Day 122

July 11, 2020 The news is the same when it comes to the pandemic.  The world grows increasingly desperate to stop the spread of the coronavirus as many countries and U.S. states which reopened have seen increases in new cases over the last week and with those cases comes increasing death totals.  As experts claim that a patient in a fatal case dies in a period of three to five weeks. The United States is further divided because mask wearing and reopening has become a partisan debate. Unbelievably there are still people in this  country who believe the pandemic is a hoax.  Those same people are refusing to wear masks.  Those same people are causing problems for all of us. The lack of government guidance or poor advice and modeling from the current administration is not helping matters.  President Trump has disconnected the states from the World Health Organization. He also has downplayed the virus from the start and has never once worn a mask. He has created a division between his followers and the rest of us concerned citizens who are doing our best to protect ourselves and others while supporting the economy.  All the while wearing masks, social distancing and choosing safety and respect above all else.  The increases of cases and continual spread is not only happening in the U.S. as Brazil, parts of Africa, Australia, India, Argentina and a host of others are struggling to keep the virus from spreading. This graph shows the countries who are having the largest increases this past week.

“We are all navigating an external world — but only through the prism of our own minds, our own subjective experience… " -Janna Levin

This quote speaks volumes to the manner in which humans have faced the pandemic. Through their own lens. And if you look specifically at the troubles in the United States you will see a nation of people that is not uniformed or united, but in fact divided.  We are a nation of individualistic, egotists and usually do not play well with others. Even when it comes to the safety of those around us. Look, I understand we are not the only country struggling, but we are one, if not the wealthiest and most resourceful countries in the world.  There is no excuse for us.  We simply do not do well when it comes to following directions. We are a nation of rebels and revolutionaries.  When we broke free from Great Britain all thsoe years ago we vowed never to be under rule again.  The democracy model for our country was written in the form of the constitution and so here are. 

 We made mistakes along the way and have suffered for it. Some governors are trying to rollback reopening plans by requiring face masks and closing bars and restaurants again, but we are also opening up Disney World. Is it the leadership? Is it our nature as Americans? Is it our lack of knowledge? Or just our national development that gives us the "right" not to listen to common sense?