To those who:
Devoted their academic and professional careers to studying the sciences so that we can benefit from innovations such as penicillin, ibuprofen, and vaccines;
Are still working the jobs that last year made them “heroes” but this year, as society’s patience for the pandemic has waned, makes them workers who are “spoiled” or “entitled” because they demand a livable wage and benefits;
Tinker and probe, imagine and design the tools— from simple hoes and ploughs to tractors and diesel engines and rocket boosters and electric fuel cells—that got us to where we are and where we will be going;
Hustle and toil and clock in and clock out and race the rats and clock watch so that a steady paycheck can put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads when we are young, setting the example for us to follow when we have our own families and obligations;
Give their precious dollars and time to those who are lacking means of their own, especially when the rest of us are too busy or distracted or selfish or embarrassed to do much about it as we trundle through our own lives;
Give more than they take (or at least don’t take more than what they need);
Care and give a damn about the ones who have been forgotten, dismissed, marginalized, bullied, intimidated or beaten into submission;
Offer comfort when comfort is what they need;
Fight—figuratively and occasionally literally—for justice and equality;
Tell the truth, unpleasant as it can be at times, and challenge us to be better;
Try. Fail. Fail again. And again. And once more. But keep trying and set the example for those who want to improve;
Dream and imagine and take those thoughts and ideas and give them form as music and words and paintings and sculptures and art;
Do no harm (and make amends when they unintentionally do);
Love us unconditionally and remain devoted despite seeing us at our worst (I’m talking particularly to the dogs and cats and pets who have been locked up with us for nearly two year during the pandemic:
Thank you.
We couldn’t have done it without you.
