With the COVID-19 Stay-at-Home attempts to keep us safe, people are grieving. We grieve for our way of life, the loss of freedom of movement or seeing our friends. We mourn the loss of a paycheck. We grieve for the loss of stability. There are some in the throes of grief for the loss of control. They don’t like to be told what to do. They feel the stay at home order is an overreaction-a way to be controlled by the government. There are pockets of protesters who think they have the right to assemble without protection, except they believe in their”right” to flaunt their assault rifles openly. It’s their right to demand their states’ Governors re-open for business as usual. Their most ridiculous demand is their “right” to get a haircut. They have no regard for others. Because they don’t believe the virus is a threat, their rights are more important than those who do believe it. At this point in the pandemic, more than 50,000 people have died, and a BILLION people diagnosed with the virus in our country alone. Where is the proof these folks need that it isn’t a hoax? Where is their respect for the rights of the people who do believe it is a severe situation? Why do they think their rights outweigh everyone else’s? I am mystified. But, I also question whether or not the protesters (more like terrorists since they are carrying around weapons) were paid to stir up trouble as a way to distract us from the shenanigans going on in DC. I pray these folks don’t really want others to die because they want to be able to get their nails done or their hair cut.
I am grieving what appears to be the loss of sanity and reason. I grieve for those who have lost loved ones to this virus. Yes, our way of life has changed, but we have to unite not divide over the way our leaders have tried to wrangle an unprecedented for our life situation. We must stand together to get through this or it will just take that much longer.
My youngest daughter has been ill for the past two weeks. Her fever has been up and down for 12 days. She is entirely miserable. Fortunately, some of the symptoms are subsiding and she doesn’t have any lung issues. She stayed home except for riding her bike or taking a walk…always alone. One of her four housemates decided it was not essential to keep at home. She also invited non-residents into their home on numerous occasions. This housemate didn’t care if she exposed the others. She apparently doesn’t care if her friends get the virus from my daughter, because she is still having people over. As Keili’s mother, I am furious about the stupidity and lack of caring that caused my child to be infected and forced to endure what she described as a combination of Mono, the worst flu ever, and getting hit by a Mack truck.
Yes, folks are grieving over the changes in our way of life. But we still have our lives. Think about those who don’t and the loved ones left behind. We are all in the same canoe. We must all paddle together to get to the other side of the pandemic. We must all be respectful and caring about each other. We cannot lose our humanity.
Be well, be strong, and be safe.
Shirley
Mahalo to Marc Szeg for the great photo.
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