Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Pandemic diseases aren’t new nor are the responses to them.
Generally speaking, people become very fearful of the unknown. It’s important that we keep things in perspective and not over react.
The coronavirus is a case in point. Over my lifetime I have seen many deadly viruses.
Remember when the AIDS virus first surface and the irrational reaction that it created?
Remember when Magic Johnson in 1991 tested positive for HIV! Remember the over reaction that he received from Karl Malone and other players? Remember the hysteria and pain that it caused?
Remember?
I’m not suggesting that people should not take reasonable precautions but don’t panic.
Just to underscore the point of how human beings can do some of the darnest things.
Whenever there’s a threat of a blizzard, it is not unsual for people to go to the supermarket and buy up all of the toilet paper, milk, eggs, bread and snow shovels. They leave the shelves empty.
When the storm passes, and it will, people have enough toilet paper to last them for a long time.
I know there are those who are thinking better safe than sorry. However, 100 rolls of toilet paper will last you through a lot of storms.
Phobias by definition can be as dangerous as what people fear. History is replete with examples of people doing things that years later are considered irrational.
There’s numerous reasonable things that people should do to prevent the spread of viruses and diseases.
The first is to educate yourself and your family. Corona beer purchases have dropped significantly because people thought that it is related to the current coronavirus crisis.
The second thing I would recommend for “believers” is not to forget who is in charge.
The late renowned Reverend Leroy Bowman of the First Baptist Church in Annapolis, Maryland told me that both crying and praying are important.
“Crying,” he said, “is God’s way of letting us know that we are human.”
“Praying,” he said, “is our way of letting God know that we know that He is in charge.”
I don’t want to exacerbate fears nor do I want to have people not take this pandemic virus serioudly. However, I do want you to find an equilibrium in your life’s journey.
Be mindful that life’s journey has many meandering twist and turns. My 104 years old mother put it this way:
“God has the whole world in His hands. I’m going to trust in Him, and this too, shall pass”.
Now, prayers may not be in your belief system. Therefore, you may want to stock up on plenty of toilet paper. Believe it or not you, too, are believing in something.
Take another look at the photo that accompanies this post. What do you see? Look again. What do you see?
Some people watch clocks to tell what time it is. I watch people and I know what time it is.
Stay Woke. Stay Safe. Stay Alert. Stay Alive. Vote in 2020.
A Luta Continua!
Carl Snowden leads the African American Caucus in Anne Arundel County. He is a life-long activist and columnist for the Capital Newspaper and The Arundel Patriot.
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