Today Sunday May 3, 2020
SARS-COV-2/COV-19 Pandemic
The coronavirus is affecting 212 countries and territories and 2 international conveyances.
Total Cases: 3,563,359
Deaths: 248,137
USA Cases: 1,187,804
Deaths: 68,588
Many governments around the world are playing chess and we are merely the pawns in the grand experiment. I find it quite amusing that it is very apparent and always has been that throughout history we the nuts and bolts that drive and keep the machine running are expendable. The machine is important but its easy to replace the nuts and bolts in fact we could even go so far that the powers that be could even change the entire machine. With nearly 8 billion people inhabiting the planet we could easily lose half and probably be better off. Ah but which half? Well the better half, of course….
We are in the beginning and early stages of a global pandemic that has killed half a million men, women and children. Before the Earth is cleansed many more will die possibly millions. I think any intelligent minded person knows that it didn’t need to be this way. Many countries had more than enough time to prepare and realize that a catastrophic hurricane was headed our way. It’s so easy not to accept responsibility and place the blame on someone or some other country for starting it. But that doesn’t get us out of our current disastrous situation. Leaders and people can blame China but so what. Yes I said it, so what. Even if China did come clean and accept responsibility we can’t bring back the dead. Are we going to WAR with China? Highly doubtful! And meanwhile our government is supposed to not only take care of its citizen’s safety, but do everything it can to also make sure our economy stays intact. REALLY? It wasn’t intact before COVID-19.
As states scramble to reopen its apparent its all a big experiment and we are that experiment. As an example the Governor of Georgia in what he calls “spreadsheet hell.” In an announcement last week, Brian Kemp abruptly reversed course on the shutdown, ending many of his own restrictions on businesses and overruling those put in place by mayors throughout the state. On Friday, gyms, churches, hair and nail salons, and tattoo parlors were allowed to reopen, if the owners were willing. Yesterday, restaurants and movie theaters came back. The U-turn has left Georgians scrambling. Many residents and business owners have spent days crunching the numbers to figure out whether reopening is worth the safety risk, or even feasible in the first place. Given how persistent safety concerns could crater demand. Many can’t figure out a way to make the numbers work to sustain business and pay rent and pay everybody to go back and risk their lives. If they tried to open tomorrow, they’d be closed in two weeks, probably for good and with more debt on their hands.
There are countless stories depicting a struggle between a state government and ordinary people. Georgia’s brash reopening puts much of the state’s working class in an impossible bind: risk death at work, or risk ruining yourself financially at home. In the grips of a pandemic, the approach is a morbid experiment in just how far states can push their people. Georgians are now the largely unwilling canaries in an invisible coalmine, sent to find out just how many individuals need to lose their job or their life for a state to work through a plague.
Meanwhile in Stillwater, Oklahoma measures requiring people to wear facemasks inside stores and restaurants to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were lifted by Mayor Will Joyce. She walked back an emergency order put in place until May 31, requiring the public to wear facemasks. The measure was amended the same day it was activated. As it stands, the changed proclamation requires employees in retail stores to wear facemasks, but face coverings are optional for customers. However, the proclamation still strongly advises that people wear masks for their own protection and the protection of others against the coronavirus. Anger and frustration about the order reportedly erupted within three hours of its enactment, with opponents verbally abusing employees, threatening physical violence, and, in one instance, threatening gun violence. People who objected to facemask requirements claimed that the measure was unconstitutional. We as a society have become so self-absorbed and feel so-entitled it is really unfortunate and distressing that those who refuse and threaten violence as to not follow what is a simple show of respect and kindness to others. These reports come as local leaders throughout the country are facing pushback and armed protests to stay-at-home orders amid the pandemic. Like the protestors in Oklahoma, many people claim these orders are unconstitutional and impinge on their freedoms.
I’m amazed in the middle of a pandemic that people believe their civil liberties are being impinged on. How pathetic a society we have become. The plain bold truth is if you decide to go to the beach in groups, not wear facemasks in stores, or just plain do whatever you want to do, you’re not fighting for your liberties, you just don’t give a damn about anyone but yourself. Unfortunately, too many Americans…. the ‘ME’ in A’me’rica is far more important that the ‘US’ in United States. I guess that should be taken for granted…. Since that’s the same ‘ME’ mentally exhibited by the ‘Caligula in Chief’ currently residing in the White House. Let’s be honest.
So we are in the middle of the grandest experiment our generation has known and certainly ever experienced. Governments and leaders who continually refuse to listen to the scientists, epidemiologists, virologists, in the field and scramble to try and figure out what do to with their hair brain schemes all the time not caring about human life. Push the people enough and keep them in place there will always be a good percentage that will be ranting and raving to get back to work. All I can say is good luck to you. You are part of the grand experiment. You are the ones wanting to clamor to rush back to get on the hamster wheel.
Just remember that anyone of you arguing that only 1-2 percent of the population dying isn’t a big deal and so concerned about their civil liberties and “freedom” to get back to “normal” need to identify 1 or 2 family members or close friends they are willing to offer up to death to “save the economy” or regain their “freedom”. NAME THEM! Say their names aloud with the same ease you offer up or dismiss someone else’s friend or family member.
In closing it made me think of my Aunty Madge who will turn 105 years young next January God willing. To put things in perspective she was born in 1916 a child of World War 1 that ended in 1918 and killed 40 million. Later in the same year, the Spanish Flu pandemic that lasted until December 1920 killed 50 million many estimates as much as 100 million worldwide. By the time my Aunt was 13 the Great Depression began. Unemployment hits 26.9% and the global GDP drops 27%. By the time my Aunt turns 21 in 1937 World War 2 has begun and Japan invades China. A year later Germany invades Poland and in 1941 the United States is pulled into WWII. Between my Aunt’s 21st and 29th birthday 85 million perished. At 34, the Korean War starts and 5 million die. At 39 the Vietnam War begins and it lasts 20 years killing 5 million people. Approaching her 46th birthday in the prime of her life the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tipping point in the Cold War. Life on our planet, as we know it, could well have ended. Great leaders prevented that from happening. My Aunt’s 59th birthday marked the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Since then until now there have been 37 wars that have plagued our planet culminating in over 18.5 million deaths. Not to forget about natural disasters that has killed tens of millions.
There will be many more wars and plagues of pestilence that will fester our world. Do we learn from history? Of course not! Can we rewrite history? Yes it’s possible to change our future trajectory. But it requires a united country and world, with Great Leaders leading the way.
I will always remember these profound words told to me by Imam Sayed Mustafa Qazwini, 42nd generation direct descendant to the Prophet while I was in Iraq.
“Without justice in leadership the country will crumble”.
Stay strong, serene and smart
Stay safe and healthy
Always Be A Hard Target.
P.S
Don’t become a part of the grand experiment. We are presently off the hamster wheel time to rethink and change the trajectory of your future….