July 18, 2020 - A Giant Sequoia Has Died
A Giant Sequoia Has Died
July 18, 2020
A Giant Sequoia died last night. Known as the “conscience of the Congress,” John Lewis had a profound impact on the lives of countless people. He was a son of sharecroppers, raised on a chicken farm in Troy, Alabama, and became an apostle of nonviolent protest. I cannot think of an American black political leader in the last century, besides Martin Luther King, Jr., who has lived a more consequential life.
How did John Lewis manage to overcome so much adversity to accomplish what he did? He might have answered this question when he tweeted one year before his death: “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Do not become bitter or hostile. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble. We will find a way to make a way out of no way.”
As a white man who has been granted many privileges in life, I cannot pretend to understand how Mr. Lewis maintained his optimism as a young black man in the Jim Crow South. I can only salute him and, in his honor, attempt to heed his call to “use our time and our space on this little planet to make a lasting contribution, to leave it a little better than we found it.” That mission has never been more important than it is today. My purpose in reporting the daily COVID data is to tell the truth because I have faith that the truth, if told long enough and loud enough, will eventually win the day. Please do your part by disseminating the truth within your circle of friends and family.
Alabama had another difficult day - 2,143 new cases (incl. 74 probables) and 21 deaths (no probables). This is the third day in a row with more than 2,000 cases. Our 7-day average for new cases has risen to 1,900, which places us in the Top 10 in the country. Our 7-day average positivity rate is 17.9%, measurably behind only Arizona (22.6%) and Texas (19.3%), and close to the same as Florida (18.1%). ADPH does not report hospitalizations on weekends. Stay tuned and continue to wear a mask. The 14-day totals are below:
7/5 - 1,091
7/6 - 925
7/7 - 907
7/8 - 1,110
7/9 - 2,212
7/10 - 1,334
7/11 - 1,402
7/12 - 1,640
7/13 - 1,958
7/14 - 1,710
7/15 - 1,817
7/16 - 2,021
7/17 - 2,003
7/18 - 2,143
For the first time ever, 5 counties exceeded 100 cases and a 6th fell just short of 100. Those 6 counties include Jefferson (295), Mobile (186), Madison (175), Montgomery (130), Baldwin (127) and Shelby (93). In case you are wondering how Jefferson County stacks up to Germany (227), Italy (249) and China (22), we are higher.