Be smart, be a hero - stay home
Article content
Together Again. That’s the title of an old country song by Buck Owens.
It makes for a great love song but the way everyone is throwing around the term “together” is getting a little jarring on my nerves. It’s become the catch phrase of everyone everywhere. We can do this together. Together we’ll beat this. We are in this together. We will work together. We will get through this together. Together, together, together.
Have we not always lived in a collective? Are we not always in everything together, including normal regular life? Is it only in a crisis that we need each other? Are we not always jointly responsible for one another? Do we not always live in mutual concern for each other? Are we not supposed to be supportive, caring, loving, kind and encouraging of each other all the time?
When the pandemic is over do we then resort to or revert back to not working, being in, getting through, doing everything together? Will it no longer matter if we go our own way, become selfish, self-absorbed, separated? Do we stop taking care of others, looking after those around us, checking on our neighbours, friends and family?
I don’t get it but then I don’t get the sudden cheerleading that has become normal only when bad things happen. Why are we not “stronger together” when things are going well?
Even in times of communal distress and suffering, there is always a segment of our society who think only of themselves, their own needs and wants, who will always challenge rules, who feel they are better and know more. Of course, their thoughts and feelings are not only wrong but stupid, proving they are not very smart. Those of us who are always “together” know this.
Some of the problems we are seeing during this medical crisis might have to do with some lack of understanding. There are people who have no idea what social/physical distancing, self-isolation and quarantine actually mean. They obviously mean different things to different people depending on their ability to recognize the purpose. Or maybe it’s more about their level of personal needs and comfort.
Social/physical distancing means you stay six feet away from everyone else whether it be in the grocery store, on the street, in the take out line. This presumes the virus can’t fly more than six feet on a sneeze. No touching; no hugs; no shaking hands, etc. and stay away from the at-risk population.
Self-isolation is taking yourself out of the fray. If you are a traveler stay away from public places, gatherings and, as much as possible, all other people, especially others who have been travelling or are in the at-risk category. Venture out only for absolute necessities like food, medication and, apparently, essentials like beer, liquor, pot and, if you live in the States, guns.
Quarantine means stay in your house! Do not ride the elevator or walk down the stairs or go for a walk around town. You must not go to Tim Hortons for take-out coffee or Wifi. Stay in your house! Have food, medications, and other essentials delivered to your door. Do not make direct contact with anyone. Maintain connection with family and friends through the use of phone, email or social media. Stay in your house!
This is where working together comes in very handy. While in quarantine the folks who care will bring care packages to your door. Neighbours will call, family will send photos and videos, friends will deliver all those essentials.
And what do you do when the 14 days are over? Do you go back to your normal living habits? No! Don’t do it! It’s not over. Hurray, woot, woot, if you didn’t develop symptoms or become ill, but you have to consider the other folks out there who didn’t do what they were supposed to do and could now infect you and all those who helped you through self-isolation and quarantine. Because you did your time does not mean you are good to go. Remember not everyone was as smart or brave as you so you have to continue to protect yourself and those around you.
We can save the lives. You and I can stop the spread of this deadly virus by physical distancing and self-isolation. Come on, be smart, be a hero – stay home.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.