safe

and effective in the treatment of Covid-19.

Has the FDA done so? why not?

If not,

If it had, it should release its findings forthwith to prevent further speculation on whether or not the drug can treat Covid-19.