How is everyone’s weekend going? Thanks for spending a part of it with the Six.
In August, the University of Minnesota held an event for incoming medical school students. It’s called a ‘white coat’ ceremony. During the event, students recite an oath and pledge they promise to follow while on the path to becoming doctors or medical professionals in some form.
Here’s an excerpt from the oath spoken during the ceremony:
“Today many indigenous people throughout the state…call the Twin Cities home. We also recognize this acknowledgment is not enough. We commit to uprooting the legacy and perpetuation of structural violence deeply embedded within the health care system. We recognize past and present traumas rooted in white supremacy, colonialism, the gender binary, ableism and all forms of oppression. As we enter this profession and an opportunity for growth, we commit to promoting a culture of anti-racism…knowing that health is intimately connected to our environment, we commit to healing our planet and communities.”
For anyone living in the state of Minnesota, I’d be freaked out. For all of us, regardless of residence, it’s another example of our public institution’s continued obsession with labeling our country as racist and intolerant.
These are just-enrolled medical school students. What does systemic racism have to do with medicine? And why should these students, seemingly excited about entering a field where they get to save lives, be reading an oath about recognizing past and present traumas rooted in white supremacy?
Yes, our country has a history littered with violence and racist actions. We should not run from our past but learn and move forward. All the platitudes apply.
But why are we indoctrinating first-year medical students into a taking a pledge about “uprooting the legacy and perpetuation of structural violence deeply embedded within the health care system.” What does that even mean?
I don’t know what good comes from making young people think we live in a inherently prejudiced, intolerant society.
This has to stop and those on the side of sanity and reason need to keep calling it out.
Let’s proceed with The Six.
1. Economic Paradise? Instead We Got 2022.
The wealth created by the industrial revolution, railroads, and steam power, started rippling outwards to the general public in Europe and America around 1870, sparking hopes that a utopian age was approaching. The thinking was how new technologies would increase pleasure and leisure. Rising living standards would float everyone's boat. What went wrong? “Neoliberalism got in the way” argues the writer of this piece from Time magazine.
2. Ron DeSantis Sends Migrants to Martha’s Vineyard.
It’s way too early to know if Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will make a good president (he’s believed to be a GOP front-runner in 2024). But he sure is a lot of fun to follow and cover (no doubt for capital reporters in the Sunshine State). This past week, DeSantis chartered two planes carrying migrants into the heart of liberal East Coast elitedom, Martha’s Vineyard (A flock of Hollywood-types own homes there… as does Barack Obama. It’s where he threw his celebrity-packed 60th birthday bash last summer). At a press conference, DeSantis said, “We’ve worked on innovative ways to be able to protect the state of Florida from the impact of Biden’s border policies.” The stunt will certainly fire up his base, but how it will play to most Americans? Who knows, but it’s hard to not find DeSantis a very compelling political figure as we race to the November mid-terms.
3. The Sordid Saga of Hunter Biden’s Laptop.
A little less than two years ago, The New York Post first began publishing things it found on Hunter Biden’s laptop, just before the election. When the Big Brothers of Big Tech tried to squash it right out of the gate, the story evolved into something much bigger. It then transformed into a question of censorship, and the relationship between tech, the press and the Democratic Party. If there’s one piece to read about the whole, sordid tale, take a dive into this one from the Intelligencer.
4. Punishment, Puppies and Science.
The dog training industry is referred to in this article as like "the wild, wild West.” There is very little oversight or regulation. Attempts to fix have exposed a schism between those who believe punishment is the most effective training tool for dogs and those who prefer rewards. Designing a study to test this in a controlled and balanced way is very difficult, so ideology still reigns supreme in canine education. I am not a dog owner but I know many Six readers are. Interesting read from a publication called UnDark.
5. Guy Fieri Is Saving the Country, One Slider At A Time.
There was a period during spring/summer of 2020 when, much like the author of this linked article, I binge-watched food shows. I viewed Anthony Bourdian’s “No Reservations” and “Parts Unknown” programs and enjoyed the ease with which the now-deceased Bourdain traveled from one continent to the next, meeting restaurant owners and having honest conversations over that country’s particular cuisine. Guy Fieri has a different magnetic pull than Bourdian but has arguably an equal impact on the culture of reality shows – he’s an interesting personality who makes us feel better about our country’s obsession with food. The Daily Beast interviews Fieri who, through his easy charisma, showcases, “the diversity of cuisine, food that celebrates all kinds of cultures and nationalities—all while still being, under the umbrella of Triple D, quintessentially American.”
6. 7-Eleven Cashier Battles Shoplifting Bear.
So a bear wanders into a west coast 7-11. Much like alligators and wild hogs are Florida problems, random bears entering food stores are sooo California. But what makes this video so hilariously compelling is the commentary from the shop owner. You’ll laugh out load to such running play-by-play sound bites from the owner yelling at the bear: “I’ll kick your ass — or you’ll kill me!” or “Hey dude, that’s it. Get the f**k out. I’m locking the doors…you’re a thief man…you got no business in here. Get out of here, bitch. I’m the alpha male. Out!” What a character! The bear eventually pilfered enough Ho-Ho’s from the store and returned to the wild.
Thanks for reading everybody and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Have a suggestion for The Sunday Six? Send email to jonjkerr@gmail.com.