Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
Coronavirus
Hopalong:
--- Quote ---I really wish that every government in every country would bring in legislation so that anything that's produced has to be sustainable, no risk to health (known risk, anyway) and that everyone involved has to be paid properly. I know it would make things more expensive but how much of what we all buy is really necessary? And what could we get second hand instead, or just make do with something else?
--- End quote ---
Totally in sync with that, Tupp, every word.
I think if this view doesn't take a huge bite out of Western consumerism/materialism/statusism and FAST, historians will look back and say, if only they'd accepted what was necessary to save it all. Then they'll put their futuristic gas masks back on and go back to work in their bunkers, pondering our foolishness.
hugs
Hops
Hopalong:
Even though I started that Hax thread, I figure these two belong here. I just love her directness with language, maybe that's why I'm a fan! Hugs--Hops
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Dear Carolyn: I've been sheltering in place for nine months now, venturing out only to the grocery store, pharmacy and a monthly haircut (in masks always). With the spike in infections and deaths, I decided not to join family from four households for Thanksgiving. I got a lot of negative feedback about my decision and feel really bad about it.
I'm scheduled to host Christmas this year — and family members are telling me they won't follow my desires for separation and the like. Am thinking I ought to pull out from hosting.
Your thoughts about all of this?
— Over 65, Overweight, With Underlying Condition
Over 65, Overweight, With Underlying Condition: Yes, cancel Christmas.
I am sorry for that.
I am sorry for your past nine months of restricted living.
I am sorry your people are acting like toads when all they have to do to show their love is assure you they’d rather have you around for a long and fulfilling life than get their way for one stupid day.
I am sorry I called Christmas stupid.
But, wow.
I hope the toadishness is really that they all miss you and are upset they won’t spend time with you and are just saying this badly.
Keep exercising your freedom in service of community health and against recklessness. Heroism wears a mask and follows guidelines and cancels group Christmas and stands up to the misinformed. Thank you for being brave.
Dear Carolyn: What is the appropriate response to guilt-tripping from an elderly mother who frequently says she'll "probably die from something else" before covid is over and it is safe to visit again?
— Anonymous
Anonymous: “I’m doing my part to make sure that doesn’t happen, by keeping my distance now. For us and for all the people like us.
“I do hear you, Mom. This is awful.”
Then in lieu of re-litigating this with her, simply commit to, recommit to, double-down on all of the other means you have available to you to remain connected. All of which are clearly poor substitutes for a hug, but they’re something.
Few can be perfect here, but most can improve . . . something. And the more people behave better, the sooner we all see one another. Everyone. It’s on us to remain as compassionate as we are resolute.
Twoapenny:
I have to admit, Hopsie, this is the stuff I don't understand - I get someone who is vulnerable to the virus getting annoyed with people who don't take precautions. I can't get my head around fit and healthy people getting angry with someone who's trying to avoid dying from it? Particularly as things like Thanksgiving and Christmas are supposed to be about celebrating life and sharing with people. It kind of boggles my mind that people get angry with folk who are trying to stay alive (and who've made big sacrifices like that lady has - I expect she wants nothing more than to spend a day with the people she cares about but the risk for her would be great). I just don't understand how that works in someone's mind. I hope she's able to stand firm and keep herself safe. It makes me glad I fell out with all of my relatives years ago so there's no expectation to see anyone xx
Hopalong:
Boggles my mind too, Tupp.
Here, it's basically because not half the population but half of the half who bothered to vote have actually fallen into a state of brainwashed, anti-science, anti-masking cult-like behavior, under the spell of a master-manipulator socio(if not psycho-)path malignant narcissist who's brought out the depravity of desperately alienated people who feel disenfranchised (for some very justified reasons, but this ain't the solution). It's pretty horrifying and has everything to do, imo, with lousy education, economic deserts, and American myths of rugged individualism and exceptionalism. Add to that legit layers of mistrust of government (from Viet Nam to Ruby Ridge), general disenchantment. And a massive, massive, misinformation deluge from "social" media plus internet and cable TV stupidity plus cynicism and pure greed, and abandonment of communal ideals.
So their politicians have utterly sold their souls, and the core base believers are ready to kill and die (kill other Americans including family, die themselves) and are no longer amenable to education and critical thinking. The TV/internet koolaid is all the way through their brains and it's f-ing tragic. Some of them have convinced themselves it's religious freedom, too, which is so off the mark Jesus would weep.
And also killing the helpless around them. One expert said, everybody should simply assume that they themselves and everyone else are asymptomatic carriers until adequate vaccination has been accomplished (late summer probably, unless mistrust of science and government = enough mask refusal to extend the pandemic longer). It's that simple. Masking consistently, serious 20-second handwashing/sanitizing after every "unsafe touch" and remaining 6' (better 8 or 10) feet from people not in one's household or confirmed-safe "pod."
Three things. Not easy things, but very simple things. That take effort, trust in reality/science, and common sense. Reality is our friend.
It's just insane, but America has been going through some insanity. Horribly sad. (The U.K. too, I think Brexit has represented a similar catharsis of resentment.)
It's going to be a long grind, and I wonder if another Great Depression is next. But living day to day determined to feel wonder and happiness in some form, is still available.... I guess Keep Calm and Carry On is going to be back in vogue.
hugs
Hops
Twoapenny:
There is happiness to be found, Hopsie, and I am trying really hard to focus on that and not too much on the other stuff just now. Easier said than done, some days. One of our TV celebrity type people was saying back in the summer that restrictions should be lifted, as no-one he knew had the virus. It's just been announced that his brother died from it yesterday. I do see parallels between this and the 'invisible disability' issues that many people face. You don't look sick, so you shouldn't have disability benefits/a parking badge/allocated seating or whatever. I think there are similarities - people feel fine (or feel unwell but no more than a cold) so they find it hard to understand the risk. I don't think we're conditioned to think of others the way we ought to? I guess that's a global thing, not just here. But people seem happy for at risk people to stay home alone indefinitely so they don't have to change their habits. I can understand it. We're not used to being asked to put other people's needs before our own (apart from the codependent among us, maybe? Lol). But it's gone on a looooong time now. Everyone's patience is wearing thin, whichever side of the fence they sit on. I've just had a nice nap. That's my high spot for the day just now :) xx
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