Sibelius Violin Concerto, soloist Hillary Hahn [View all]

There are performances of it on YouTube and I just watched one. I love Sibelius, especially his third and fifth symphonies, the Swan of Tuonela, and the violin concerto.

While I was enjoying it, I noticed something stunning about when and where it was performed, by the New Zealand Symphony on September 7! Of this year! None of the people in that orchestra crowded on that stage were wearing masks! Neither were the audience members! And no social distancing!

How can they do that in their country while we're having to put up with a raging pandemic in ours?

It must be because their leaders are SANE and RESPONSIBLE in dealing with the plague and have gotten it under control, while ours are ... well, you know.

I'm actually ashamed to be an American. President Orange Con Man and his Republicon enablers have turned us into an international pariah. My U.S. passport is worthless, except as identification. I notice on Wheel of Fortune all the trips they're giving away are to a few U.S. and Caribbean destinations, the only countries that will let you in with a U.S. passport now.

-- Ron