Standing Alone

"It's easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone." Mahatma Gandhi

As we age we sometimes more clearly remember what happened fifty, sixty or seventy years ago than what happened just yesterday. When I was in my pre-teen and teen years, I remember my father telling me to think for myself, to avoid just following the crowd, to do what is right, not what is popular or trendy. Probably good advice! But it is difficult to stand apart, to search for truth, to evaluate and to think critically rather than blindly following the mob. Being alone, standing up for what one believes to be right, poses risks. John F. Kennedy, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Jesus often stood alone. What was their reward? Vilification, assassination, jailing or all of the above.

There are other times when we must find the "right" crowd to follow. That time is now! The right crowd is "social distancing". We can be macho, pretend that we are invincible. Covid 19 doesn't kill everyone. In fact, most people who have it don't even know. Perhaps that is what makes it so dangerous. I can feel perfect, absolutely healthy, certain that I am not carrying and spreading the disease. Yet I can be dead wrong.

I want to hug my grandchildren, my father, my mother, my son, my daughter, my best friends. What I want could be the hug or kiss of death for the persons I care for the most. So, I'll wait a little while, until the experts tell me it is safe.

I've seen some people poo-pooing social distancing and self isolation in emails, on Facebook and in the media. That's fine until they are responsible for the critical illness or even the death of someone they love. We don't want that to happen.

If we think this is not serious, we should read the history of the pandemic of 1918, which in reality, lasted for over two years. It started in the spring of 1918, subsided for the summer, came back with a vengeance in the autumn of 1918, then lasted for all of 1919 and part of 1920. So many people died, the head count is in dispute, but 50 million deaths as a result of the pandemic is a close estimate. More people died from the Spanish flu in those years than were slaughtered in the disastrous First World War.

So, when we want to hug someone, or shake their hands, let's think about it. Let's not be selfish. Let's observe what the front line health care workers are experiencing.

Let's listen to the experts.

We're in this together.

We can beat this thing.

So let's stand together ----- alone ----- at least 6 feet apart!

I wish you physical, spiritual and mental peace, safety and health.

Gerald M. Sliva

Week 7 of Covid 19 crisis - May 3, 2020

P.S. This is a terrible time for people who are in financial trouble and need to get back to work. I hope to address this issue in another blog.

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