csmonitor--2020-11-23--Athletes have taken social stands before. Why this time is different.

`` Not every athlete has to be another Colin Kaepernick , ” says defensive lineman Michael Bennett , a 13-year NFL veteran , who retired from football in July to devote more time to social justice efforts .
“ There are any number of ways , big and small , for athletes to bring about change in their communities.
” Since then , athletes in nearly every sport have stepped forward to address what they consider to be social injustices .
“ That was the moment where I said , I don ’ t want to just tweet .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a T-shirt with some words of protest , ” says Malcolm Jenkins , a New Orleans Saints defensive back .
“ I want to do something that truly makes a difference.
” But it was Colin Kaepernick ’ s kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 , in protest of police shootings of African Americans , that triggered a reawakening of social conscience among athletes .
Trayvon Martin , an African American teenager , had been fatally shot by a neighborhood watch member .
As a form of protest , the NBA 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every player wearing a hoodie similar to the one Trayvon was wearing when he was shot .
In a contest that was coming down to the wire , it was only natural to turn to an athlete who was famous for coming through in the clutch .
The competition was the 1990 Senate race in North Carolina , a heated , racially divisive match between Harvey Gantt , a Democrat and the first African American mayor of Charlotte , and the longtime Republican incumbent , Jesse Helms , a pillar of the ultraconservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staunch segregationist , Mr. Helms had strongly opposed the movement to create a national holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. , and some of his TV ads during the campaign had played to white racial resentment .
One of them showed a close-up of a pair of white hands crumpling up a job applicant ’ s rejection letter , with a voice-over saying the person had lost out on the position to a less-qualified African American because of racial quotas in hiring .
In the final weeks of the campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a realistic chance of unseating Mr. Helms , and it was obvious that an endorsement from Michael Jordan , the former University of North Carolina basketball star who had gone on to international fame with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association , might put Mr. Gantt over the top .
But when asked to come out publicly in favor of the Democrat , Mr. Jordan declined .
He had become a successful Nike pitchman , making millions by appearing in commercials and print ads that had sent the sales of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It wouldn ’ t be prudent to support Mr. Gantt and risk alienating Mr. Helms ’ supporters , Mr. Jordan said , because “ Republicans buy sneakers , too.
” There is no telling whether Mr. Jordan ’ s endorsement would have made the difference in the election , which Mr. Gantt lost by about 107,000 votes .
But for years to come , those four words from Mr. Jordan – which he later insisted he said merely as a joke – would cement the perception of athletes as rich celebrities more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afraid to support candidates or wade into issues of race or culture .
Gone were the politically and socially conscious athletes of the 1960s and ’ 70s , when Muhammad Ali was stripped of his boxing title because he refused to serve in the Vietnam War after being drafted into the Army , and John Carlos and Tommie Smith became pariahs for raising their fists in a Black Power salute on the medal stand at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City .
Athletes of the 1990s and 2000s , the thinking went , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond their gated mansions .
There was too much money at stake for sports stars to risk driving away potential customers or sponsors by choosing sides in any public debates .
If that perception was ever accurate – and in truth , it was always at least somewhat exaggerated – it certainly isn ’ t any longer .
There has been a resurgence of athletic activism in America , particularly by Black athletes , not seen since those turbulent days of the civil rights and Vietnam War eras .
The first stirrings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the killing of Trayvon Martin , an African American teenager who was followed and ultimately shot in Sanford , Florida , by a neighborhood watch member who found him suspicious even though he was merely walking home from the store .
As a form of protest , the Miami Heat of the NBA took a team photo with every player wearing a hoodie similar to the one Trayvon was wearing when he was shot , their way of commenting on the injustice of a Black teen being considered dangerous merely for wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kaepernick ’ s kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 , in protest of police shootings of African Americans , that appears to have triggered the full reawakening of athletes ’ social conscience .
“ That was the moment where I said , I don ’ t want to just tweet .
I don ’ t want to just wear a T-shirt with some words of protest , ” says Malcolm Jenkins , a New Orleans Saints defensive back who co-founded the Players Coalition , an organization of National Football League players devoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the criminal justice system .
“ I want to do something that truly makes a difference.
” Hundreds of players clearly feel the same way .
Athletes in nearly every sport have stepped forward in a variety of ways to address what they consider to be social injustices , including but not limited to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police .
Current and former NBA players like Carmelo Anthony , Stephen Jackson , and Damian Lillard marched in protests following the Floyd killing , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down with a knee on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds .
Chris Paul and LeBron James spearheaded efforts to get out the vote before the presidential election , particularly among young African Americans .
Women ’ s National Basketball Association players formed a Social Justice Council in June and partnered with the Say Her Name campaign to dedicate their season to Ms. Taylor .
One of the league ’ s biggest stars , Maya Moore , stepped away from the sport indefinitely last year to help overturn the conviction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years in prison on a burglary and assault conviction .
Mr .
Irons was released in July and he and Ms. Moore , now a married couple , are working to earn the release of other wrongly convicted prisoners .
Defensive lineman Michael Bennett , a 13-year NFL veteran , retired from football in July in order to devote more time to social justice efforts , including working with Athletes for Impact , a group that encourages sports figures to get involved with worthy causes .
“ The idea is that not every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mr. Bennett says .
“ There are any number of ways , big and small , for athletes to bring about change in their communities.
” The activism goes beyond the ceremonial .
Mr. James , the Los Angeles Lakers star , joined with other current and former NBA and WNBA players , including Skylar Diggins-Smith , Trae Young , and Jalen Rose , to start More Than a Vote , an organization aimed at inspiring more African Americans to register and cast their ballot in the presidential election .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players who have access to millions of people with a push of the button thanks to social media , ” says Etan Thomas , a former NBA player and author of the book “ We Matter : Athletes and Activism.
” “ They are ready and willing to risk fame , fortune , and endorsements , and to endure criticism to stand up for what they believe in.
” A variety of factors have contributed to the rise in athletes ’ willingness to become politically active .
Like many Americans , they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative policies of the Trump administration and the inflammatory rhetoric of the president , who said that NFL players who refused to stand for the anthem should be kicked out of the league .
Days after President Donald Trump made those comments in a December 2017 speech , tight end Julius Thomas knelt during the anthem for the first time .
“ After I heard the president ’ s comments , it really struck me , ” Mr. Thomas told CNN .
“ I was truly hurt .
I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels like to wake up in this country and not feel equal.
” Player protests and other forms of activism have also been met with greater public acceptance than they were decades ago , which may be partly due to the changing demographics of the country .
The U.S. population is more ethnically and racially diverse than the one Mr. Ali and others dealt with generations ago .
“ An audience that includes more people of color and other groups who know what it is to be on the margins is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says sociologist Harry Edwards , a longtime political activist who has worked with scores of athletes on social justice causes .
With that public acceptance has come support from the athletes ’ teams and leagues , which once resisted and sometimes even punished player protests .
In 1996 , Denver Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the national anthem before games , saying that the American flag was a symbol of oppression and that the United States had a long history of tyranny .
The NBA suspended him without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 31,000 .
But that was clearly another era .
When the league resumed play in August after delaying the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic , not only did most of the players take a knee during the anthem as a form of protest with the league ’ s blessing , but the courts had “ Black Lives Matter ” painted on them .
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also allowed the players to have league-approved phrases on the back of their uniforms , including “ How many more ?
, @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Respect Us.
” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , who had offered little support of Mr. Kaepernick after the quarterback began protesting , made a full reversal in August , offering a public apology to him and saying , “ I wish we had listened earlier , Kap , to what you were kneeling about and what you were trying to bring attention to.
” The National Collegiate Athletic Association also allowed players to wear phrases promoting social justice on their helmets , and Major League Baseball gave its approval to teams stenciling “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fields , as well as providing players with BLM T-shirts to wear during batting practice .
When the baseball season began after a four-month break for the COVID-19 pandemic , dozens of players , including All-Stars Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees , knelt during the national anthem , with the league ’ s blessing .
Players have sometimes tried to take action with fully planned protests , and sometimes with impromptu moves driven by the emotion of the moment .
For instance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playoff game against the Orlando Magic in August , the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to play , in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin , the day before .
Within a few hours teams followed their lead , forcing the postponement of eight playoff games over two days .
The same day , the New York Mets and Miami Marlins made a statement by taking the field for their game , then walking off and placing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt over home plate as they left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have taken political stands have done so in support of liberal causes and politicians , some well-known sports figures have stepped forward on the right , as well .
Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus posted a lengthy letter of support for President Trump on Twitter 10 days before the election , and former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler retweeted it with his own message that said , “ Sign me up.
” Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was hospitalized for a week after contracting COVID-19 in October , but made it clear that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After his release from the hospital , he released a letter saying that one of the motivating factors in his recovery was that he “ wanted to be around to vote for President Trump.
” But most of the athletes who have taken a political stand have done so for more liberal politicians and causes .
In some rare cases , like Mr. Kaepernick ’ s , they have found that their activism can make them more , rather than less , attractive to corporate America .
Even though he hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , Mr. Kaepernick was popular enough that Nike signed him to a multimillion-dollar deal last year that included Kaepernick-branded shoes and apparel , as well as an ad campaign that kicked off last fall , complete with a national TV spot that showed images of him and other athletes protesting .
“ Believe in something , ” the tag line said , “ even if it means sacrificing everything.
” The greater support and acceptance doesn ’ t mean that athletes are now free of criticism for their activism .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are becoming more politically involved in order to raise their profile and their off-field income .
“ Told y ’ all from Day One this was about money , ” sports columnist Jason Whitlock tweeted the day after Mr. Kaepernick ’ s new Nike deal was announced .
“ All of it.
” It is hard to imagine , though , that Mr. Kaepernick could have foreseen that his protest would lead to financial gain , not when he was initially vilified by much of the public and unable to get a contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he left San Francisco .
In general , players still face enough backlash that being politically active is no easy decision .
They open themselves up to bashing by President Trump or being told to “ shut up and dribble , ” as Fox News television host Laura Ingraham advised Mr. James and Kevin Durant after they criticized the president in a TV interview .
That sort of criticism is nothing new .
There is a long history of Black athletes who have tried to make a social impact being met with harsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emeritus at the University of California , Berkeley , frames the history of athletes ’ activism in terms of “ waves.
” In the first wave he includes athletes of the 1920s and ’ 30s , such as boxers Jack Johnson and Joe Louis and track star Jesse Owens , who represented the fight to establish Black athletes as legitimate in the eyes of white fans .
Post-World War II players like Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby ( baseball ) , Kenny Washington ( football ) , and Chuck Cooper ( basketball ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not only bringing about desegregation in athletics but helping to prime the pump for the civil rights movement .
The third wave encompasses the Black Power and civil rights movements of the 1960s when athletes like Mr. Ali , football ’ s Jim Brown , and NBA star Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics spoke out defiantly about racism and social justice in America .
It earned them condemnation and a reputation as angry Black men in many circles .
It may have been the criticism those athletes received that made their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less willing to engage in controversial issues .
In Dr. Edward ’ s view , the U.S. is now in the midst of a fourth wave in which athletes are bringing their financial independence and social influence to bear .
Will the movement last ?
Will it make a permanent impact on the political future of the country ?
That ’ s as hard to forecast as whether a college superstar will be successful in the pros .
Circumstances change , distractions arise , news cycles move on to the next headline .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly never been more welcoming .
There may not be many team owners and league executives hoisting protest banners , but their players ’ passion appears to have motivated them to become more engaged civically and politically than ever before .
One example of that is the number of stadiums , arenas , and athletic facilities that teams made available to be COVID-19 testing places and polling places for the November election .
It ’ s unlikely this wave of political involvement will subside anytime soon .
This generation of professional players is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have the financial security to continue their efforts even if it means some reduction in earning potential .
Beyond that , they have discovered that their voices can make change , however incremental .
They will also be inspired to push on because they can see the impact they are having on an individual level .
Consider how Emerald Snipes , daughter of Eric Garner , who died after being locked in a chokehold by police in New York , reacted when she saw various NBA players wearing “ I Can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in honor of her father as they warmed up for their games .
As Etan Thomas quoted her in his book on athlete activism : “ I was completely overwhelmed because ...
I ’ m just this regular person from New York and you want to support me ?
Going against the dress code of your job , risking your livelihood , how you support your family and you ’ re risking all of that for my father ?
I was so thankful to them for doing that because I ’ m sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that it would be bad for their image or that it may upset their fan base or affect their endorsements or whether a team would pick them up the following season .
In spite of all that , they made this public statement for my father and words can not express how thankful I am.
” It is true that political activism runs in cycles , and athletes may not maintain their current level of engagement indefinitely .
But each cycle of voices makes it easier for the next one to be @ @

"Not every athlete has to be another Colin Kaepernick,” says defensive lineman Michael Bennett, a 13-year NFL veteran, who retired from football in July to devote more time to social justice efforts. “There are any number of ways, big and small, for athletes to bring about change in their communities.”
Since then, athletes in nearly every sport have stepped forward to address what they consider to be social injustices.
“That was the moment where I said, I don’t want to just tweet. I don’t want to just wear a T-shirt with some words of protest,” says Malcolm Jenkins, a New Orleans Saints defensive back. “I want to do something that truly makes a difference.”
But it was Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, in protest of police shootings of African Americans, that triggered a reawakening of social conscience among athletes.
While athletes have long pushed political causes, the current wave of activism may prove more effective than most. That’s because athletes now make more money, insulating them from nervous sponsors, and they’re backed more by owners, leagues, and the public.
Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager, had been fatally shot by a neighborhood watch member. As a form of protest, the NBA's Miami Heat took a team photo with every player wearing a hoodie similar to the one Trayvon was wearing when he was shot.
In a contest that was coming down to the wire, it was only natural to turn to an athlete who was famous for coming through in the clutch. The competition was the 1990 Senate race in North Carolina, a heated, racially divisive match between Harvey Gantt, a Democrat and the first African American mayor of Charlotte, and the longtime Republican incumbent, Jesse Helms, a pillar of the ultraconservative wing of the party.
A famously staunch segregationist, Mr. Helms had strongly opposed the movement to create a national holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., and some of his TV ads during the campaign had played to white racial resentment. One of them showed a close-up of a pair of white hands crumpling up a job applicant’s rejection letter, with a voice-over saying the person had lost out on the position to a less-qualified African American because of racial quotas in hiring.
In the final weeks of the campaign, polls showed that the underdog Mr. Gantt had a realistic chance of unseating Mr. Helms, and it was obvious that an endorsement from Michael Jordan, the former University of North Carolina basketball star who had gone on to international fame with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association, might put Mr. Gantt over the top. But when asked to come out publicly in favor of the Democrat, Mr. Jordan declined. He had become a successful Nike pitchman, making millions by appearing in commercials and print ads that had sent the sales of the company’s athletic gear soaring. It wouldn’t be prudent to support Mr. Gantt and risk alienating Mr. Helms’ supporters, Mr. Jordan said, because “Republicans buy sneakers, too.”
Why We Wrote This While athletes have long pushed political causes, the current wave of activism may prove more effective than most. That’s because athletes now make more money, insulating them from nervous sponsors, and they’re backed more by owners, leagues, and the public.
There is no telling whether Mr. Jordan’s endorsement would have made the difference in the election, which Mr. Gantt lost by about 107,000 votes. But for years to come, those four words from Mr. Jordan – which he later insisted he said merely as a joke – would cement the perception of athletes as rich celebrities more interested in their pocketbooks than politics, afraid to support candidates or wade into issues of race or culture.
Peter Dejong/AP/File View caption Hide caption Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty (behind lectern) announces that former NFL quarterback and social justice activist Colin Kaepernick (on screen) is receiving the group’s ambassador of conscience award for 2018 in Amsterdam. Mr. Kaepernick became a controversial figure when refusing to stand for the national anthem to protest racial inequality.
Gone were the politically and socially conscious athletes of the 1960s and ’70s, when Muhammad Ali was stripped of his boxing title because he refused to serve in the Vietnam War after being drafted into the Army, and John Carlos and Tommie Smith became pariahs for raising their fists in a Black Power salute on the medal stand at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Athletes of the 1990s and 2000s, the thinking went, were too wealthy to care about life beyond their gated mansions. There was too much money at stake for sports stars to risk driving away potential customers or sponsors by choosing sides in any public debates.
If that perception was ever accurate – and in truth, it was always at least somewhat exaggerated – it certainly isn’t any longer. There has been a resurgence of athletic activism in America, particularly by Black athletes, not seen since those turbulent days of the civil rights and Vietnam War eras.
The first stirrings of the movement came in 2010, after the killing of Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager who was followed and ultimately shot in Sanford, Florida, by a neighborhood watch member who found him suspicious even though he was merely walking home from the store. As a form of protest, the Miami Heat of the NBA took a team photo with every player wearing a hoodie similar to the one Trayvon was wearing when he was shot, their way of commenting on the injustice of a Black teen being considered dangerous merely for wearing a hooded jacket.
But it was Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, in protest of police shootings of African Americans, that appears to have triggered the full reawakening of athletes’ social conscience. “That was the moment where I said, I don’t want to just tweet. I don’t want to just wear a T-shirt with some words of protest,” says Malcolm Jenkins, a New Orleans Saints defensive back who co-founded the Players Coalition, an organization of National Football League players devoted to social causes, including racial inequities in the criminal justice system. “I want to do something that truly makes a difference.”
Hundreds of players clearly feel the same way. Athletes in nearly every sport have stepped forward in a variety of ways to address what they consider to be social injustices, including but not limited to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police. Current and former NBA players like Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Jackson, and Damian Lillard marched in protests following the Floyd killing, in which a Minneapolis police officer held him down with a knee on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Chris Paul and LeBron James spearheaded efforts to get out the vote before the presidential election, particularly among young African Americans.
Women’s National Basketball Association players formed a Social Justice Council in June and partnered with the Say Her Name campaign to dedicate their season to Ms. Taylor. One of the league’s biggest stars, Maya Moore, stepped away from the sport indefinitely last year to help overturn the conviction of Jonathan Irons, who had spent 22 years in prison on a burglary and assault conviction. Mr. Irons was released in July and he and Ms. Moore, now a married couple, are working to earn the release of other wrongly convicted prisoners.
Jeff Haldiman/The Jefferson City News-Tribune/AP/File View caption Hide caption Basketball star Maya Moore (right) calls Jonathan Irons in March 2020 after a judge in Missouri overturned Mr. Irons’ convictions in a 1997 burglary and assault case. Ms. Moore, who worked to free Mr. Irons, is now married to him.
Defensive lineman Michael Bennett, a 13-year NFL veteran, retired from football in July in order to devote more time to social justice efforts, including working with Athletes for Impact, a group that encourages sports figures to get involved with worthy causes. “The idea is that not every athlete has to be another Colin Kaepernick,” Mr. Bennett says. “There are any number of ways, big and small, for athletes to bring about change in their communities.”
The activism goes beyond the ceremonial. Mr. James, the Los Angeles Lakers star, joined with other current and former NBA and WNBA players, including Skylar Diggins-Smith, Trae Young, and Jalen Rose, to start More Than a Vote, an organization aimed at inspiring more African Americans to register and cast their ballot in the presidential election.
These new athlete-activists “are courageous, high-profile players who have access to millions of people with a push of the button thanks to social media,” says Etan Thomas, a former NBA player and author of the book “We Matter: Athletes and Activism.” “They are ready and willing to risk fame, fortune, and endorsements, and to endure criticism to stand up for what they believe in.”
Turning points
A variety of factors have contributed to the rise in athletes’ willingness to become politically active. Like many Americans, they have been motivated to push back against the conservative policies of the Trump administration and the inflammatory rhetoric of the president, who said that NFL players who refused to stand for the anthem should be kicked out of the league.
Days after President Donald Trump made those comments in a December 2017 speech, tight end Julius Thomas knelt during the anthem for the first time. “After I heard the president’s comments, it really struck me,” Mr. Thomas told CNN. “I was truly hurt. I don’t think a lot of people know what it feels like to wake up in this country and not feel equal.”
Frank Franklin II/AP/File View caption Hide caption NBA star LeBron James wears an “I Can’t Breathe” shirt before a game in New York in 2014. It was a protest against the death of Eric Garner, a Black man who died after being put in a chokehold by a New York police officer.
Player protests and other forms of activism have also been met with greater public acceptance than they were decades ago, which may be partly due to the changing demographics of the country. The U.S. population is more ethnically and racially diverse than the one Mr. Ali and others dealt with generations ago. “An audience that includes more people of color and other groups who know what it is to be on the margins is going to be more receptive to protest and activism,” says sociologist Harry Edwards, a longtime political activist who has worked with scores of athletes on social justice causes.
With that public acceptance has come support from the athletes’ teams and leagues, which once resisted and sometimes even punished player protests. In 1996, Denver Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the national anthem before games, saying that the American flag was a symbol of oppression and that the United States had a long history of tyranny. The NBA suspended him without pay for a game, costing him more than $31,000. But that was clearly another era. When the league resumed play in August after delaying the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not only did most of the players take a knee during the anthem as a form of protest with the league’s blessing, but the courts had “Black Lives Matter” painted on them. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also allowed the players to have league-approved phrases on the back of their uniforms, including “How many more?,” “Equality,” and “Respect Us.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who had offered little support of Mr. Kaepernick after the quarterback began protesting, made a full reversal in August, offering a public apology to him and saying, “I wish we had listened earlier, Kap, to what you were kneeling about and what you were trying to bring attention to.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association also allowed players to wear phrases promoting social justice on their helmets, and Major League Baseball gave its approval to teams stenciling “Black Lives Matter” on their home fields, as well as providing players with BLM T-shirts to wear during batting practice. When the baseball season began after a four-month break for the COVID-19 pandemic, dozens of players, including All-Stars Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, knelt during the national anthem, with the league’s blessing.
Players have sometimes tried to take action with fully planned protests, and sometimes with impromptu moves driven by the emotion of the moment. For instance, less than an hour before their NBA playoff game against the Orlando Magic in August, the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to play, in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the day before. Within a few hours teams followed their lead, forcing the postponement of eight playoff games over two days. The same day, the New York Mets and Miami Marlins made a statement by taking the field for their game, then walking off and placing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt over home plate as they left.
From backlash to endorsements
Although most of the high-profile athletes who have taken political stands have done so in support of liberal causes and politicians, some well-known sports figures have stepped forward on the right, as well. Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus posted a lengthy letter of support for President Trump on Twitter 10 days before the election, and former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler retweeted it with his own message that said, “Sign me up.” Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was hospitalized for a week after contracting COVID-19 in October, but made it clear that his confidence in the president was unshaken. After his release from the hospital, he released a letter saying that one of the motivating factors in his recovery was that he “wanted to be around to vote for President Trump.”
Andrew Dye/The Winston-Salem Journal/AP View caption Hide caption NBA star Chris Paul (center) leads a march to vote at an early voting center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Oct. 27, 2020.
But most of the athletes who have taken a political stand have done so for more liberal politicians and causes. In some rare cases, like Mr. Kaepernick’s, they have found that their activism can make them more, rather than less, attractive to corporate America. Even though he hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2017, Mr. Kaepernick was popular enough that Nike signed him to a multimillion-dollar deal last year that included Kaepernick-branded shoes and apparel, as well as an ad campaign that kicked off last fall, complete with a national TV spot that showed images of him and other athletes protesting. “Believe in something,” the tag line said, “even if it means sacrificing everything.”
The greater support and acceptance doesn’t mean that athletes are now free of criticism for their activism. In fact, some detractors now charge that players are becoming more politically involved in order to raise their profile and their off-field income. “Told y’all from Day One this was about money,” sports columnist Jason Whitlock tweeted the day after Mr. Kaepernick’s new Nike deal was announced. “All of it.”
It is hard to imagine, though, that Mr. Kaepernick could have foreseen that his protest would lead to financial gain, not when he was initially vilified by much of the public and unable to get a contract offer from a single NFL team after he left San Francisco.
In general, players still face enough backlash that being politically active is no easy decision. They open themselves up to bashing by President Trump or being told to “shut up and dribble,” as Fox News television host Laura Ingraham advised Mr. James and Kevin Durant after they criticized the president in a TV interview.
A fourth wave
That sort of criticism is nothing new. There is a long history of Black athletes who have tried to make a social impact being met with harsh resistance. Dr. Edwards, a professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, frames the history of athletes’ activism in terms of “waves.”
In the first wave he includes athletes of the 1920s and ’30s, such as boxers Jack Johnson and Joe Louis and track star Jesse Owens, who represented the fight to establish Black athletes as legitimate in the eyes of white fans. Post-World War II players like Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby (baseball), Kenny Washington (football), and Chuck Cooper (basketball) broke color lines in their respective sports, not only bringing about desegregation in athletics but helping to prime the pump for the civil rights movement.
The third wave encompasses the Black Power and civil rights movements of the 1960s when athletes like Mr. Ali, football’s Jim Brown, and NBA star Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics spoke out defiantly about racism and social justice in America. It earned them condemnation and a reputation as angry Black men in many circles. It may have been the criticism those athletes received that made their successors, players like Mr. Jordan, less willing to engage in controversial issues.
In Dr. Edward’s view, the U.S. is now in the midst of a fourth wave in which athletes are bringing their financial independence and social influence to bear. Will the movement last? Will it make a permanent impact on the political future of the country? That’s as hard to forecast as whether a college superstar will be successful in the pros. Circumstances change, distractions arise, news cycles move on to the next headline.
AP/File View caption Hide caption In this iconic shot, U.S. athletes Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos raise gloved fists in a stand for human rights at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
Yet the climate for athletic activism has certainly never been more welcoming. There may not be many team owners and league executives hoisting protest banners, but their players’ passion appears to have motivated them to become more engaged civically and politically than ever before. One example of that is the number of stadiums, arenas, and athletic facilities that teams made available to be COVID-19 testing places and polling places for the November election.
It’s unlikely this wave of political involvement will subside anytime soon. This generation of professional players is the wealthiest in history, which means they have the financial security to continue their efforts even if it means some reduction in earning potential. Beyond that, they have discovered that their voices can make change, however incremental.
They will also be inspired to push on because they can see the impact they are having on an individual level. Consider how Emerald Snipes, daughter of Eric Garner, who died after being locked in a chokehold by police in New York, reacted when she saw various NBA players wearing “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts over their uniforms in honor of her father as they warmed up for their games.
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As Etan Thomas quoted her in his book on athlete activism: “I was completely overwhelmed because ... I’m just this regular person from New York and you want to support me? Going against the dress code of your job, risking your livelihood, how you support your family and you’re risking all of that for my father? I was so thankful to them for doing that because I’m sure there were people telling them not to, that it would be bad for their image or that it may upset their fan base or affect their endorsements or whether a team would pick them up the following season. In spite of all that, they made this public statement for my father and words cannot express how thankful I am.”
It is true that political activism runs in cycles, and athletes may not maintain their current level of engagement indefinitely. But each cycle of voices makes it easier for the next one to be heard.


csmonitor--2020-11-23--Soccer star leads an awakening on child hunger in Britain

Now Mr. White and his volunteers are contacting families by text , trying to replicate the meals children won ’ t get at school .
“ It might be their only healthy meal of the day , ” he says .
“ It ’ s worse than I imagined it to be , ” says Paul White , a grocery store owner who is organizing free meals in northern England .
“ Mothers and kids have been in tears on doorsteps because they were hungry.
” Professional soccer player Marcus Rashford brought attention to the issue , successfully lobbying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children in low-income households over the summer holidays .
When his calls to extend food provisions over late-year school breaks were initially rejected , public frustration led to action .
Hundreds of businesses began parceling food for hungry children .
Child poverty , now affecting an estimated 4 million children in the United Kingdom , isn ’ t a new problem .
But it has often been hidden from view , until pandemic-related disruptions brought the issue into stark relief .
Jason Stephens remembers the hunger pains and sleepless nights following his release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find work , he eventually purchased a food truck instead and sold burgers on the streets .
Fast-forward to a cold night in Britain ’ s second coronavirus lockdown , Mr. Stephens drives the same truck into the heart of Cardiff ’ s most deprived neighborhoods , handing out a thousand hot meals to children .
“ I was watching everyone losing their jobs in lockdown and kids going hungry , ” says the Welshman .
“ How can that happen in modern day Britain ?
” Mr. Stephens cooks and prepares food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Britain ’ s biggest supermarkets , before pulling up outside to deliver sausage , potato mash , and a traditional roast dinner from the truck , to children going hungry without their state-provisioned school meals over the late October break .
He , and hundreds of other businesses , are acting to remedy a Dickensian issue brought to the fore by the pandemic .
More than 4 million children live in poverty in the United Kingdom .
And while it is not a new problem , it is one that had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , when associated shortages amid lockdown brought the issue into stark relief .
British food poverty organization Food Foundation says some 1.4 million children reported experiences of food insecurity over the summer holidays .
But while the government has been slow to respond to the crisis , particularly as the threat of new midwinter shortages approach , British businesses and volunteers are tackling the problem head-on .
About 1 in 7 children in the U.K. claim free school meals , which are available to households earning under £7,400 ( $ 9,750 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threshold means many children in slightly higher-income households , but below the U.K. ’ s average income of £30,800 , are ineligible for state help , forcing families to survive on food banks .
Hayley Steere , founder of Free-My-Meal , a national charity linking people who need food with those willing to cook it , remembers the humiliation of forgoing meals as a single mother working three jobs , over a decade ago .
“ I remember having a huge packet of crisps for dinner every night .
I thought that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Ms. Steere .
“ I lost my choir business at the beginning of lockdown , but if I was in that situation as a single mother on benefits still , I ’ d need a food bank.
” The person perhaps most responsible for bringing Britain ’ s poverty crisis to widespread public attention is Marcus Rashford , a soccer player known for his quiet , steely determination on the pitch for Manchester United .
Mr. Rashford successfully lobbied the U.K. government to make a U-turn and extend free meal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school summer holidays , when otherwise they might lose that vital food source amid the pandemic .
He set up a child food poverty task force and repeated the clarion call again in October , urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend food provisions over the autumn and winter school break .
Pressured by Mr. Rashford ’ s campaign , Parliament voted on the proposal , but ultimately rejected it .
Although the prime minister has recently done another about-face , in the form of £170 million of extra funding for free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already spread across Britain .
Some businesses opted for symbolic measures : One Yorkshire pub owner banned the local member of Parliament , Chancellor Rishi Sunak – one of the 322 MPs who voted against free school meals – from entering .
But hundreds more went into action , parceling food for hungry children .
“ I didn ’ t know who [ Mr. Rashford ] was until I started doing this .
I ’ m not a football fan , but my wife and mum told me about his work and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do something , ” says Mr. Stephens , in Cardiff .
“ When the government voted against giving free school meals to kids , I thought , ‘ Let ’ s go feed children ourselves.
’ ” Inspired by Mr. Rashford too , grocery store owner Paul White recruited 200 volunteers and “ commandeered ” a school kitchen in East Lancashire , northern England .
Using donations from Britain ’ s biggest supermarkets , he got the owner of a local restaurant to help with the menu .
“ We hired a fridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooking all through the night , ” he says .
“ We tried to replicate what kids were eating at school .
It might be their only healthy meal of the day.
” Working closely with local schools , the grocery store owner set up a text service contacting families in receipt of state-provided meals and has delivered 3,000 meals across East Lancashire .
He fears the lockdown has pushed people “ who ’ ve never experienced hunger before into food poverty.
” “ It ’ s worse than I imagined it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Mothers and kids have been in tears on doorsteps because they were hungry.
” An alternative to the food bank Critics argue food banks are an inefficient way of fighting both child and food poverty .
In Waltham Abbey , a small town on the London-Essex border , Pesh Kapasiawala opens his door to a space that resembles something more like a supermarket .
His belief that food banks are “ undignified and traumatic ” led him to opening community hub 3Food4U in August .
Locals queue up to pick out fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by supermarket giants Marks & Spencer , Asda , and Morrisons that would otherwise end up in landfill .
Mr. Kapasiawala says food banks have a bureaucratic profile , often relying on local authorities to assess recipients , which means people `` can ’ t just turn up ... it ’ s not somewhere where you want to take kids to.
” At his food hub , recipients have the freedom to choose items as they walk around , including a shelf stocked with children ’ s toys .
About 250 families a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Young professionals , nurses , and teachers with young children browse items , saving them up to £60 on weekly shopping expenses .
With further economic concern on the horizon , Ms. Steere is well aware that Britain ’ s poverty trap looms precariously close to many on so-called middle-class incomes .
Near her Surrey home , she received a call for emergency food from a resident living in a family-sized cottage that appeared in a Hollywood film .
“ It doesn ’ t matter what you look like , or who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge if you ’ re going hungry.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we have removed our paywall for all pandemic-related stories .

Now Mr. White and his volunteers are contacting families by text, trying to replicate the meals children won’t get at school. “It might be their only healthy meal of the day,” he says.
“It’s worse than I imagined it to be,” says Paul White, a grocery store owner who is organizing free meals in northern England. “Mothers and kids have been in tears on doorsteps because they were hungry.”
Job losses, lockdowns, and government inaction left many children in the United Kingdom confronting food insecurity. But along with outrage, the result has been a citizen outpouring of aid.
Professional soccer player Marcus Rashford brought attention to the issue, successfully lobbying the government to extend free meal provisions for children in low-income households over the summer holidays. When his calls to extend food provisions over late-year school breaks were initially rejected, public frustration led to action. Hundreds of businesses began parceling food for hungry children.
Child poverty, now affecting an estimated 4 million children in the United Kingdom, isn’t a new problem. But it has often been hidden from view, until pandemic-related disruptions brought the issue into stark relief.
Jason Stephens remembers the hunger pains and sleepless nights following his release from jail in 2015. Unable to find work, he eventually purchased a food truck instead and sold burgers on the streets.
Fast-forward to a cold night in Britain’s second coronavirus lockdown, Mr. Stephens drives the same truck into the heart of Cardiff’s most deprived neighborhoods, handing out a thousand hot meals to children. “I was watching everyone losing their jobs in lockdown and kids going hungry,” says the Welshman. “How can that happen in modern day Britain?”
Mr. Stephens cooks and prepares food donated by Asda and Morrisons, two of Britain’s biggest supermarkets, before pulling up outside to deliver sausage, potato mash, and a traditional roast dinner from the truck, to children going hungry without their state-provisioned school meals over the late October break.
Why We Wrote This Job losses, lockdowns, and government inaction left many children in the United Kingdom confronting food insecurity. But along with outrage, the result has been a citizen outpouring of aid.
He, and hundreds of other businesses, are acting to remedy a Dickensian issue brought to the fore by the pandemic. More than 4 million children live in poverty in the United Kingdom. And while it is not a new problem, it is one that had been largely hidden from public view before the pandemic, when associated shortages amid lockdown brought the issue into stark relief.
British food poverty organization Food Foundation says some 1.4 million children reported experiences of food insecurity over the summer holidays.
But while the government has been slow to respond to the crisis, particularly as the threat of new midwinter shortages approach, British businesses and volunteers are tackling the problem head-on.
“Let’s go feed children ourselves”
About 1 in 7 children in the U.K. claim free school meals, which are available to households earning under £7,400 ($9,750) a year. Charities say the low threshold means many children in slightly higher-income households, but below the U.K.’s average income of £30,800, are ineligible for state help, forcing families to survive on food banks.
Hayley Steere, founder of Free-My-Meal, a national charity linking people who need food with those willing to cook it, remembers the humiliation of forgoing meals as a single mother working three jobs, over a decade ago.
“I remember having a huge packet of crisps for dinner every night. I thought that was okay but it clearly wasn’t,” says Ms. Steere. “I lost my choir business at the beginning of lockdown, but if I was in that situation as a single mother on benefits still, I’d need a food bank.”
The person perhaps most responsible for bringing Britain’s poverty crisis to widespread public attention is Marcus Rashford, a soccer player known for his quiet, steely determination on the pitch for Manchester United.
Mr. Rashford successfully lobbied the U.K. government to make a U-turn and extend free meal provisions for children in low-income households over the school summer holidays, when otherwise they might lose that vital food source amid the pandemic. He set up a child food poverty task force and repeated the clarion call again in October, urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend food provisions over the autumn and winter school break. Pressured by Mr. Rashford’s campaign, Parliament voted on the proposal, but ultimately rejected it.
Although the prime minister has recently done another about-face, in the form of £170 million of extra funding for free school meals, anger and action had already spread across Britain. Some businesses opted for symbolic measures: One Yorkshire pub owner banned the local member of Parliament, Chancellor Rishi Sunak – one of the 322 MPs who voted against free school meals – from entering.
But hundreds more went into action, parceling food for hungry children.
“I didn’t know who [Mr. Rashford] was until I started doing this. I’m not a football fan, but my wife and mum told me about his work and it gave me the kick I needed to do something,” says Mr. Stephens, in Cardiff. “When the government voted against giving free school meals to kids, I thought, ‘Let’s go feed children ourselves.’”
Andrew Boyers/Reuters View caption Hide caption Alex Stephens, owner of the Farm Fresh Market in Watnall, England, displays food on Oct. 23, 2020. Mr. Stephens offered free lunches to children who needed it during a fall school break.
Inspired by Mr. Rashford too, grocery store owner Paul White recruited 200 volunteers and “commandeered” a school kitchen in East Lancashire, northern England.
Using donations from Britain’s biggest supermarkets, he got the owner of a local restaurant to help with the menu. “We hired a fridge and 24 hours later, we were cooking all through the night,” he says. “We tried to replicate what kids were eating at school. It might be their only healthy meal of the day.”
Working closely with local schools, the grocery store owner set up a text service contacting families in receipt of state-provided meals and has delivered 3,000 meals across East Lancashire.
He fears the lockdown has pushed people “who’ve never experienced hunger before into food poverty.”
“It’s worse than I imagined it to be,” says Mr. White. “Mothers and kids have been in tears on doorsteps because they were hungry.”
An alternative to the food bank
Critics argue food banks are an inefficient way of fighting both child and food poverty. In Waltham Abbey, a small town on the London-Essex border, Pesh Kapasiawala opens his door to a space that resembles something more like a supermarket. His belief that food banks are “undignified and traumatic” led him to opening community hub 3Food4U in August. Locals queue up to pick out fresh fruit, pastries, and clothes donated by supermarket giants Marks & Spencer, Asda, and Morrisons that would otherwise end up in landfill.
Mr. Kapasiawala says food banks have a bureaucratic profile, often relying on local authorities to assess recipients, which means people "can’t just turn up ... it’s not somewhere where you want to take kids to.”
At his food hub, recipients have the freedom to choose items as they walk around, including a shelf stocked with children’s toys.
About 250 families a week visit his “community surplus hub.” Young professionals, nurses, and teachers with young children browse items, saving them up to £60 on weekly shopping expenses.
With further economic concern on the horizon, Ms. Steere is well aware that Britain’s poverty trap looms precariously close to many on so-called middle-class incomes. Near her Surrey home, she received a call for emergency food from a resident living in a family-sized cottage that appeared in a Hollywood film.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“It doesn’t matter what you look like, or who you are. I’ll never judge if you’re going hungry.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, we have removed our paywall for all pandemic-related stories.


csmonitor--2020-11-23--Trust in science becomes a political issue. How did that happen?

Science has become a politically polarizing issue .
A global report found Americans are three times more likely to trust scientists if they identify as left-wing , a political divide that makes the United States an outlier internationally .
The survey by the Pew Research Center found that global publics mainly trust scientists to do what is in the public 's best interest .
But attitudes vary with political ideology , according to results compiled just before the COVID-19 outbreak .
This sparks questions about the role of science now and following the pandemic .
The questionnaire study asked people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on science relating to big public policy issues such as climate change and artificial intelligence .
Interviews were held by phone or face-to-face .
“ We saw an increase in confidence in scientists but that increase only came from Democrats and not Republicans , ” says Cary Funk , director of science and society research at the Pew Research Center .
Recent presidential campaign events bear out these findings .
At his rally in Carson City , Nevada , on Oct. 18. , President Donald Trump mocked Joe Biden for listening to scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden slammed Mr. Trump for ignoring it .
Studying public support for scientists and their work is a timely issue , Dr. Funk adds .
“ It ’ s of interest because it ’ s been widely discussed , especially in Western Europe , how much people trust expert advice .
It was a good moment to think about how different publics value the place of science , ” she says .
Expert advice has been heavily discussed , not least by far-right movements who sometimes label the scientific community as elite .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide “ leftist indoctrination , ” which has resulted in several counter-initiatives aimed at restoring balance .
That discussion could be reflected in this study where distrust of scientists shows ties to far-right populism .
Almost two-thirds of Americans who identified as left-wing said they place a lot of trust in scientists to do what is best for them .
Among those who identified as right-wing that number was only 22 % .
Canada had a 39 % difference between right- and left-wing respondents .
In Australia that difference was 29 % and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
Americans have the most polarized views in the world when it comes to science .
But the global trend is clear : Polarization is all over the world , and most prevalent in wealthy democracies .
Tom Carothers , senior vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , says it boils down to trust .
He says that distrusting science has very little to do with political ideology and everything to do with distrust in government .
“ Science is just another form of authority , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evil then science is evil , too.
” There are a couple of reasons we have been in an age of distrust for the past 20 or 30 years , says Mr. Carothers .
Long economic stagnation in the West and concentration of power in elites likely play a role .
But migration and rapid change brought on by technology are also key , he says .
“ People feel things are moving too fast .
They want things to slow down and they want things to stay the same .
Therefore they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , ” he says .
Mr. Carothers points out that distrust of government is more common in wealthier countries , where freedom of speech is sacred .
“ Wealthy democracies have a lot of freedom of expression and not a single source of information .
Therefore if you are distrustful you can find your own community of people.
” He argues social media ’ s only real role in creating divisions is connecting people who are already dissatisfied .
Distrust in authority and polarized views could be accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a government stress test .
“ A lot of countries are suffering and they are questioning the experts .
They seem to have all the scientific expertise but it doesn ’ t work … it doesn ’ t make you very confident in scientific expertise , ” he says .
On the other hand , former New Jersey Gov .
Christine Todd Whitman says the pandemic could have unexpected positive outcomes .
“ People are seeing the mishandling of COVID-19 .
It ’ s really the No .
1 issue in the [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people are saying that we should have listened to the scientists.
” She mentions polls show people trust Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , more than Mr. Trump on the coronavirus pandemic .
Ms. Whitman says the Trump administration has contributed to a distrust in scientists among Republicans during the pandemic .
“ It ’ s never reached the peak that it has now and that ’ s because we have a president who just does not want to hear about science .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of disregarding science with the COVID response.
” Reuse of any BU Statehouse Program materials requires specific written permission from the author .

Science has become a politically polarizing issue. A global report found Americans are three times more likely to trust scientists if they identify as left-wing, a political divide that makes the United States an outlier internationally.
The survey by the Pew Research Center found that global publics mainly trust scientists to do what is in the public's best interest. But attitudes vary with political ideology, according to results compiled just before the COVID-19 outbreak.
This sparks questions about the role of science now and following the pandemic.
The questionnaire study asked people across the globe to share their views on science relating to big public policy issues such as climate change and artificial intelligence. Interviews were held by phone or face-to-face.
“We saw an increase in confidence in scientists but that increase only came from Democrats and not Republicans,” says Cary Funk, director of science and society research at the Pew Research Center.
Recent presidential campaign events bear out these findings. At his rally in Carson City, Nevada, on Oct. 18., President Donald Trump mocked Joe Biden for listening to scientists on the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile Mr. Biden slammed Mr. Trump for ignoring it.
Studying public support for scientists and their work is a timely issue, Dr. Funk adds.
“It’s of interest because it’s been widely discussed, especially in Western Europe, how much people trust expert advice. It was a good moment to think about how different publics value the place of science,” she says.
Expert advice has been heavily discussed, not least by far-right movements who sometimes label the scientific community as elite. One argument is that institutions and universities provide “leftist indoctrination,” which has resulted in several counter-initiatives aimed at restoring balance.
That discussion could be reflected in this study where distrust of scientists shows ties to far-right populism.
What makes science polarized?
Almost two-thirds of Americans who identified as left-wing said they place a lot of trust in scientists to do what is best for them. Among those who identified as right-wing that number was only 22%.
Canada had a 39% difference between right- and left-wing respondents. In Australia that difference was 29% and in the United Kingdom it was 27%.
Americans have the most polarized views in the world when it comes to science. But the global trend is clear: Polarization is all over the world, and most prevalent in wealthy democracies.
Tom Carothers, senior vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says it boils down to trust. He says that distrusting science has very little to do with political ideology and everything to do with distrust in government. “Science is just another form of authority, and if people have decided that authority is evil then science is evil, too.”
An age of distrust
There are a couple of reasons we have been in an age of distrust for the past 20 or 30 years, says Mr. Carothers. Long economic stagnation in the West and concentration of power in elites likely play a role. But migration and rapid change brought on by technology are also key, he says.
“People feel things are moving too fast. They want things to slow down and they want things to stay the same. Therefore they distrust the government that is leading the change,” he says.
Mr. Carothers points out that distrust of government is more common in wealthier countries, where freedom of speech is sacred. “Wealthy democracies have a lot of freedom of expression and not a single source of information. Therefore if you are distrustful you can find your own community of people.”
He argues social media’s only real role in creating divisions is connecting people who are already dissatisfied.
The COVID-19 stress test
Distrust in authority and polarized views could be accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which Mr. Carothers refers to as a government stress test.
“A lot of countries are suffering and they are questioning the experts. They seem to have all the scientific expertise but it doesn’t work … it doesn’t make you very confident in scientific expertise,” he says.
On the other hand, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman says the pandemic could have unexpected positive outcomes. “People are seeing the mishandling of COVID-19. It’s really the No. 1 issue in the [presidential] campaign ... which tells you that people are saying that we should have listened to the scientists.”
She mentions polls show people trust Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, more than Mr. Trump on the coronavirus pandemic.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Ms. Whitman says the Trump administration has contributed to a distrust in scientists among Republicans during the pandemic. “It’s never reached the peak that it has now and that’s because we have a president who just does not want to hear about science. And unfortunately we are seeing the negative impact of disregarding science with the COVID response.”
Reuse of any BU Statehouse Program materials requires specific written permission from the author.


csmonitor--2020-11-23--Mini pumpkin pies can help Thanksgiving 2020 feel right

Read them out loud to anyone who will listen , whether it ’ s to relatives over Zoom , at a table set for two , or to Whiskers the cat .
Save them in an envelope , and when you revisit these tiny epistles of gratitude in the years to come – maybe future generations will find them in an attic box – you ’ ll have put on record how you made it through with a heart full of thanks .
Don ’ t forget this part .
It ’ s been a hard year for all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see where hope and progress are shining through , and write these things down .
Remember that a picture-perfect , Norman Rockwell turkey needn ’ t rule – something more modest is fine .
Leftover pie shouldn ’ t be considered a problem .
But our mini-pie recipe is here to help , if you need it .
This holiday , being asked to stay home with the loved ones you see everyday anyway is not exactly the warm and abundant approach that most Americans love .
But with some patience , creativity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still be one that you will recall fondly .
Even though Thanksgiving is going to be different this year , it can still feel familiar .
Governors across the United States are urging people to stay put , instead of bringing extended family and friends together for a few hours of gratitude and feasting .
If you do spend time with those who don ’ t live with you , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends remaining masked when not eating , and staying 6 feet apart .
Farmers and grocers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t require 18-pound turkeys , five different sides , and three different kinds of pie .
It ’ s not exactly the warm and abundant approach to the holiday that most Americans love .
But with some patience , creativity , and flexibility , Thanksgiving 2020 can still be a day that you will remember for years to come .
The word on the bird A general rule of thumb when buying a whole turkey : One pound feeds one person .
If you want Thanksgiving leftovers , up that to 1½ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be four people or less , an 8-pound bird will be plenty .
Another approach : Buy turkey drumsticks or a turkey breast .
Cooking smaller turkey parts means you can employ your slow cooker as you binge-watch holiday movies or football , or head outside for a fresh-air hike .
If you like your table to look fancy , consider cooking small Cornish game hens , one per person .
Instead of a browned bird for the centerpiece , artfully construct a charcuterie board with cured meats , olives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hard and soft cheeses , mustards , and honey for drizzling .
Add festive small gourds , sprigs of rosemary , or autumn leaves as decorations .
Post your creation to Instagram .
Or , skip cooking altogether .
Support a local restaurant by ordering takeout .
Pack deli sandwiches and climb the nearest summit for a Thanksgiving picnic with gorgeous views .
Let go of trying to make everyone ’ s favorite sides this year .
( Unless there are vegetarians , in which case , lean in on the side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acorn squash that makes for easy personal servings and preferences .
Add a dash of garlic powder in softened butter to melt in the middle as it bakes for a savory flavor .
For those who like things sweet , add brown sugar or maple syrup to a tablespoon of butter .
If there is a yearly debate over whether sweet potatoes get marshmallows or not , make them plain and then serve them in individual ramekins with brown sugar and mini marshmallows on the side .
A few seconds in the microwave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the toaster oven will make a delicious gooey topping for those who want it .
Leftover pie shouldn ’ t be considered a problem , but if you don ’ t want to eat pie for days and still prefer a variety to choose from , make your favorite flavors as mini pies .
This is a great way to involve kids in the meal prep , too .
Use pre-made pie crusts to keep things simple .
Let the pastry thaw until you can roll it and then use a 3-inch cookie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cut circles in the dough .
Tuck each round into a muffin tin and spoon in your favorite filling .
If you have too much filling for the mini pies don ’ t despair : Pour any extra pumpkin filling in a custard dish and bake it .
Extra apples tossed in cinnamon sugar can be a topping for oatmeal or yogurt , and chocolate pudding can be finished off when you have a moment alone in the pantry .
Don ’ t forget this part .
It ’ s been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but take a moment to see where hope and progress are shining through – if it is more time with your family , house projects that finally got finished , or a greater appreciation for your neighbors – it ’ s worth the time to write these things down .
Read them out loud to anyone who will listen , whether it ’ s to relatives over Zoom , at a table set for two , or to Whiskers the cat .
Save them in an envelope marked “ Thanksgiving 2020 ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gratitude in the years to come – maybe future generations will find them in an attic box – you ’ ll have put on record how you made it through with a heart full of thanks .
Makes 12 mini pies .
( To avoid leftover filling , reduce all portions in the filling recipe by half . )
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Allow the frozen pie shell to come to room temperature .
Lightly spray a muffin tin with cooking spray .
Mix the pumpkin , spices , and sugar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combine .
Roll out the pastry shell on a lightly floured surface until it is flat .
If the dough is cracking , mound it into a ball and roll out again .
Using a 3-inch cookie cutter press out circles in the dough .
Settle each pastry circle into a muffin tin .
With your fingertips , gently pull the edges to the top of the cup .
Using a spoon like a gravy ladle , fill each muffin cup ⅔ full .
Bake at 425 degrees F. for 15 minutes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional 20 minutes .
Keep an eye on the edges of the shells so they don ’ t overbrown .
Cool and remove from muffin tins with a butter knife .
Top with a dollop of whipped cream if desired before serving .
The pies will keep for up to a week in the fridge , and for several months frozen .

Read them out loud to anyone who will listen, whether it’s to relatives over Zoom, at a table set for two, or to Whiskers the cat. Save them in an envelope, and when you revisit these tiny epistles of gratitude in the years to come – maybe future generations will find them in an attic box – you’ll have put on record how you made it through with a heart full of thanks.
Don’t forget this part. It’s been a hard year for all of us, but take a moment to see where hope and progress are shining through, and write these things down.
A less bountiful table and smaller crowd can still inspire a memorable meal. Here are some suggestions.
Remember that a picture-perfect, Norman Rockwell turkey needn’t rule – something more modest is fine. Leftover pie shouldn’t be considered a problem. But our mini-pie recipe is here to help, if you need it.
This holiday, being asked to stay home with the loved ones you see everyday anyway is not exactly the warm and abundant approach that most Americans love. But with some patience, creativity, and flexibility, Thanksgiving 2020 can still be one that you will recall fondly.
Even though Thanksgiving is going to be different this year, it can still feel familiar.
Governors across the United States are urging people to stay put, instead of bringing extended family and friends together for a few hours of gratitude and feasting. If you do spend time with those who don’t live with you, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends remaining masked when not eating, and staying 6 feet apart. Farmers and grocers have been anticipating pared-down menus that won’t require 18-pound turkeys, five different sides, and three different kinds of pie.
It’s not exactly the warm and abundant approach to the holiday that most Americans love. But with some patience, creativity, and flexibility, Thanksgiving 2020 can still be a day that you will remember for years to come.
Why We Wrote This A less bountiful table and smaller crowd can still inspire a memorable meal. Here are some suggestions.
The word on the bird
A general rule of thumb when buying a whole turkey: One pound feeds one person. If you want Thanksgiving leftovers, up that to 1½ pounds per person. If your gathering is going to be four people or less, an 8-pound bird will be plenty.
Another approach: Buy turkey drumsticks or a turkey breast. Cooking smaller turkey parts means you can employ your slow cooker as you binge-watch holiday movies or football, or head outside for a fresh-air hike. If you like your table to look fancy, consider cooking small Cornish game hens, one per person.
Instead of a browned bird for the centerpiece, artfully construct a charcuterie board with cured meats, olives, dried fruit, jam, nuts, hard and soft cheeses, mustards, and honey for drizzling. Add festive small gourds, sprigs of rosemary, or autumn leaves as decorations. Post your creation to Instagram.
Or, skip cooking altogether. Support a local restaurant by ordering takeout. Pack deli sandwiches and climb the nearest summit for a Thanksgiving picnic with gorgeous views.
Sideline control
Let go of trying to make everyone’s favorite sides this year. (Unless there are vegetarians, in which case, lean in on the side dishes.) Choose a vegetable like acorn squash that makes for easy personal servings and preferences. Add a dash of garlic powder in softened butter to melt in the middle as it bakes for a savory flavor. For those who like things sweet, add brown sugar or maple syrup to a tablespoon of butter.
If there is a yearly debate over whether sweet potatoes get marshmallows or not, make them plain and then serve them in individual ramekins with brown sugar and mini marshmallows on the side. A few seconds in the microwave or a minute under the broiler in the toaster oven will make a delicious gooey topping for those who want it.
Sweet endings
Leftover pie shouldn’t be considered a problem, but if you don’t want to eat pie for days and still prefer a variety to choose from, make your favorite flavors as mini pies. This is a great way to involve kids in the meal prep, too. Use pre-made pie crusts to keep things simple. Let the pastry thaw until you can roll it and then use a 3-inch cookie cutter (or glass jar rim) to cut circles in the dough. Tuck each round into a muffin tin and spoon in your favorite filling.
If you have too much filling for the mini pies don’t despair: Pour any extra pumpkin filling in a custard dish and bake it. Extra apples tossed in cinnamon sugar can be a topping for oatmeal or yogurt, and chocolate pudding can be finished off when you have a moment alone in the pantry.
Gratitude jars
Don’t forget this part. It’s been a hard year for all of us, but take a moment to see where hope and progress are shining through – if it is more time with your family, house projects that finally got finished, or a greater appreciation for your neighbors – it’s worth the time to write these things down. Read them out loud to anyone who will listen, whether it’s to relatives over Zoom, at a table set for two, or to Whiskers the cat. Save them in an envelope marked “Thanksgiving 2020” and when you revisit these tiny epistles of gratitude in the years to come – maybe future generations will find them in an attic box – you’ll have put on record how you made it through with a heart full of thanks.
Pumpkin Pie Bites
Makes 12 mini pies. (To avoid leftover filling, reduce all portions in the filling recipe by half.)
1 9-inch pie crust, homemade or store-bought
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon sea salt
¾ cup sugar
1 14-ounce can evaporated milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
Whipped cream, optional
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Allow the frozen pie shell to come to room temperature. Lightly spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.
Mix the pumpkin, spices, and sugar together. Add remaining ingredients, and combine.
Roll out the pastry shell on a lightly floured surface until it is flat. If the dough is cracking, mound it into a ball and roll out again. Using a 3-inch cookie cutter press out circles in the dough. Settle each pastry circle into a muffin tin. With your fingertips, gently pull the edges to the top of the cup.
Using a spoon like a gravy ladle, fill each muffin cup ⅔ full.
Bake at 425 degrees F. for 15 minutes, then reduce to 350 degrees for an additional 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the edges of the shells so they don’t overbrown. Cool and remove from muffin tins with a butter knife.
Top with a dollop of whipped cream if desired before serving. The pies will keep for up to a week in the fridge, and for several months frozen.


csmonitor--2020-11-23--Why Biden gives Trump some space

Why Biden gives Trump some space

Since the U.S. election on Nov. 3 , presidential scholars and former administration officials have warned that President Donald Trump is harming American democracy by refusing to accept that he lost his bid for a second term .
Meanwhile , President-elect Joe Biden has mainly focused on preparing to govern .
He has criticized Mr. Trump ’ s stonewalling as embarrassing and called him one of the “ most irresponsible presidents in American history . ''
Yet whether deliberately or not , his reluctance to speak out both frequently and forcefully reflects the wisdom in the proverb that “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engagement with Trump or his spokespeople might evoke even stronger anger .
And they have made room for deeper qualities – patience , integrity , truth – to prevail as more people realize the election was fair , honest , and proven .
“ The challenge is to give people space to step back from the binary , tribal thinking in which you are either a friend or an enemy , ” writes Robert Kuttner , co-editor of The American Prospect and a professor at Brandeis University .
In such tense situations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of Mr. Trump ’ s legal challenges to election procedures , a judge in Pennsylvania posed the question to Mr. Trump ’ s counsel : “ I ask you as a member of this court whether there were Republican observers in the vote counting room ?
” The president ’ s lawyers quietly backed down .
When Michigan ’ s top two state Republican legislators met with Mr. Trump last week , they said afterward that the “ simple truths ” of a “ deliberate process free from threats and intimidation ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As more states certify the results of their counts and recounts , officials on the front line cite what motivates their work .
“ Working as an engineer throughout my life , I live by the motto that numbers don ’ t lie , ” said Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , a Republican .
In Arizona , Clint Hickman , a Republican on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors , said , “ I ’ m not going to violate the law or deviate from my own moral compass as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Statements like that from the heart , especially from Republican leaders , are necessary to bring around the majority of GOP voters who still believe the false assertions of conspiracy and illegality .
When those working on these elections model integrity and grace , their actions speak with a compelling moral authority .
Nine presidents have faced defeat for a second term .
Only one has refused to accept the voters ’ verdict .
The transition of power on Jan. 20 is inevitable but will benefit from a gentle , wise , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example by insisting Americans stop treating opponents as an enemy .
“ The Bible tells us that to everything there is a season – a time to build , a time to reap , a time to sow .
And a time to heal , ” he said after the election .
“ This is the time to heal in America.
” Leaders in both parties are starting to show how .

Since the U.S. election on Nov. 3, presidential scholars and former administration officials have warned that President Donald Trump is harming American democracy by refusing to accept that he lost his bid for a second term. Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden has mainly focused on preparing to govern. He has criticized Mr. Trump’s stonewalling as embarrassing and called him one of the “most irresponsible presidents in American history." Yet whether deliberately or not, his reluctance to speak out both frequently and forcefully reflects the wisdom in the proverb that “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” Direct engagement with Trump or his spokespeople might evoke even stronger anger.
And they have made room for deeper qualities – patience, integrity, truth – to prevail as more people realize the election was fair, honest, and proven. “The challenge is to give people space to step back from the binary, tribal thinking in which you are either a friend or an enemy,” writes Robert Kuttner, co-editor of The American Prospect and a professor at Brandeis University.
In such tense situations, the wise appeal to conscience. During one of Mr. Trump’s legal challenges to election procedures, a judge in Pennsylvania posed the question to Mr. Trump’s counsel: “I ask you as a member of this court whether there were Republican observers in the vote counting room?” The president’s lawyers quietly backed down. When Michigan’s top two state Republican legislators met with Mr. Trump last week, they said afterward that the “simple truths” of a “deliberate process free from threats and intimidation” would restore confidence in the election process.
As more states certify the results of their counts and recounts, officials on the front line cite what motivates their work.
“Working as an engineer throughout my life, I live by the motto that numbers don’t lie,” said Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican. In Arizona, Clint Hickman, a Republican on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, said, “I’m not going to violate the law or deviate from my own moral compass as some have pushed me to do.”
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Statements like that from the heart, especially from Republican leaders, are necessary to bring around the majority of GOP voters who still believe the false assertions of conspiracy and illegality. When those working on these elections model integrity and grace, their actions speak with a compelling moral authority.
Nine presidents have faced defeat for a second term. Only one has refused to accept the voters’ verdict. The transition of power on Jan. 20 is inevitable but will benefit from a gentle, wise, and conciliatory approach. Mr. Biden sets an example by insisting Americans stop treating opponents as an enemy. “The Bible tells us that to everything there is a season – a time to build, a time to reap, a time to sow. And a time to heal,” he said after the election. “This is the time to heal in America.” Leaders in both parties are starting to show how.


csmonitor--2020-11-23--Why China plans to drill an almost 7-foot-deep hole on the moon

Chinese technicians were making final preparations Monday for a mission to bring back material from the moon ’ s surface for the first time in more than four decades – an undertaking that could boost human understanding of the moon and of the solar system more generally .
Chang ’ e 5 – named for the Chinese moon goddess – is the country ’ s most ambitious lunar mission yet .
If successful , it would be a major advance for China ’ s space program , and some experts say it could pave the way for bringing samples back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission .
The China National Space Administration said in a statement that the Long March-5Y rocket began fueling up on Monday , ahead of a launch scheduled for between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST Monday at the Wenchang launch center on the southern island province of Hainan .
The typically secretive administration had previously only confirmed the launch would be in late November .
Spacecraft usually take three days to reach the moon .
The mission ’ s key task is to drill almost 7 feet beneath the moon ’ s surface @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocks and other debris to be brought back to Earth , according to NASA .
That would offer the first opportunity to scientists to study newly obtained lunar material since the American and Russian missions of the 1960s and 1970s .
The Chang ’ e 5 lander ’ s time on the moon is scheduled to be short and sweet .
It can only stay one lunar daytime , or about 14 Earth days , because it lacks the radioisotope heating units to withstand the moon ’ s freezing nights .
The lander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and robotic arm and transfer them to what ’ s called an ascender , which will lift off from the moon and dock with the “ service capsule.
” The materials will then be moved to the return capsule for the trip home to Earth .
The technical complexity of Chang ’ e 5 , with its four modules , makes it “ remarkable in many ways , ” said Joan Johnson-Freese , a space expert at the United States Naval War College .
“ China is showing itself capable of developing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important for regional influence and potentially global partnerships , ” she said .
In particular , the ability to collect samples from space is growing in value , said Jonathan McDowell , an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics .
Other countries planning to retrieve material from asteroids or even Mars may look to China ’ s experience , he said .
While the mission is “ indeed challenging , ” Dr. McDowell said China has already landed twice on the moon with its Chang ’ e 3 and Chang ’ e @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 Chang ’ e 5 test mission that it can navigate back to Earth , reenter , and land a capsule .
All that ’ s left is to show it can collect samples and take off again from the moon .
“ As a result of this , I ’ m pretty optimistic that China can pull this off , ” he said .
The mission is among China ’ s boldest since it first put a man in space in 2003 , becoming only the third nation to do so after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of China ’ s crewed spaceflight achievements , including building an experimental space station and conducting a space walk , reproduce those of other countries from years past , the CNSA is now moving into new territory .
Chang ’ e 4 – which was the first soft landing on the moon ’ s relatively unexplored far side almost two years ago – is currently collecting full measurements of radiation exposure from the lunar surface , information vital for any country that plans to send astronauts to the moon .
China in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have launched a mission to Mars , in China ’ s case an orbiter and a rover that will search for signs of water on the red planet .
The CNSA says the spacecraft Tianwen 1 is on course to arrive at Mars around February .
China has increasingly engaged with foreign countries on missions , and the European Space Agency will be providing important ground station information for Chang ’ e 5 .
U.S. law however still prevents most collaborations with NASA , excluding China from partnering with the International Space Station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work on its own space station and launch its own programs that have put it in a steady competition with Japan and India , among Asian nations seeking to notch new achievements in space .
China ’ s space program has progressed cautiously , with relatively few setbacks in recent years .
The rocket being used for the current launch failed on a previous launch attempt , but has since performed without a glitch , including launching Chang ’ e 4 .
“ China works very incrementally , developing building blocks for long-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dr. Freese-Johnson said .
China ’ s one-party authoritarian system also allows for “ prolonged political will that is often difficult in democracies , ” she said .
While the U.S. has followed China ’ s successes closely , it ’ s unlikely to cooperate with China in space amid political suspicions , a sharpening military rivalry , and accusations of Chinese theft of technology , experts say .
“ A change in U.S. policy regarding space cooperation is unlikely to get much government attention in the near future , ” Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Associated Press .

Chinese technicians were making final preparations Monday for a mission to bring back material from the moon’s surface for the first time in more than four decades – an undertaking that could boost human understanding of the moon and of the solar system more generally.
Chang’e 5 – named for the Chinese moon goddess – is the country’s most ambitious lunar mission yet. If successful, it would be a major advance for China’s space program, and some experts say it could pave the way for bringing samples back from Mars or even a crewed lunar mission.
The China National Space Administration said in a statement that the Long March-5Y rocket began fueling up on Monday, ahead of a launch scheduled for between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST Monday at the Wenchang launch center on the southern island province of Hainan.
The typically secretive administration had previously only confirmed the launch would be in late November. Spacecraft usually take three days to reach the moon.
The mission’s key task is to drill almost 7 feet beneath the moon’s surface and scoop up about 4.4 pounds of rocks and other debris to be brought back to Earth, according to NASA. That would offer the first opportunity to scientists to study newly obtained lunar material since the American and Russian missions of the 1960s and 1970s.
The Chang’e 5 lander’s time on the moon is scheduled to be short and sweet. It can only stay one lunar daytime, or about 14 Earth days, because it lacks the radioisotope heating units to withstand the moon’s freezing nights.
The lander will dig for materials with its drill and robotic arm and transfer them to what’s called an ascender, which will lift off from the moon and dock with the “service capsule.” The materials will then be moved to the return capsule for the trip home to Earth.
The technical complexity of Chang’e 5, with its four modules, makes it “remarkable in many ways,” said Joan Johnson-Freese, a space expert at the United States Naval War College.
“China is showing itself capable of developing and successfully carrying out sustained high-tech programs, important for regional influence and potentially global partnerships,” she said.
In particular, the ability to collect samples from space is growing in value, said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Other countries planning to retrieve material from asteroids or even Mars may look to China’s experience, he said.
While the mission is “indeed challenging,” Dr. McDowell said China has already landed twice on the moon with its Chang’e 3 and Chang’e 4 missions, and showed with a 2014 Chang’e 5 test mission that it can navigate back to Earth, reenter, and land a capsule. All that’s left is to show it can collect samples and take off again from the moon.
“As a result of this, I’m pretty optimistic that China can pull this off,” he said.
The mission is among China’s boldest since it first put a man in space in 2003, becoming only the third nation to do so after the United States and Russia.
While many of China’s crewed spaceflight achievements, including building an experimental space station and conducting a space walk, reproduce those of other countries from years past, the CNSA is now moving into new territory.
Chang’e 4 – which was the first soft landing on the moon’s relatively unexplored far side almost two years ago – is currently collecting full measurements of radiation exposure from the lunar surface, information vital for any country that plans to send astronauts to the moon.
China in July became one of three countries to have launched a mission to Mars, in China’s case an orbiter and a rover that will search for signs of water on the red planet. The CNSA says the spacecraft Tianwen 1 is on course to arrive at Mars around February.
China has increasingly engaged with foreign countries on missions, and the European Space Agency will be providing important ground station information for Chang’e 5.
U.S. law however still prevents most collaborations with NASA, excluding China from partnering with the International Space Station. That has prompted China to start work on its own space station and launch its own programs that have put it in a steady competition with Japan and India, among Asian nations seeking to notch new achievements in space.
China’s space program has progressed cautiously, with relatively few setbacks in recent years. The rocket being used for the current launch failed on a previous launch attempt, but has since performed without a glitch, including launching Chang’e 4.
“China works very incrementally, developing building blocks for long-term use for a variety of missions,” Dr. Freese-Johnson said. China’s one-party authoritarian system also allows for “prolonged political will that is often difficult in democracies,” she said.
While the U.S. has followed China’s successes closely, it’s unlikely to cooperate with China in space amid political suspicions, a sharpening military rivalry, and accusations of Chinese theft of technology, experts say.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“A change in U.S. policy regarding space cooperation is unlikely to get much government attention in the near future,” Dr. Johnson-Freese said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.