I Don’t Want to Spread Covid-19. Can I Sit Out the Protests?

Can I protest from a distance?

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 18, 2020 Illustration by Tomi Um   The Ethicist I Don’t Want to Spread Covid-19. Can I Sit Out the Protests? The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on balancing political progress and public health, and more. By Kwame Anthony Appiah In normal times, I would feel an obligation to take part in the recent protests against police brutality. I’m worried, however, that these gatherings could lead to a coronavirus outbreak. Black Americans are suffering from Covid-19 at a disproportionately high rate — I don’t want to endanger the very lives that this movement is seeking to protect. I have done what I can to speak out in other ways, from signing petitions to making donations and even making a Black Lives Matter sign and carrying it for a solo march around my neighborhood (which definitely attracted a lot of laughter and scorn). I feel bad for not getting out there and standing up for what’s right. Is it ethical to support these protests only from a distance? Read the Ethicist’s response here. THIS WEEK’S MAGAZINE Djeneba Aduayom for The New York Times   Feature ‘White Fragility’ Is Everywhere. But Does Antiracism Training Work? Robin DiAngelo’s best seller is giving white Americans a new way to talk about race. Do those conversations actually serve the cause of equality? By Daniel Bergner Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times   Feature Colin Powell Still Wants Answers In 2003, he made the case for invading Iraq to halt its weapons programs. The analysts who provided the intelligence now say it was doubted inside the C.I.A. at the time. By Robert Draper Mamadi Doumbouya for The New York Times   Talk Oliver Stone Thinks Hollywood Has Gone Crazy “The Academy changes its mind every five, 10, two months about what it’s trying to keep up with. … I’ve never seen it quite mad like this.” By David Marchese Kiana Hayeri for The New York Times   At War She Went to Prison for Killing Her Husband. The Pandemic Set Her Free. Foroozan was one of nearly 20 women held in an Afghan women’s prison for murdering her spouse after years of abuse. “Thanks to coronavirus, I am given a second chance to live.” By Kiana Hayeri Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MORE FROM THE MAGAZINE Heami Lee for The New York Times. Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop stylist: Rebecca Bartoshesky.   Eat Gardening Made Me Happier. It Will Work for You Too. Samin Nosrat turns to her vegetable plot for solace — and flavor. Her favorite is something many farmers throw away: fresh coriander seeds. By Samin Nosrat Photo illustration by Najeebah Al-Ghadban   Screenland When the President Shows You an Old Man Shouting ‘White Power’ There are all sorts of interesting things you might learn from the video Donald Trump retweeted. The president, it would seem, noticed none of them. By Sam Anderson Photo illustration by Ina Jang   Diagnosis She Tested Negative for Lyme Disease. So What Was Wrong? Her lethargy and joint pain suggested a tick-borne illness. Adding to the mystery, was a recent trip abroad a clue or a red herring? By Lisa Sanders, M.D. Video by HunterGatherer   Issue 7.19.20 Behind the Cover: Why Covid-19 Is Winning A look at the crisis in Texas — and the story it tells about public health in America. Illustration by Radio   Tip How to Mend a Pair of Jeans If threads start fraying, add stitching before the fabric tears. Patching should be your last resort. By Malia Wollan Jack Davison for The New York Times   Letter Of Recommendation I Didn’t Mean to Adopt a Dozen Pet Snails They aren’t very good companions. But the lockdowns forced us to bond. By Rebecca Giggs Stay in touch: Follow us on Twitter (@NYTmag) or check us out on Instagram. Appreciated this email? Forward it to a friend and help us grow. Loved a story? Hated it? Write us a letter at magazine@nytimes.com. Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up here to get the magazine newsletter. Listen to narrated versions of our articles every week. Download Audm for iPhone or Android. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The New York Times Magazine from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018