Humanity and Reason

"Our humanity rests upon a series of learned behaviors, woven together into patterns that are infinitely fragile and never directly inherited."  Margaret Mead

It is here now, and that is confirmed, but it has probably been here a while.  It is in our county, in our cities, in our neighborhoods.  This is not just some far off crisis now.  This is our crisis.

When we face challenges as a society, as diverse as we are, it is a common goal or a common thread unites us, and holds us together.  In the most severe circumstances, humanity is the only common thread we have with each other.  

As a society, we are facing what seems to be a really big challenge.  And it will seem as though it will challenge the very freedoms we take for granted everyday.  

I am a father of 4.  I have nieces and a nephew.  I have family members that are in the risk catagory.  I get the desire in us to protect self and children.  I know how it feels to have that threatened by this situation.  While protection and provisions for our family reach back to a more primal sense of survival, it is the ability to reason that needs to prevail.  

So the requests by the government are reasonable.  Yes, it may seem like our freedom to protect and provide for is being threatened, and that scares us.  Yes, it means a different way of life for the near future.  It means times may get scarier.  Cases will rise, people will get sick, and there may be more deaths.  But we have a chance to really slow this virus down so it stays manageable.  I for one hope that all these precautions we are taking are for nothing.  But as long as there is a chance it isn't, we have to be ready.  Be prepared.  Know what to expect.

I know the sense of self preservation kicks in.  It is in our DNA.  I know there is a feeling of panic when we see empty store shelves.  This is where the ability to reason comes into play.  It looks like a shortage because it all came at once.  It looks like a shortage because many people are hoard shopping.  This rush will die down for a couple weeks because everyone is stocked up.  The stores will restock at that time.

While we are facing businesses closing, curfews, and basically a national lock down for the foreseeable future, reason has to be front and center.  This is for the good of the nation.  To protect those most vulnerable.  To stop our hospitals from becoming paralyzed.  If the hospital system crashes, it isn't just Coronavirus cases that will not get treated.  It will be heart attacks, strokes, broken legs, and other traumas as well.  This is not a removal of our freedoms.  This is to preserve the freedoms we have all taken for granted, in the long term.

Kids are home and safe.  Use this time to bond.  To learn how to function as a family again.  To talk.  To take time to just be a family.  Grocery stores will remain open, and while we won't be able to buy the mass quantities we want, we will be able to buy what we need.  Gas stations will still be open.  Banks will still be open.  You will have access to your money.

This will be a rough time for each of us.  This will be a rough time for our country.  Many parts of our culture and of our society may change.  But the steps being taken now are necessary to preserve our way of life for the long term.  Reason must prevail, even if it feels contrary to self preservation.  The sun will still shine.  Life will still go on.  And I for one am going to believe in humanity.  I am going to believe in the good that we have as a society.  I am going to believe that we as a nation will come out the other side of this, stronger and with a better understanding of our freedoms and our way of life, and just how fragile it is.

Be informed.  Be kind.  Listen to the experts.  Keep fear in check, and fight the urge to panic.  Love one another.  Listen to the voices of reason.  Remember your humanity.  Your stockpile of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and food you would never go through in a month will not save you from the effects of this, or from the virus itself.