It Was a Day Like Any Other Day

“It’s like this,” she said, "the reason I'm finding it so hard to write," she said before clicking on her computer to catch the day’s headlines:

“Texas requests five mortuary trailers from FEMA, bracing for more covid-19 deaths”

“Proud Boys supporter pleads guilty to threatening Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock: ‘Dead men can’t pass laws’”

“Full List of 16 Republicans Who Voted Against Visas for Afghans Who Helped U.S. Troops”

“More than 8,000 Florida students isolate or quarantine because of a school district’s covid-19 spike”

“I can’t get through breakfast, let alone analyze and respond to these urgent issues in any kind of meaningful way,” she said woefully.

“Wildfires explode again in the West, fanned by turbulent winds”

“Weekly cases approach pre-vaccine levels”

“New York Assembly will suspend impeachment probe upon Cuomo’s resignation, speaker says”

“Haiti’s torments seem bottomless. America can and must do more.”

“There has to be an entrance, a way to begin to wake up our humanity and our decency,” she said to herself more than anyone else. The headlines kept coming:

“Ethiopia’s prime minister calls for mass enlistment amid battlefield losses to Tigray rebels”

“A digital tool promised to help patients manage their diabetes. Then the hospital behind it pulled the plug.”

“Born with two strikes: How systemic racism shaped Floyd’s life and hobbled his ambition”

“Father injures teacher after arguing about masks, school says.”

"It’s only one day,” she cried. “One G-D- day like every other. We need to try to make a difference.” She picked up her pen but continued reading the news:

“In a sudden bout of racial killings, a South African suburb sees a dark history repeating itself”

“Atlanta principal accused of separating Black kids from other students in ‘discriminatory’ practice'”

“VCU shares findings of Greek life review after student death”

“Nearly 200 doctors clash with school district that refuses to mandate masks”

“The culture war over critical race theory looks like the one waged 50 years ago over sex education”

“The latest GOP anti-mask lunacy”

“How do I begin to write an editorial about social justice, about changing the country, the world for the better?” She continued reading the news.

“Anacostia triple shooting”

“Afghanistan’s military collapse: Illicit deals and mass desertions”

“Retail sales slide more than expected in July as delta variant worries grow”

“Yes, it’s racist when a Black real estate agent and his clients get handcuffed for touring a home”

“DeJoy bought up to $305,000 in bonds from USPS board chair’s investment firm”

“Why do I feel so powerless, so utterly helpless to affect any positive change?” She tried to write just one sentence but kept reading the headlines:

“Nearly 60,000 pounds of chicken products recalled after salmonella outbreak sickens dozens”

“As delta cases rise, southern Ohio chooses to keep the masks on the shelf”

“The Bad Economics of Fossil Fuel Defenders”

“Running a disinformation campaign is risky. So governments are paying others to do it”

“Welcome to ‘Trump world,’ the climate future scientists fear”

“Today? Just like any other day: August 17, 2021." She turned away from her computer and shut off all the lights.

*Headlines from The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Newsweek on August 17, 2021.