If this pandemic has highlighted one thing in the United States, it is the need for social justice and change.
Today marks 70 days since Friday, March 13th.
That means we have endured 70 days of changed lifestyles.
For the last 70 days, teachers have been instructing remotely. Doctors and nurses have been risking their lives to treat others. Birthday parties have transformed into car parades. Countless lives have been lost and memorialized privately. Face masks have been worn like armor on the front lines and in mundane places like drive thrus and parks. Grocery workers have been constantly replenishing toilet paper, bleach, and meat.
Everyone has been searching for answers that professionals don’t quite have. The idea that even the most experienced people only have estimates is still scary.
However, the positive counterculture is growing.
In the last 70 days, small reasons to smile have been highlighted immensely. The news no longer spends a majority of its coverage on shootings and derailed trains - it tries to provide answers about the virus and ends with segments with reasons to smile. From outdoor serenades on 98th birthdays to new parents holding their babies from hospital windows for the crowd of supporters below, the little things that bring us true joy are experienced and shared each day.
Shows like John Krasinski's “Some Good News” are dedicated to spreading smiles and showcasing what is good in this world. People are reconnecting virtually. The world is sharing an experience that should unite us all.
Try not to lose sight of these, as you continue reading this post.
So, why isn’t there unity in the U.S.?
The United States stands out among countries battling the virus that is robbing people globally of their lives because of its intense political division. In every corner of the country, people are losing battles against this disease, while others are protesting about their freedoms being taken away. In case my opinion was not already clear by the title of this post, I’ll spell it out with my reasoning behind it:
The idea that people are protesting procedures necessary to survive a deadly pandemic is frustrating because it blatantly ignores science.
I can understand the negative - and potentially detrimental - impacts that a government shutdown has on the economy. People need paychecks to pay bills and put food on the table, and small business owners fear the loss of their livelihoods. However, forcing people to go back to work and pretending the pandemic is over is not the solution. Instead, it just proves how expendable American lives are.
Moving forward, it is crucial to acknowledge that this pandemic has highlighted areas where change is desperately needed in this country. From the disparities in services provided to people based on the color of their skin to the various types of discrimination we see, the act of “going back to normal” would be immoral because normal, for many people in this country, is not good enough.
For example, the lack of response to Native Americans suffering immense loss from this virus is devastating. Some reservations are being ravished with infection rates higher than the state of New York - like Navajo Nation, for instance - but they are not receiving the same support or attention. Before we can move forward, we have to acknowledge the disparities like these that exist in the United States.
I would like to remind you what this so-called “normal” looks like in the U.S.:
Children put their learning on hold to practice active shooter drills, and still this country reports hundreds of mass shootings each year.
Women accept paychecks of values less than their male colleagues in equal positions, and people of color receive even less than white women.
Families sit in concentration camps on our southern border.
Black boys are murdered by police with poor judgement, but justice for their families is never served.
The wealthiest people in this country turn a blind eye to issues like homelessness and poverty.
People in places like Flint, Michigan, still turn on their faucets to find brown water (just as they’ve been seeing since 2014).
Scientific proof of climate change is ignored.
Young women are shamed for regular check-ups at their local Planned Parenthood by protesters who assume the organization operates strictly to provide abortion services.
Pharmacists feel guilt when telling people the cost of their prescriptions.
Same-sex couples face discrimination when trying to buy a wedding cake.
So, while people in various positions of privilege protest the temporary closure of their local hair salons and ignore the advice of medical professionals, I cannot help but feel a sense of frustration with their idea of “returning to normal.”
However, we cannot lose hope.
I mean it. For anyone who fears the possibility of a second wave of this virus and is not ready to return to life as it was, like me, I urge you to stay positive. Stay motivated. Stay hopeful.
Even if you care about just one of the human rights issues outlined above, your voice can make a difference. An open mind can make a difference. Education and exploration of topics you don’t know much about will make a difference.
Traditional protesting is not safe right now.
Getting too comfortable and pretending the pandemic is over is not safe right now.
A time will come, though, when it will be safe. Much like the counterculture of this virus that promotes love and positivity, human rights issues like these will see their support in vast groups with loud voices. For now, all we can do is read about issues like these to educate ourselves, so we can share this knowledge with others via social media or phone conversations.
70 days is not enough time to address the full magnitude of this virus safely, and "normal" requires a new way of thinking, in order to acknowledge the disparities in the United States.
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