April 7, 2020
History shows that people tend to come together during times of crisis or disaster. Take the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 for example. Lives were lost, but men and women lined up to enlist in the military. The president declared a war on terror. Americans held hands and lifted each other up. Hope over fear.
People tend to be resilient, though I think that is because we rely on each other when we need it most. Fear is a major player here.
For the past few weeks, Americans have dealt with a rise in fear which brought up the great toilet paper rush of 2020 and mass quarantine.
Before that, millions of people from other countries were fighting the virus we are now.
While some brush it off like it is no big deal, others are genuinely fearful for their lives. However, this large-scale panic is actually important, because it reveals a huge issue that people everywhere are dealing with.
People are not coming together in times of crisis like they used to.
The virus tends to be more severe for the elderly population. But everywhere I go, there seems to be some millennial preaching that the virus is not scary, because it is not deadly to them. What about their families? Their parents?
People are being arrested at Walmarts across the country, fighting for resources that they should not have to worry about because it is not necessary to stock up. The world is not ending. This is not the apocalypse.
The people who are not worried laugh about the virus through memes on social media, and those who are afraid scold those that laugh.
Mayors, governors and our president are enlisting ways to cut down on the spread of coronavirus, but there is always someone cursing at their screens and devices, believing these officials do not have the power or should not have the power to do what they are doing.
The stock market is struggling, jobs are on the line and people are being laid off as if civilization is not going to survive. Tensions are rising because of it, and people are not getting along.
Coronavirus, whether you believe it is a big issue or not, should still be taken seriously because of the reactions to it and the way people respond.
Regardless of your beliefs, if you think it is necessary to quarantine in large quantities or not, it is still important to help others and lift each other up.
Stop fighting with people at supermarkets over simple resources that other people need. Save some for those who need it. Care for and about the elderly or those at higher risk. Keep spirits high through laughter and memes if necessary but try to comfort those who are not laughing. Be skeptical of our politicians and check them always, but trust in the system that protects our freedoms. Do what you can for our markets but protect yourself and your neighbors.
Come together and do not fall apart.