This column, from the weekly opinion piece MATTER OF FACT, first appeared on BrooklynReporter.com, the Home Reporter and Spectator dated March 26, 2020
During these trying times, we all need to lean on each other, although not literally in this age of social distancing. That means all of us, regardless of any differences.
However, anyone saying politics has nothing to do with this is avoiding reality. Politics is how we select the leaders who guide us through a crisis. COVID-19 was going to wreak havoc no matter what, but it is as bad as it is here right now because our country is in the hands of an ignorant, arrogant, selfish liar. We are stuck with the worst possible person to deal with the worst imaginable crisis.
In daily press conferences, President Trump spouts completely false information that is dangerous to the public.
He’s praised the drug chloroquine as a miracle cure for COVID-19, stating it has been approved by the FDA and urging it “be put in use IMMEDIATELY.” The FDA issued a correction that it has not been approved and administration experts warned against any idea it is safe to use. On March 23, an Arizona man died and his wife was in critical condition after they took the drug.
Trump has dramatically overstated how many tests are available, promised that navy hospital ships would arrive at hot zones within a week when it will take longer for them to be deployed, and told nurses he met with that the government had ordered 500 million N95 respirator masks for them, leaving out that the order will take 18 months to fill.
Telling us that the challenges we face will all soon be solved when that is patently false is irresponsible. We need leadership, not lies. We need truth, not to hear what we’d love to be true.
In his March 23 press conference, the president indicated that he feels we need to begin easing restrictions to get the economy moving again. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R- Texas) said on March 23 that “lots of grandparents would be willing to die in order to save the economy for their grandchildren.”
“The sheer extent of this crisis can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. It is important that while we all try to stay informed, we take moments to find something positive to focus on.”
The damage to our economy will be devastating, but saying that we should all go back to our normal to save the economy, while telling seniors that they need to be willing to sacrifice their lives for it, is insane and immoral.
The sheer extent of this crisis can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. It is important that while we all try to stay informed, we take moments to find something positive to focus on.
It is hard to find silver linings in any of this, but members of our communities have really stepped up during a time when it is hard to know how one even goes about how to safely help others.
Local restaurants and bars have completely converted their businesses to provide delivery and takeout, and so many of us have made a point to support them by placing orders.
Hair salons have created coloring packages with do-it-yourself instructions, which can be picked up curbside, while establishments that usually provide in-person classes — from workouts to cooking to kids’ music — have created virtual versions that their customers can stream while stuck at home.
Local nonprofits, like Bay Ridge Cares, quickly created a system to safely link willing volunteers with neighbors in need. After I wrote this column, I planned to pick up a care package and deliver it to an at-risk community member.
Most impressively, teachers have done a truly amazing job creating a completely new way of learning in just one week. My son’s new online kindergarten class has been very important to our family at a time when we have so much else on our plate, and his teachers have been incredible.
When you do need to get out for groceries or fresh air, do like I have been doing each time I go for a run. From at least six feet away, thank every healthcare worker, sanitation worker, grocery delivery person, mail carrier, and anyone else you see out there keeping our society functioning. They all appreciate it and it’s the least we can do for them at a time when doing their normal work has become both potentially dangerous to them and extremely important to us all.
