I’ll admit, my desire to devour various news sources and sort through the muck in order to form some kind of loose opinion on the subject of COVID is waning. Day to day life is happening around here, whether I’m present for it or not. My need to have my head buried in articles and my anxiety level at an unproductive high is diminishing. This doesn’t mean I’ve turned a blind eye to the topic, as it’s very much a part of my life whether I want it to be or not, and there is a level of responsibility as an adult living through this era to be informed.
Part of my diminishing enthusiasm is due to the change in evidence that COVID may not be as fatal as we once thought, now that testing is slowly becoming more wide spread. However, testing, also has its own problems, and there’s room for error with it as well as the interpretation of the data we get from this. Statistics are a sticky game. It’s far too easy to take them and manipulate the numbers one way or another. This is not to say that COVID is to be downplayed at all, but that there is hope it’s not as bad as we thought as we test more of the population. It’s such a mixed bag and the media is loving the sensationalism of it. They are thriving off of us all being hooked to find out the latest and greatest of news. Those of us who once were passive followers, now can’t wait to open the next juicy article that will help solidify the opinion we’ve already formed.
I can have an opinion on anything, but how strongly I cling to that opinion is telling. I’ve seen the issue of the pandemic become a political war. I’ve seen people pin the other side as only caring about money and greed and the other arguing that we are selling our soul to the government and freedom should come above all else. These opinions must be heard, as with many others, but I believe the answer lies somewhere in the middle. And with any opinion, we must hold it loosely in light of new knowledge and be ready to constantly put it to the test.
My own opinions on the topic have changed as new evidence and developments have been made. We are learning more everyday and if this doesn’t force a pause to re-evaluate our stance or modify it, we are not a part of the solution. The common humanity is lost, when we think that one party is motivated by hate and we hold them in contempt. It’s simply not true. I have friends that hold strong beliefs on both sides of this issue, which it feels odd to even write “both sides.” A pandemic is dynamic, there should not be two sides! There should be one, team human race, working through the introduction of devastation we weren’t prepared for.
My friends are NOT the exception. I have compassion for them and the desire to hear their views, and this should not be the end of the conversation. The people I don’t know that hold similar views are just as real as my friends I’m able to still love and care for, despite a difference of opinion. If we sat down together, there is no way I would call them selfish, greedy, or tell them that their fear is misplaced and misguided.
The human experience for each of us is real and it builds from our current and past experiences. These experiences look different for all of us, which can be a good thing! It can be the way we find our way out! If we open our ears and minds and close our mouths to listen, we’ll find that at the root of it all, we share a common ground. We all want what’s best. Most are coming from a place of love, if we listen long enough to hear it. Once this thread of humanity is found, we can have the productive conversations on how we go about doing what’s best and from a place of love together.
The common phrase, “strong convictions, loosely held,” is the only way we can go forward in this time of uncertainty.
I have many concerns and opinions surrounding COVID where I’m adhering to this concept. The issues brought up by both ends of the political spectrum, do need to be addressed. I have very real concerns about the effects of the economic downfall; how this will effect the ability for families to pay their bills, put food on the table, supply issues, the effects of mental health, the deaths that result from this. I have concerns about the effects of isolation: loneliness, mental health, abuse within homes, a lack of socialization. I have concerns about education; how effective is distanced learning, parents are struggling to work and teach. I think about how much power should be in the hands of the people vs. the government. How much freedom is appropriate to sacrifice in the name of protection? I continue to wonder about the full extent of this virus’s capabilities. What does its introduction truly mean for us globally? How fatal is it if we could collect and analyze reliable data at a massive scale? I have concerns about the timeline. When and how do we re-open? What will or should be forever changed? How do we hold the safety of the people in balance?
I think believing you have all of the answers to these questions is a fallacy. I think disagreeing with our political leaders and the ability to question them is healthy, but picking on them like a bully on a playground is not. It’s time to grow up and that means knowing how to communicate effectively, develop solutions, and move forward.
Stay home. Stay safe. Have strong convictions, loosely held.