We have learned from Covid-19
By Tom Ehrich
Signs that a new day is dawning:
My wife got her first Covid-19 vaccine shot when a spot opened at CVS. (I got my two shots last month as an EMT.)
A colleague in Chatham Dems came by the house with a ballot petition for me to sign. Yes, she and I were masked and distanced. But six months ago, this visit wouldn’t have happened.
The president of Tri-Village Fire Company announced that we will resume in-person monthly meetings – still masked, still distanced, but together for the first time in many months.
Local children are back in school. Teachers are being vaccinated. It still feels tentative, but at least it is happening. Parents are relieved.
Out in Texas, where a macho governor has decided to ignore reality in order to show himself relevant, our middle son and his wife have been vaccinated and our grandchildren are in school. The sane majority who pay no attention to Governor Abbott are maintaining precautions.
Our oldest son is bringing his family over for lunch today. I can envision resuming weekend overnight visits. Our youngest son and his girlfriend are planning extended stays with us this summer.
In virus-shattered New York City, a friend’s husband is planning the new restaurant he will open when pandemic restrictions are lifted.
These are small steps, but important. We had our confidence shaken by the pandemic, by the insane responses of former leaders, and by anti-mask, anti-science partygoers. Now we see sanity in some high places, and a year of sacrificing and being careful is paying off.
There is much to learn:
First, we can modify our behavior to deal with a crisis. Our incompetent leaders might be stuck, but the people adapted. It was difficult. But we heeded the warnings and set aside “normalcy.”
Second, we did it together. Not everyone, of course. The thoughtless and selfish are always among us. But empty streets, masked shoppers, distanced pedestrians, musicians playing from balconies, and Zoom-istas discovering new ways to meet, do business, rehearse music, connect with friends and family – proved that we could act in “unum.”
Third, medicine and science ruled. No one paid attention to the anti-science, anti-medicine posturing of our president. People waited for Dr. Fauci to speak. They waited patiently for pharmaceutical science to produce professionally vetted vaccines. And then, except for a grotesque few line-jumpers, they waited their turn, following the advice of medical science.
Fourth, medical professionals and schoolteachers became the heroes. Sure, the rich got richer, as they always do in a war or emergency. But it was hospital staffs whom the people were applauding. No matter what nonsense the feckless Secretary of Education spouted, parents were in awe of teachers who learned how to instruct and nurture online.
Fifth, we all learned why emergency workers walk to the danger, rather than run, shriek in alarm, look for cameras, fight over precedence, hold press conferences to avoid going into the blaze, and make promises they can’t keep. The response to danger requires maturity, calm, training and teamwork.
Finally, we learned once again that gratitude should be our guide. Not self-interest, not an eye to profit, certainly not scoring partisan points. Gratitude, saying “Thanks” in the knowledge that we rely on those who do the next right thing.