Invisible Heroes

Professional illustrator Daniel Garcia did the above artwork and right away, it stopped me in my tracks when I spied on it on Bored Panda. 

Most times, we see tributes to health workers because they are the so-called frontliners in our war against Covid-19. That’s great but they are not the only heroes. 

My point is that there are countless others who also should be celebrated because every one of them contributes to the societal good. They diligently keep on working to give us a semblance of normality. It’s just that they are invisible to us. 

Therefore, this drawing gives due recognition to different people in different jobs – all of whom, in their respective roles, perform important tasks – it doesn't matter if the tasks are big or small – during this coronavirus pandemic. That's why they are deemed essential workers. 

And that explains my big pause.

"I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters", Donald Trump had boasted in 2016.

But the present US is no longer the US of 2016. 

And in these changing times, even New York City, NY is not immune. Manhattan's iconic Fifth Avenue has now been painted with the words "Black Lives Matter" – directly in front of the '90s-era gold-tone entrance to Trump Tower. 

[Note: Trump lived in Trump Tower before he took office as president but has spent little time there since. He changed his official residence from New York to Florida last year although his business empire is still headquartered there]. 

In fact, Trump had called on police not to let "this symbol of hate be affixed to New York's greatest street". 

Fat chance because even the city's mayor, Democrat Bill de Blasio and civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton picked up paint rollers on Thursday.

Washington DC was the first US city to get giant yellow “Black Lives Matter” street art when the mayor, Muriel Bowser, had it painted on the street leading to the White House. Bowser said the painting was intended to show solidarity with Americans outraged over the May 25th killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

All this is great but it is nothing more than symbolism. Let's have some real change!