A Rant

 

Ok, I need to rant. And no, it is not about politics. My rant is about everyday people who seem to forget history, or perhaps never studied it to begin with.

Beginning in the mid-1800’s, Polio was responsible for sickness and death in the world population. Here in America, as many as 15,000 people were infected each year; although most did not die, the lingering effects of paralysis permanently damaged lives and affected common well-being. It was not uncommon for families to be quarantined as a whole because of a case of polio; nor was it uncommon in the 1940’s for entire U. S. towns to be quarantined to prevent the spread of the virus. Travel was restricted between “infected” communities and the rest of the nation. Children were frequently kept from playing outdoors because they might encounter someone carrying the virus. (Does any of this sound familiar?)

Two vaccines were found to be effective, one in 1955 and one in 1963; the United States (and a large portion of the rest of the world) began a vaccination program targeting school age children, and later included pre-school children. Some of you may remember the sugar cubes, often administered in schools.

Net effect: in the 1970’s, less than 10 cases of polio were reported in the United States. Polio is now considered eradicated world-wide, except for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are still at epidemic levels.

So, what is my rant?

People who refuse to take this current pandemic serious. People who refuse to follow the best science and medical advice. People who still insist that this pandemic is not real, or that people are not dying of Covid-19. People who refuse to wear masks, who refuse to observe social distance, and who insist on gathering in large groups, particularly unmasked. Leaders who refuse to acknowledge just how serious this is.

In the space of one year, we have lost more Americans to Covid-19 than were killed in combat in the 4 years of WWII.

Is that serious enough for you?

Do not tell me that this was all dreamed up so President Trump would not be re-elected. And please do not tell me again that wearing a mask or washing your hands interferes with your “God-Given Rights as An American Citizen.”  To be totally honest, I do not think for one minute that the release of the vaccines was held up to embarrass then-President Trump.

Frankly, I do not wear a mask to show support for one political party or another. I wear a mask to protect myself, my family, and yes, you.

I get it.

We are all tired of this COVID-19 stuff. We are all tired of wearing masks, etc., of our favorite restaurants not being open. Tired of not being able to spend time with friends and family like we want. Tired of our children and grandchildren being schooled online, of not having play time with their friends. Tired of being unable to have our social interactions, our clubs and groups, our churches.

But think about this for a minute. We are almost to a point of getting this virus under control. The vaccines for Polio took decades to develop, and 30 years to reach herd immunity; but the Covid-19 vaccines have been developed in the space of a year. Current predictions have the United States at herd immunity in a year.

Let us buck up, America. Stand up and do the right thing. Wear the mask, wash your hands, and do not get too close. Get the shots when they are available.  

If you believe your ancestors are watching you from afar, make them proud. Let us show them that America can do this, together. As Americans, we have stood together in times of national crises before and come out the better for it. It is time to come together and do it again.

Thank you for reading, and as always, your comments are welcome.

R. M. “Bob” Hartman