Sunday, April 5, 2020
I know I should not be surprised, but, wow, the words people will write out loud. I get it; sometimes my finger takes its own path and what I told my brain to write does not appear on the page. This happened just yesterday. I was planning to write about an experience I had with a particular program I use; and did not even mention it in the six or seven hundred words I wrote. I started my journal entry on the right track, but I derailed into my political thoughts, not once, but twice.
I watched a story on Sunday Morning before I got out of bed about a columnist for the New York Times. I had never heard of Philip Galanes, and have never read his column, but a comment he made in the interview resonated in my head. I considered writing about that comment today, and then decided I did not have enough elaborative ideas on the subject. My morning Facebook scroll changed my mind.
Mr. Galanes stated he is not an etiquette writer; he advises people with awkward relationships. Mr. Galanes talked about social shaming, especially while dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic, in the interview. The interviewer asks, “Someone buys up all the bread. Do you say something?” Mr. Galanes replies, “Do you want a loaf of bread or are you just being a community policer?” Mr. Galanes further states, “I do not need to police what is right and what is wrong because, for all we know, she is making lunches" to donate.
I do not need to police what is right and what is wrong. The words are so true, yet so hard to implement. In Colorado, many residents called local officials to complain that Hobby Lobby was still open after the stay-at-home executive order was signed, requiring the closure of all non-essential businesses. I thought Hobby Lobby would be required to close, but I do not disagree with their logic claiming they are an essential business. Hobby Lobby sells fabric and craft items people need to make masks and other supplies.
If I do not consider Hobby Lobby an essential business; I am not required to go there. I do not consider a liquor store to be essential, but I am not calling the governor’s office to tell him he made a mistake. Hobby Lobby being open does not affect my health any more than a liquor store remaining open. If you are an employee of Hobby Lobby or a liquor store and do not feel safe working there, I am sure your employer will happily lay you off so you can collect unemployment.
This morning, Facebook, in its infinite wisdom, decided it would not show me the kind messages my friends have been posting, and I have actually been reading in my timeline. Today, I saw two posts from people I know asking if anyone actually knows someone personally that has been diagnosed with COVID-19. One of the posts even went as far as to say, ”and been hospitalized”. The wording in the posts was almost identical, and these two people do not know each other.
I felt like someone had told people the reported COVID-19 numbers are lies, nobody is going to the hospital, and was actively trying to sew distrust in a time when so many people feel vulnerable. I read some of the comments on one of the posts, and my friend wrote replies about being surprised by the number of people who had replied with answers of three or more. He had expected 0 or 1 to be the answer. My friend’s expectation, along with the similarity between the two posts, is why I think someone with influence has decided to police what is right and what is wrong about how the COVID-19 epidemic is affecting our economy, and they have decided staying home is wrong and letting people die preventable deaths is right.
My piece of advice to you is to lock up the Judge Judy in your head. Tomorrow, it will be 70 degrees and I will be going for a walk wearing a mask. Will I tell someone I see without one to go back home? No. I will be at least six feet away from them, so their choice will not affect me. I do not need to police others.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.
I know I should not be surprised, but, wow, the words people will write out loud. I get it; sometimes my finger takes its own path and what I told my brain to write does not appear on the page. This happened just yesterday. I was planning to write about an experience I had with a particular program I use; and did not even mention it in the six or seven hundred words I wrote. I started my journal entry on the right track, but I derailed into my political thoughts, not once, but twice.
I watched a story on Sunday Morning before I got out of bed about a columnist for the New York Times. I had never heard of Philip Galanes, and have never read his column, but a comment he made in the interview resonated in my head. I considered writing about that comment today, and then decided I did not have enough elaborative ideas on the subject. My morning Facebook scroll changed my mind.
Mr. Galanes stated he is not an etiquette writer; he advises people with awkward relationships. Mr. Galanes talked about social shaming, especially while dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic, in the interview. The interviewer asks, “Someone buys up all the bread. Do you say something?” Mr. Galanes replies, “Do you want a loaf of bread or are you just being a community policer?” Mr. Galanes further states, “I do not need to police what is right and what is wrong because, for all we know, she is making lunches" to donate.
I do not need to police what is right and what is wrong. The words are so true, yet so hard to implement. In Colorado, many residents called local officials to complain that Hobby Lobby was still open after the stay-at-home executive order was signed, requiring the closure of all non-essential businesses. I thought Hobby Lobby would be required to close, but I do not disagree with their logic claiming they are an essential business. Hobby Lobby sells fabric and craft items people need to make masks and other supplies.
If I do not consider Hobby Lobby an essential business; I am not required to go there. I do not consider a liquor store to be essential, but I am not calling the governor’s office to tell him he made a mistake. Hobby Lobby being open does not affect my health any more than a liquor store remaining open. If you are an employee of Hobby Lobby or a liquor store and do not feel safe working there, I am sure your employer will happily lay you off so you can collect unemployment.
This morning, Facebook, in its infinite wisdom, decided it would not show me the kind messages my friends have been posting, and I have actually been reading in my timeline. Today, I saw two posts from people I know asking if anyone actually knows someone personally that has been diagnosed with COVID-19. One of the posts even went as far as to say, ”and been hospitalized”. The wording in the posts was almost identical, and these two people do not know each other.
I felt like someone had told people the reported COVID-19 numbers are lies, nobody is going to the hospital, and was actively trying to sew distrust in a time when so many people feel vulnerable. I read some of the comments on one of the posts, and my friend wrote replies about being surprised by the number of people who had replied with answers of three or more. He had expected 0 or 1 to be the answer. My friend’s expectation, along with the similarity between the two posts, is why I think someone with influence has decided to police what is right and what is wrong about how the COVID-19 epidemic is affecting our economy, and they have decided staying home is wrong and letting people die preventable deaths is right.
My piece of advice to you is to lock up the Judge Judy in your head. Tomorrow, it will be 70 degrees and I will be going for a walk wearing a mask. Will I tell someone I see without one to go back home? No. I will be at least six feet away from them, so their choice will not affect me. I do not need to police others.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.