We
are living in a perilous time. A time that people before us experienced that
they thought it was the end of the world. At least, we can pass down this
information to the grandchildren and future relatives. The likes of the Black Plague, Ebola, Influenza,
Pneumonia, SARS, MERS, Measles and the Chicken Pox, to name a few were contagious
diseases and viruses that changed the face of the world. Now in America, we are
facing with the same outlook as the African, Asian and European countries did. Do
not forget Mad Cow, even HIV/Aids has taken a leave of absence since this new
Coronavirus/Covid-19 has reared its nasty face. Our leadership does not know
how to deal with it and change their speech every time they’re in front of the
cameras.
Ebola,
Influenza and others have left an ugly mark on America. Not too many contagious
diseases have ever shut America down and left so many citizens hoarding hand sanitizers, toilet paper and depleting grocers of most perishable items.
Covid-19 sounds so scientific. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that
cause respiratory illnesses. This virus is related to SARS and MERS. Not much
is known about it, but we do know that it spreads fast, quick and in a hurry. Every
state has people sick and deaths since Covid-19 had made its entry. People that
has never left the country or been in contact with any carriers are getting it.
This is major concern and it is causing Americans to panic.
We
may come together when things get tough but in the grocery store, it’s every
man for himself. We push, shove and force our ways to get the last remaining
packages of toilet paper and paper towels. Grocery stores within a 7 mile radius
from the center of the city are out of toilet paper, paper towels and even
gallon bottles of water. The bread and meat aisle in some stores are empty.
Grocers are limiting shoppers but they are finding ways to return and still stock
up.
This
shut down is affecting businesses, restaurants, schools, etc., that are closing
to protect their employees and the customer, but how can the employees get paid?
Schools are closed and lunches are available for those children that cannot
afford it. America is willing to spend trillions of dollars to fight this virus
but cannot see just how poor so many Americans are. If this much money is spent
on combating this awful disease in cures and protection for the medical
responders, why can’t this much money be spent for the homeless and those that
are struggling to live a normal life? American livelihood will never be the
same. When churches close from fear of spreading this virus among its members,
it tells us a lot about our fears of who is in control. I suggest that we better start looking towards the hills where I help comes from.
We
should have always washed our hands and stayed home from work when we were
sick. People needed the money and had to work. Unfortunately, they passed the
germs to their coworkers. What can a employee do if the company does not pay
for sick leave? They go to work. Curfews, martial law, who knows what is next.
You are in my prayers
Dorothy and Harold.
