Searching for Positivity in A World of Gloom and Doom
There are many heroes in this fight. This week honors the essential workers and healthcare workers on the front lines in the fight against coronavirus. I am truly thankful for all of those that go to work, risking their lives for the health of our great country and worldwide. Also, the teachers that are adapting their lesson plans to a virtual format and making special trips to their young students to help them grasp a new concept. To the parents who are juggling working from home, while also taking on educating their children. And last but not least, the 330 Americans who are doing their civic duty and honoring the stay at home orders, even though it is becoming increasingly difficult.
The economic impact of this pandemic has also been well-documented. Twenty-five million Americans have lost their jobs, the most since the Great Depression in the 1930's. Thousands of small businesses without customers are facing financial ruin.
People have altered their entire way of life and now huddle inside their homes and apartments. Every form of public entertainment from concerts to movie theaters have closed. Yet, the American people have been stalwart in an unprecedented way in making sacrifices to curb the virus.
The issue that I have with this current state of affairs lies with the information and message that the public servants and the media relentlessly feed the American public--unending scare tactics and gloom and doom. I can’t find nary the slightest glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
I watched a doctor interviewed on CNN who proclaimed that it would be unsafe to stop social distancing for the next three years. Dr. Fauci warns that if we stop social distancing before the Fall it will result in a new wave. Everywhere you look there are frightening stories which drives the anxiety level of a viewer through the roof.
The headline in today's New York Times reads "Opening Too Soon Poses Deadly Risk...Markets Are Rattled as Health Experts Veer From President's Optimism". Media is posing a mental health threat to their viewers and readers, who all understood the dangers within the first week.
We have seen the terrifying projection of deaths, but what we haven’t been told is how we are measuring a successful flattened curve or what metric we need to see in order to feel safe and loosen quarantine parameters. Why can’t that information be shared? Is it zero coronavirus cases or deaths? Is it months after that to prevent a recurrence?
The devastation to the lives of millions of people who don't have the virus and never will get the virus gets scant weight in the court of public opinion. Losing everything someone has worked for their entire lives which feeds their families, the depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, hunger, and despair of all of the law-abiding citizens who have been doing their part doesn't seem to factor in the equation.
Of course safety is the number one concern. But stepping outside of the house or getting behind the wheel entails risk. Millions of people die each year from diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc. Where is the context with how this virus has impacted the country? We need unbiased, inquisitive journalism in order to be properly informed.
President Franklin Roosevelt rallied the United States to accept the challenges of the Great Depression with these inspiring words, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Where is our inspiration today? Where are our leaders who are our beacon of encouragement and positivity? Where are the journalists challenging the status quo?
It is time to and get back in touch with our hard-working American roots to benefit the greatest good.
CHA
4 年Excellent summary and choice of words. It is very unfortunate that there is not a unified message for citizens from our national leadership - seems as if there are 330 million different ways of assessing the current state of affairs and how to operate forward within it. Perhaps someone could recruit a Dolly Parton and a LeBron James to pair up for PSA's and videos, written with a Sesame Street mentality, going over what we know about the virus, plus protection and social basics that we can all agree on regardless of party, race, or status. Make it "cool" for more people to look out for one another as we move forward.
Ma. Licensed Optician and Professional Optical Instructor.
4 年Leigh, I have followed your successful career for decades, first as an agent, then I believe working in upper management for a major league team. My idea for changing the luscious game of hard ball consists of 2 phases that will draw a younger audience and, hopefully,? make the game much mire exciting. 1) game is played traditional manner for 8 innings.? 2) 6th inning, home run derby, 3 batters each team, 3 swings each. 1 pitcher only from other side . Pitcher isdues 4 balls batter moves to first.? 3) on to 7th inning and traditional game commences. 4) Finally, if game goes into xtra innings, after the 10th, Here comes the home run derby again. The difference here is that although for each extra inning, team's at bat will have 9 swings, team has option whether to use just 1 hitter or 2 or 3. Pitcher allows BOB, aby team member can stand at first for better optics. Obviously, a hiitter could hit a 2crun homer, etc.
Organizational and Business development consultant who ROCKS THE HOUSE!!
4 年Excellent article and well made need for enthusiasm in our nation. I am very concerned about the amount of money and distribution of the stimulus packages. I hope that we can get our economy moving forward while maintain a safety and healthy focus. I con hope as well that our Medical and Scientific Professionals identify and produce a vaccine and medications to control this virus. The USA and its people have responded well to the new evolving regulations to reduce the incidences but now we need to accomplish the same thing while we rebuild our economy, Putting people back to work and providing them with the opportunity to prosper and be productive is a necessity. During the Great Depression we experienced a social deprivation, As a Nation we needed to have something to believe in and once we started to we became stronger for it. We need to accomplish this now and we all need to make the USA better together. Throughout our history we have been a reactionary society and we are doing the same thing right now. We have proven that we can rally around the needs of the new regulations and we have taken on the new challenges of developing plans and procedures so that we will not face another pandemic without being better prepared for our future. We now need to work together to move our country forward and make the effort to face this opponent head on. The opponent of making the right decision by having the appropriate information and in spite of the obstacles we will pursue our liberties and freedom together. Changing government rules and regulations occurs because of the uncertainty for the future. No one wants to put lives at risk. This is a constant in everyday life that some of the professionals people choose to pursue present risks. Today we are sharing in these risks and we are attempting to control these risks by taking action. Do we want to accept the reality and move forward with the understanding risks are a part of life? Blaming anyone is not the objective but solving the dilemma is. A Stimulus package that is tied to the prosperity of the Nation and managed to have an positive impact improving the stability of our Nation is a great ROI. Maybe we need to restart our Government Savings Bonds program to raise the interest in investing in the USA. Use some of these resources to assist States and the Federal Government to finance their future budgets not just looking for bailouts. Let's G0!