As I end this tour on the Write Team, I would admonish you not to forget the safeguards that many have followed through this pandemic. I don’t wish to argue whether this really is a pandemic, but to any doubters who would compare this to the yearly flu season; I would ask you to name the last flu season that was anything but for a season. I mean this has lasted more than a year, while the average flu season is three or maybe four months at most. To those historians who list the “Spanish Flu,” I congratulate you. My columns have had heavy doses of talking about COVID-19 and its influence. To those tired of hearing about the virus, my apology.
One of my intended columns was about that us men die younger than women. Here is a small dose of it. I realized with the CDC guidelines that came out that many men fail at washing their hands frequently enough, or for a long enough time when they do wash. This insight is from using enough public restrooms and watching men leave without washing their hands. If it is a significant act in fighting Covid, how many more diseases do we subject ourselves to by not doing this simple act?
The wearing of masks also is praised as a way to avoid the virus. What would happen if we routinely wore masks during the regular flu season? I would be interested to see if infection by the regular flu was also reduced by wearing masks during the pandemic. Since the flu of anytime has a predictable time it spreads, what if we avoided travel, especially international travel, during those times? Would it still spread? Would it spread when we resume travel?
One way to stay safe, is to question much of what is on social media, and even in broadcast media. Realize that whoever presents an idea or “reports” on something may be doing so with their own bias, that doesn’t present all the facts. Further, they may prevent other views from being expressed. I never considered myself a journalist, yet I try to consider various views, even if I don’t present them in my columns. There is only so much you can do in 500 words. I also am not driven by the popular way of issues. I fear our country is being driven by people not taking the time, or being given the information that is needed to decide unemotionally. I am seeing ridiculous situations where people are judged on the crowd mentality of judging others.
At this time, I am not sure I will apply the next time I am eligible to write for the Write Team. Between my new adventure of writing Advent Devotionals, and the wear and tear of the process to get a column published, I’m not sure I wish to expend the energy, nor do I have the time. We will see after six months how I feel. Thank you to my many supporters for their kind words.
Rodney Verdine, hated a little less by his brother-in-law, but loved by his wife, Marie, can be reached at tsloup@shawmedia.com.