COVID, guns and children
I know this won't be very coherent and not many will likely see it anyway. But I'm compelled to share a thought tugging at my brain all night, unable to sleep, as I read commentary about COVID and our societal and systemic reaction to it.
Indeed, COVID and pandemics in general seem to be our new normal. Our systems and we as a society need to adjust accordingly.
I understand the argument coming from across the political spectrum that we can't shut down forever or even frequently. I also understand the concern regarding schools that there is a toll on children and families when schools go virtual. Granted, if we lived in a more compassionate society, many of the negative consequences occurring wouldn't need to happen if schools go to remote learning periodically (food insecurity issues, neglect, etc.).
During crises, I always think of the children first. As a grandmother to a toddler who can't get vaccinated, the children are VERY much on my mind with COVID. In my mind, their physical safety is always paramount. How can we nurture them so they can thrive, not merely survive, if their physical well-being is in constant danger because economics are at the forefront of conversations rather than their physical safety?
"Yes, some kids will die. Some teachers will die. Families and first responders and healthcare personnel will be forever changed as a result of the tragedies. But businesses need to stay open and I need to live my life. Not enough people in our country will do the right thing, and there's not a damn thing we can do about it at this point."
And that type of commentary about COVID mirrors our national nightmare and conversation about gun violence in schools and neighborhoods.
I don't know the answer but it is absolutely pathetic that so many just give up and accept the deaths of innocent children and the devastation of families and communities (from both COVID and guns, and now add immediate impacts of climate change) with the shrug of our collective shoulders. I also realize none of this is new. Children living in the least resourced areas of this country and the world have always been neglected and even sacrificed at the altar of $$$ and white supremacy.
But it feels like the voices raging against this needless, growing suffering get smaller and smaller in the face of the enormity of it all.
The magnitude of these challenges make it so hard for individuals to maintain hope; I'm one of them. Sure we can each do our best but these are huge challenges that don't have the luxury of time to change hearts and minds one by one.
I know what all is stacked against good leaders who are trying to do the right thing, not the least of which is a profit-driven media only interested in ratings, and a full-on cult of ignorance and hatred here in the US.
But SURELY they can figure out a more effective strategy. We are living in a new, increasingly dangerous normal, and leadership needs to adjust accordingly to not only save democracy but to save our children RIGHT NOW.
And, at the very least, we can always keep the safety of children in mind as the priority as we discuss things like COVID and not parrot insensitive statements like "I need to get on with my life."
= new reply since forum marked as read
