Pandemic

A Free and Fair Election

~ debsthoughts

A Free and Fair Election is what the American people deserve, however, will it happen? Your guess is as good as mine. But a free and fair election is what democracy is built on. So a free and fair election is what we are counting on today — election day, 2020.

Optimism

I woke up feeling optimistic; I admit, this is unusual for me lately. I’m going to listen to my gut today and rejoice over the possibility that the ugly, horrible, immoral humans occupying the People’s House will soon be somewhere/anywhere else. If they lose they will not lose with dignity, that’s for sure. There will be lies (obviously) and conspiracy theories from them and the far right extremists. I pray there will not be violence, but if there is, it will be the current president’s responsibility. And since he only knows how to pour gasoline on the fiery chaos that he alone creates, it won’t be pretty. But this is:

Peak Fall Colors

The Pandemic Politicized

Fall in Michigan has provided intense color and beauty. While natural disasters are occurring far and wide, including political strife around every turn, no one expected 2020 to bring a global pandemic as well. I had a horrible gut feeling way back on New Year’s Eve 2019 that 2020 would be very difficult from a political standpoint, not knowing a pandemic was on the horizon. However, the current president and his cronies have politicized the pandemic and are now pretending like it’s over, even though the numbers of cases and deaths are on the rise. The majority of us accept the fact that nothing the president says is likely to be true, but far too many of his loyal supporters do. That has been perhaps the most disheartening thing to witness during these trying times. Critical thinking skills are lacking in far too many people.

Of course, I admit I would cherish the thought that the pandemic is no big deal, that the worst is behind us, that a fully tested, proven safe, and peer-reviewed vaccine is coming soon. I’d also like to believe I’m still 30 years old and have my whole life ahead of me to take any career path I desire. But I choose to be a realist and not live in daily denial, even when it’s really hard.

Goodbye Leaves, is it a Sign?

Peak fall colors have become a memory. November 3rd is here and I think it’s a sign that the leaves are nearly gone. Perhaps a new leader will be overwhelmingly voted into power today. Imagine . . .

Fall leaves disappearing

Leaves, going going…gone.

A Country in Need of Healing

This country needs time for healing. There has been a lot of human suffering since this administration took control of the People’s House. Lots of emotional and physical suffering has occurred and will continue for a long while. If the polling is accurate at all, Joe Biden will become the 46th president of the United States. If he, and his stellar choice of a VP candidate, win this historic campaign, they will have their work cut out for them. The damage done has been astronomical and will take years to clean up and make right again. Especially the racial divisions that have risen to the surface under 45’s racist team of ‘advisers.’

First Order of Business – Dealing with the Pandemic

The racial divide has brought out the worst of the worst in us, and that will be a difficult challenge for a new administration to take on. But the first challenge is saving American lives, which will not be easy by any means. It will require a national mandate that we know will not go over well with the covid-deniers in our midst. If only we’d had a national plan back in January, we could already be on the other side of the worst of it. Potentially hundreds of thousands of lives might have been saved.

Praying for a Peaceful Transition of Power

But these are empty words. All that matters today is #VOTE. I pray for a peaceful transition of power. I pray for red states, like Texas and Florida to turn blue as an historic sign that goodness will prevail in America. There will be evil in this world, however, it should not be leading our country. And it, like the leaves of Fall, will soon be . . . going, going, gone. I feel it in my gut.

How to Care for Others While Surviving a Pandemic

~ debsthoughts

March 13th, 2020 was the day the Covid19 virus officially became a pandemic. Schools closed immediately with little notice to children, parents, or teachers. We are in our seventh week of staying at home except for occasional food or essentials shopping trips. I’m one of millions of sewers making masks. I do this because I am able and because it feels like something helpful and worthwhile during a time that I feel anxious most days. Wearing even a fabric handmade mask feels comforting even though we know they are not the best form of protection.

This virus is new and scientists are doing what scientists do – they are studying and researching and testing to discover what makes it tick. Unfortunately, a few months of research does not provide enough understanding to develop vaccines or cures. This much is known: It is highly contagious and spreading fastest when large groups of people are in close proximity to one another. Therefore, staying at home is wise. It’s not good for the economy though. But neither is masses dying in a short period of time.

People everywhere are exhausted and tired of staying home. We all want to return to some sense of normal. The economy is suffering greatly and business owners are going broke. Which means much of the population is also going broke. So, what are our options? Get mad? Say, ‘Screw it! I’m not wearing a mask! I’m done with this nonsense!’ Protest and call it ‘marshal law?’ Ignore all the experts’ advice? Believe it’s all a hoax?

I’m seeing people do all those things and it is extremely disturbing. Listening to a president who suggests bazaar made-up treatments/cures, like injecting disinfectants to ‘clean’ the insides of a sick person is terrifying. It’s terrifying because people need something to cling to and some will believe the mad man’s insane ravings. Please don’t.

Since March 13th our world and society as we know it has vanished. Are these the end times? Some choose to believe it is. Some of those same people are complaining a lot about hoaxes and fake news. I do wonder if they truly believe God created Fox News as the only truth they can trust. It really boils down to folks wanting to believe something so badly, they align themselves with a source that agrees with their bias – confirmation bias. It’s natural and we all have one. The trick is to recognize it and notice when you feel it. Here’s an example: People deeply want to believe this virus is nothing but the flu, is not nearly as contagious as we’ve been told, or is purely a hoax, voila! Lucky for them their news source of choice just confirmed it!

But there are indisputable facts. This is a brand new virus, undiscovered till recently, with unknown characteristics. It’s not ‘just the flu.’ This thing causes its victims to essentially suffocate and die alone. But the unknowns are many: Is the incubation period truly 14 days? Is it an airborne disease? Is it possible that some of our immune systems already know how to beat it? Is ‘herd immunity’ occurring? We just don’t know because it’s too early to tell.

Confirmation bias is innate and in all of us. God gave each of us a brain to critically examine information. Some of us are more inclined than others to practice critical thinking. It’s natural for each of us to lean toward information that aligns with our desires and beliefs. It also boils down to living in denial, ironically. Deny all truths that do not agree with our beliefs, even if it isn’t logical because it makes us feel better. Don’t we all want to feel better? It’s not helpful though, in the long run. Especially when it divides groups of people, even family and friends. Pointing fingers at each other when we disagree and shouting ‘fake news’ will get society nowhere fast.

I’m tired of all this too. We all are. Like it or not, we ARE all in this together. We are in it for the long haul, until we understand more about this virus and its characteristic behavior. Listen to the experts. Stay home. Wear a mask when you’re not home. These are ways we can express love and show respect for one another. To not shake hands, to not hug right now, these are not signs of fear, they are signs of caring for others. Let’s do that. Let’s care more for each other while taking care of ourselves. And remember to breathe and look up.