I feel somewhat embarrassed.

[CanuckTravlr]

In 1914 and 1917 my grandfather and his generation were called upon to potentially lay down their lives in the face of a great challenge. They responded in the millions. Then in 1918 many more millions suffered under the great 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

In 1939 and 1941 my father and the rest of the Greatest Generation, after suffering through the years of the Great Depression, were also called upon to potentially lay down their lives in the face of another great challenge to freedom. Again they responded in the millions.

Today, we are facing another potentially lethal challenge and we get people saying things such as it is nothing compared to the ordinary flu. Yet, if we are unable to stop or slow it, the death rate and ability of Covid-19 coronavirus to rapidly spread will make the effects of a normal flu season pale by comparison. We also have people complaining because they might have to cancel their trip or give up their vacation. And others lining up to hoard things like water and toilet paper!

No one is asking anyone to lay down their life this time, just to stay close to home for awhile and avoid public gatherings and hopefully slow and ultimately defeat this virus. I am glad my grandfather and father are not alive to see this conspicuous display of self-absorption and entitlement. I would be so embarrassed at the reaction of so many of my peers.

 

[heathpack]

I think this is going to be a hard thing for people to wrap their head around in modern western society, which is very much centered around the individual and individual freedom. It really requires a paradigm shift in thinking from “what’s good for me individually?” or “what do I want to do?” to “what’s the best for the society I’m living in?” or “what can I do for the greater good?”.

To be fair to people, they are not getting good information or solid messaging. People are hearing such a wide variety of info, ranging from “this is deadly serious” to “this is being over hyped”. People are not getting the message that limiting contact with others is their moral, ethical, patriotic (whatever) duty for the good of our society and that the population is the current concern over the individual.

And beyond that, *everything* needs to be politicized these days. If one side says X, some elements of the other side has to undermine the concept of X. And now people are trained to “mistrust the media” (as opposed to “think critically”) so there’s a whole element who just is resistant to staying informed because they hate the media.

It’s a mess but I think honestly if we started to just get some solid reliable consistent information and messaging, mindsets would shift. I know that folks have it within themselves to be selfless and watch out for the greater good, it’s actually part of human nature. Hopefully we as a country get out act together ASAP.

 

[Panina]

In 1914 and 1917 my grandfather and his generation were called upon to potentially lay down their lives in the face of a great challenge. They responded in the millions. Then in 1918 many millions suffered under the great 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

In 1939 and 1941 the Greatest Generation, after suffering through the years of the Great Depression, were also called upon to potentially lay down their lives in the face of another great challenge to freedom. Again they responded in the millions.

Today, we are facing another potentially lethal challenge and we get people saying things such as it is nothing compared to the ordinary flu. Yet, if we are unable to stop or slow it, the death rate and ability of Covid-19 coronavirus to rapidly spread will make the effects of a normal flu season pale by comparison. We also have people complaining because they might have to cancel their trip or give up their vacation. And others lining up to hoard things like water and toilet paper!

No one is asking anyone to lay down their life this time, just to stay close to home for awhile and avoid public gatherings and hopefully slow and ultimately defeat this virus. I am glad my grandfather and father are not alive to see this conspicuous display of self-absorption and entitlement. I would be so embarrassed at the reaction of so many of my peers.

Well said.

My parents survived the Holocaust. My moms family had to escape into the forest from Poland in the middle of the night. They lost their home, had no food, only the clothing on their backs. They were resilient. They migrated to Russia with the kindness of others. Meals in Russia were often one slice of bread and water downed soup and only once a day.

My dad was taken to the ghetto, escaped and fought in the underground. He often had limited food and slept on the ground in the snow. His family was wealthy and that was never restored. My father migrated to the US and worked in a factory and loved the US.

My others half parents lived in France. They had it better as they stood in their homes but food was scarce and they were often hungry.

For all of them Diseases were rampant but that was not their concern, getting murdered in the war was.

Here in the US we are told to stay home, to help other, be aware and many will not do because it is an inconvenience. As a society We are spoiled, not understanding that the sacrifices we have to make now are really minimal and can make a huge difference. No war, no starvation, no risk of being murdered and we are freaking out.

Yes, there is risk but we have choices, the freedom to make the right choices to make it better and minimize deaths.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Perhaps an appropriate time to revive a quote from the inspiring 1961 inaugural speech of President John F. Kennedy. "Ask not what your country can do for you...ask what you can do for your country."

 

[geekette]

Healthcare workers are our soldiers today. Anything we can do to support them is key. Watch their kids, do their chores, make sure they have safe passage to/from work, make sure they get sleep, advocate heavily for their being tested...

I'd like to see the richie rich rent floors of hotels near hospitals so there is sleep and shower near or, sadly, quarantine.

I'm sure we can come up with good ideas, things we can Actually Do to help. Donate to hospitals, they are going to have crazy high supply expenses and many people will not be able to pay their medical bills.

 

[pianodinosaur]

Gam zu yaavor, this too shall pass. Let us count our blessings.

 

[pedro47]

The real difference from 1918 and WWII are television, cable news 24/7 and the high speed internet. Information of the truth, the good, the bad and the ugly is now available in .0001 seconds 24/7.

We have witness JFK assignation on television, man going into space & returning, civil rights demonstrations, the melt down of the stock market, football, basketball and baseball games in real time, the Vietnam Conflict on television, the Cuban missile crisis, the election of an African American as President of the United States, the bull market of the stock market for over a decade, and in 2020 we can see and feel the spread of the deadly crises called the
Coronavirus playing out on television and the internet world wide. IMHO.

 

[MOXJO7282]

I think most are taking this seriously. What really upsets me is these people like the guy on JetBlue from FL to NY that knew he had the virus and still got on the plane. There are just too many of those people in this world I'm afraid.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Healthcare workers are our soldiers today. Anything we can do to support them is key. Watch their kids, do their chores, make sure they have safe passage to/from work, make sure they get sleep, advocate heavily for their being tested...

I'd like to see the richie rich rent floors of hotels near hospitals so there is sleep and shower near or, sadly, quarantine.

I'm sure we can come up with good ideas, things we can Actually Do to help. Donate to hospitals, they are going to have crazy high supply expenses and many people will not be able to pay their medical bills.

The healthcare workers issue hits home for myself and my family. My wife is a nurse who cares for immunodeficient patients in a special care facility.
She has no choice but to go into her facility every day. She is on the frontlines. They have already instituted temperature checks at entry and exit for every employee along with lockdown procedures for each separate area of her care facility - meaning normally the patients and the medical staff can move freely between the different wings of the facility (for those who are able). Effective this week no one can move between the wings - basically each wing is enforcing its own quarantine. They have also created a special quarantine area designed for anyone who tests positive.

It is scary stuff for all of us. Our healthcare workers have quickly become our first responders - they are now rushing in when everyone else is running away.

I have actually found myself thinking that it may be time to consider hitting the global reset button - much like Israel did in ancient times - every fiftieth year with the Jubilee when all private debt is forgiven and property is returned to rightful owners. Not sure the latter part makes much sense these days but the idea of canceling all private debt on a global basis - while it may sound like crazy talk at the moment - may become more reasonable in the coming weeks and months as this all unfolds. We may be forced to think outside the box when it comes to solutions to resolve the coming economic crisis.

A lot of the old adages come to mind as to how to behave. Love your neighbor as yourself. Practice random acts of kindness. Think outside the box.

I also agree with the sentiment that we are going to shift from an era of self centeredness toward a more community oriented era. There’s a couple of books I read many moons ago about this - The Fourth Turning comes readily to mind and is a good read on this generational shift for anyone interested.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CanuckTravlr]

I think most are taking this seriously. What really upsets me is these people like the guy on JetBlue from FL to NY that knew he had the virus and still got on the plane. There are just too many of those people in this world I'm afraid.

I agree with you. And the couple on the flight to Hawaii who first went to Maui and then on to Kauai knowing they were infected, but told no one, not even the healthcare staff that examined them in Maui. They endanger everybody they come in contact with and particularly the healthcare workers who try to help them. I hope there is a special place in hell for people like this. An appropriate treatment for them, IMO, is to isolate them in a locked room and provide them with basic food and water, but NO medical treatment. If they survive, then any pain and suffering is their penance. If they don't, no great loss to society.

 

[CanuckTravlr]

The healthcare workers issue hits home for myself and my family. My wife is a nurse who cares for immunodeficient patients in a special care facility.
She has no choice but to go into her facility every day. She is on the frontlines. They have already instituted temperature checks at entry and exit for every employee along with lockdown procedures for each separate area of her care facility - meaning normally the patients and the medical staff can move freely between the different wings of the facility (for those who are able). Effective this week no one can move between the wings - basically each wing is enforcing its own quarantine. They have also created a special quarantine area designed for anyone who tests positive.

It is scary stuff for all of us. Our healthcare workers have quickly become our first responders - they are now rushing in when everyone else is running away.

Respect and best wishes to you and your family and especially to your wife for her service in this battle. So many people forget, that it is not just themselves at risk if they get infected. It may not be a traditional war, but it is a war nevertheless. In this case the doctors, nurses, orderlies and support staff at hospitals and clinics are the front-line troops. May they all stay safe and healthy.

 

[Rolltydr]

In 1914 and 1917 my grandfather and his generation were called upon to potentially lay down their lives in the face of a great challenge. They responded in the millions. Then in 1918 many millions suffered under the great 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

In 1939 and 1941 the Greatest Generation, after suffering through the years of the Great Depression, were also called upon to potentially lay down their lives in the face of another great challenge to freedom. Again they responded in the millions.

Today, we are facing another potentially lethal challenge and we get people saying things such as it is nothing compared to the ordinary flu. Yet, if we are unable to stop or slow it, the death rate and ability of Covid-19 coronavirus to rapidly spread will make the effects of a normal flu season pale by comparison. We also have people complaining because they might have to cancel their trip or give up their vacation. And others lining up to hoard things like water and toilet paper!

No one is asking anyone to lay down their life this time, just to stay close to home for awhile and avoid public gatherings and hopefully slow and ultimately defeat this virus. I am glad my grandfather and father are not alive to see this conspicuous display of self-absorption and entitlement. I would be so embarrassed at the reaction of so many of my peers.

Thank you for reminding us of what it means to sacrifice for others for the greater good!

 

[bbodb1]

I agree with you. And the couple on the flight to Hawaii who first went to Maui and then on to Kauai knowing they were infected, but told no one, not even the healthcare staff that examined them in Maui. They endanger everybody they come in contact with and particularly the healthcare workers who try to help them. I hope there is a special place in hell for people like this. An appropriate treatment for them, IMO, is to isolate them in a locked room and provide them with basic food and water, but NO medical treatment. If they survive, then any pain and suffering is their penance. If they don't, no great loss to society.

Or, as was suggested elsewhere, feed them to the sharks. Let's see if COVID 19 can survive in that environment.
But back in our world, I hope charges are filed against that couple for endangering the public. Can you imagine being on that jury?

 

[CanuckTravlr]

Or, as was suggested elsewhere, feed them to the sharks. Let's see if COVID 19 can survive in that environment.
But back in our world, I hope charges are filed against that couple for endangering the public. Can you imagine being on that jury?

Feeding them to the sharks is an equally appropriate response!! Aside from the technicality of not being able to serve on that jury, since I am not a US citizen or resident, I would probably be disqualified. I don't think I could honestly answer the question as to whether I could keep an open and impartial mind if selected to serve! But I also hope they face some type of charges, as well as public shaming and shunning. Complete a**es!!

 

[b2bailey]

Gam zu yaavor, this too shall pass. Let us count our blessings.

Sitting in the hot tub with my Jewish next door neighbor, we reminded ourselves of this popular phrase used in both of our spiritual traditions.