Let’s just start this off with the obvious...it’s been a crazy (often shitty) kind of couple of years.  The Covid-19 Pandemic brought so much out of us as a culture...some amazing moments, and some unfortunate reminders that we are not all operating as a community. 

            One of the unfortunate “side-effects” of being in the legal industry is that you always see the “opposite side” of nearly every situation, and I will openly admit that when I saw funding being thrown into this problem, which I agree it should have been...and probably still should be..., I thought about the potential for abuse, fraud, and misrepresentation of situations that would bring the “greed” out in some of the people we share this country, planet, and culture with. 

            U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger out of Minnesota, the chief federal prosecutor in that state, put together a team and an investigation to expose a horrific scheme to steal nearly a quarter of a million dollars designated for children in need of meals during the horrific and unexpected fallout of these past years. 

            Under the guise of a “nonprofit” organization, filed under the name “Feeding Our Future,” a group of nearly 50 individuals diverted funds dedicated to assisting children and families needing immediate and necessary assistance to engage in lavish, selfish, and extravagant lifestyle changes in an effort to prey on the needs of others.  Our global community was treading water and trying to “catch a breath,” and some snakes saw an opportunity to finance cars, houses, vacations, and luxury items of no actual real-world worth. 

            Respectfully...F&@# them.   

            That said, I believe those stories are the “outliers”...even if there are more of them than we wish existed. 

            I am not naive.  I know the past couple of years have brought out some people with “bad intent” who have taken advantage of their families, friends, and communities.  But do you know what?  Those people exist with or without a global pandemic.  I don’t want to misquote, so to paraphrase a concept from Joe Rogan, “If you are in a room with 100 people, what are the odds that one or two are assholes?  100%.”  So those assholes are there regardless of the circumstances.  So maybe we should look at the other 98% for a minute...

            I have seen so many people step up and help their friends, family, and even complete strangers during this bizarre time in our existence.  I’ve seen businesses adapt and overcome, to both survive and help the communities they serve.  I’ve seen these “pieces of love and compassion” both personally, online, on TikTok, Instagram...and more.  For every “horror story” that we see, there are many acts of service that we don’t hear about or aren’t reported as prominently. 

And that is a shame, because we are missing an opportunity to highlight the best of humanity because the evil stories are more salacious and probably get more “clicks,” create more outrage, and generate more interaction...but the anger and negativity these stories create is detrimental to all of our positivity and faith in both God and humanity.  The best, and only, way to combat darkness is with light, and I have seen it all around us over the past two years, and I would imagine you have also.  Whether it was the online gatherings to facilitate community, the drive-by birthday parties to make sure no child lost a year to a pandemic, athletes competing in masks and “shaking hands” across the mat, or video calls with loved ones who were isolated...the stories of “adaptation” are endless and beautiful. 

I don’t know what the fall and winter will bring, but I certainly hope we continue on a positive path from a “pandemic perspective.”  Regardless of if we do or don’t, we have an opportunity to press forward toward positivity and compassion that I believe is so much more prevalent than our headlines might indicate.  I have seen, met, and experienced so many amazing people and circumstances over the past two years.  To think that was all possible in the most uncertain of times gives me great hope and inspiration for what we can all accomplish during more favorable conditions. 

In the meantime, I hope the Fall of 2022 finds you well, that you are happy and healthy, and that we all remember to treat each other with kindness, compassion, and love. 

dm