Reopening America

Many states have started to reopen, defying the guidelines of the federal government and advice of most doctors and public health officials.  We won't know for a few weeks how this all works out.  What most experts think is that 10-14 days after the reopening of beaches, hair salons, tattoo parlors and restaurants, there will be a spike in positive cases of Covid-19. Older people seem to take the pandemic more seriously.  Where I live people are always wearing masks in public and are maintaining social distancing.  Younger people seem to say "We've got to get back to business,"  and "When will I be able to go to a bar or club, or go to a concert?"  I guess these people still think they're invincible.  Almost 75,000 people have already died in the U.S. from Covid-19, and the virus is NOT going away any time soon.

I think we need to determine as a country the value of life.  Is it worth a single life to open the beach and allow groups to congregate?  For me, no.  If we continue to lose life at the rate we are going, we will have lost more than 100,00 souls by the end of June. 

I know it's hard to stay apart and stay home.  Things will reopen if people continue to follow the rules.  See how well small countries like New Zealand and Australia have controlled the virus.  Granted, they are very small countries, but their leaders took drastic action early, and have stopped the spread of Covid-19.  Many governors have stepped up and lead with strength and reason.  Cudos to them.  I wish I could say the same about our federal leadership.  Pathetic. 

This is not the time to protest and scream about our freedoms being taken away.  This is the time to band together for the good of the country, for the good of our way of life.  If we don't act smart, thousands of lives will be unnecessarily lost, and our very democracy will be badly damaged, if not destroyed. 

This  will ultimately end.  Either a vaccine will become available, or we will get used to a new way of doing things.  We are strong enough to get through this, and move on with healthy, happy America.