This pandemic is directly affecting our healthcare, economic, and social systems in ways that we could’ve never imagined a year ago. The process of surviving the coronavirus will have lasting effects on how our society functions on every level — from the way we relate to other people and our governing bodies. I understand if your default reaction is fear, isolation, anger, blame, selfishness, or outright panic. You may be facing financial hardship; your living situation may be threatened, or you may not be able to be with your loved ones or continue working and providing value in the way you’ve been doing for most of your life.
Whatever is happening to you is not the fault of any individual or ethnic group. If anything, it is the fault of our ruling parties in the speed of their response time and their personal tendencies to avoid, diminish, and release themselves from responsibility. Anger, blame and defining people as “other” than yourself is not only dangerous but dishonest. All of these reactions are rooted in fear and a need to control the unknown. We are not separate in this struggle, we are not separate in the issues we’re experiencing, or the emotions we’re reckoning with. If anything, this pandemic should be bringing us together, not tearing us apart.
I have no judgment if you’re using COVID-19 to justify any of these behaviors…
