Elizabeth, Ethics Events, Doves
The Queen dies, upcoming medical ethics events, and a mourning dove update
“Red Telephone Box #519” by Alanna S. Graboyes (asgraboyesart.com). Red telephone boxes are iconic in the UK—as any fan of the film Local Hero can attest. My wife painted this one after seeing it in the northern Highlands village of Lairg, Scotland. Queen Elizabeth II’s deep ties to Scotland were noted upon her passing by Scottish authorities.
On October 13, 1940, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary gave her first address to the British people—a pep talk to a nation terrified by Nazi advances on Europe. On April 5, 2020, Queen Elizabeth II gave a pep talk to a nation terrified by the onset of COVID-19. To put that timespan in perspective, try imagining an American leader who addressed the nation when the South Carolina militia fired on Fort Sumter in 1861 and who also addressed the nation when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941—and did so both times in a calm, steady, reassuring voice. Remarkable.
RIP. God Save the Queen.
Elizabeth II was not the first especially long-lived English/British sovereign. For a bit more than half the time since 1558, the throne in London has been occupied by just four monarchs —Elizabeth I, George III, Victoria, and Elizabeth II.
The Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR) has two worthy upcoming events. (I’ll participate as a musician at one event and as a speaker at the other.) On Tuesday, October 18, FAIR will hold a live event in Evanston Illinois. (The announcement is below.) One of the highlights will be Daryl Davis, describing how he, an African American man, has befriended high officials in the Ku Klux Klan and helped persuade hundreds to abandon the organization. Daryl, a professional musician who accompanied Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and B. B. King, will also perform music, as will rising Nashville artist Madeleine Kelson, as will yours truly.
On October, 27, FAIR will host a webinar on “Eugenics: The Curse That Keeps On Cursing.” More details on this event later, but I’m a FAIR in Medicine Fellow, and I’ll be one of the speakers.
You’re welcome to attend either or both events.
Recently, I wrote a small essay on the then-ongoing struggle for survival by two mourning dove nestlings on my back deck. Their father was killed when he flew into our glass door, thus eliminating 50% of the babies’ support system. A striking number of people wrote to me with their reactions to the piece—and a number shared similar stories from their pasts. I’m happy to say that with the help of their vigilant mother’s round-the-clock care, the babies survived and have since left the nest. On one of their last days in the nest, a second adult stopped by briefly to watch over them while the mother went off on some task. (We’ve read that in situations of distress, another adult will offer assistance.) This week, we’ve seen the young ones going about their foraging in the yard. Nice turn of events.
