CHEERS AND JEERS FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD

This week The San Diego Union-tribune Editorial Board offers cheers to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for helping out the many other states that are struggling to process applications for Real IDS, which Americans without a passport or military ID will need beginning Oct. 1 to be allowed to board commercial flights. The DHS announced this week that states can let applicants use the internet to present two proofs of residency to motor vehicle departments, then go in to pick up their Real IDS. California’s DMV already had a similar pilot program operating at five offices, including its San Diego-clairemont office, and plans to have it available statewide by June. This fall might not be a nightmare for air travel in California after all.

We offer our jeers to the ignorant people taunting or even assaulting Asian Americans because of the idiotic presumed connection to the coronavirus outbreak that originated in China. CNN reports a growing trend of verbal and physical attacks against Asian people in America because of the virus. A Chinese woman in a mask was assaulted in a New York subway. A Thai American woman endured and recorded a racist rant from another passenger on the Los Angeles subway. The Chinese government should be held accountable for its weak initial response to COVID-19. But this racism — any racism — is despicable, especially in a week California formally apologized for its role in U.S. internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Be better.