At my 60th birthday party this summer, I made a few remarks about how fortunate I have been in my life:
Born to parents who nurtured me.
Born into a nation that values life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Born at a time and in a part of the world where science and public health greatly improved my chances of survival and good health. (Living to age 60 was once a rarity, and it still is in much of the world.)
Fortunate to have had a superb education, and to have met so many wonderful people along the way, including my wife.
Lucky to have three talented, interesting, and kind children, two loving and good sons-in-law, and now two healthy grandkids.
Fortunate to have a career where I get to study how the world works, and where I get to work with incredibly talented and motivated students and colleagues.
Today I was reminded of another aspect of privilege:
Privilege is getting to vote with no long lines and without intimidation. I was privileged today. I wish all Americans had that privilege.
It’s something we should all embrace. Working to deny citizens their right to vote is wrong. It also threatens all of us today and future generations, and the freedoms and privileges that we sometimes take for granted.
Telliamed Revisited 