In our naivete, we thought a crisis the magnitude of a global pandemic could serve to unite us as a country. Not that we wished for catastrophe. But the indiscriminate and deadly nature of the virus seemed to lend itself to the pooling of resources and expertise across the fields of health, industry and commerce to come up with a national response.
Foolish thinking.
First off, the virus wasn’t as indiscriminate as first thought.
Instead of sweeping the country uniformly, it has pounded the heavily and densely populated — and primarily Democratic — East Coast.
Second, the elderly are disproportional targets. And sad to say, the wheels of commerce are loath to slow down for this isolated age group. Of the 173 deaths in Kansas due to COVID-19, the median age is 81.
The virus also preys on those with underlying health conditions such as hypertension, obesity, chronic metabolic disease and cardiovascular disease, and of those, African Americans are a large percentage. Almost one-third of the 1.5 million confirmed cases in the United States have affected blacks, though they represent only 13% of the population. One third of the 89,000 U.S. deaths from the virus are African Americans.
Health officials reason it’s in part because African Americans tend to work jobs that put them in harm’s way as they serve as nurse’s aides in hospitals and nursing homes, deliver the mail or packages, or work as firemen or EMTs. Such jobs don’t come with work-from-home options. They also are low-paying, putting adequate healthcare out of reach.
BECAUSE Kansas is not densely populated and African Americans make up only 6% of our population, some feel our response to the virus has been overblown.
Though evidence proves social distancing and good hygiene help prevent the spread of the virus, some contend Kansas’s low rate of infection is because it’s all been a hoax from the get-go.
There’s the first wedge to prevent us from ever coming together — distrust.
The fact that the states primarily affected by the coronavirus are led by Democratic governors has made the issue of aid a partisan one, especially in the Senate where each state is equally represented.
That’s the second wedge — politics.
The effort by states to track down and alert those who may have come in contact with the virus — contact tracing — is also coming under fire by those who say it violates their civil liberties and have no intention of sacrificing their individual rights for the communal interest.
Third wedge — self above community.
The stay-at-home orders to prevent the spread of the virus also created an unhealthy anxiety among some. People hoarded food and cleaning supplies. Gun sales went through the roof.
Fourth wedge — fear.
And some say addressing the pandemic is merely an effort to undermine President Trump’s administration by deep-sixing the economy.
Fifth wedge — blame.
We never had a chance.
EXCEPT THE story is still being written.
First, stand for truth. COVID-19 is not a hoax. Heck, even President Trump admits he gets tested every day and now he’s taking the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine in the hopes of warding off the virus.
He’s a believer.
Second, dismiss those who foment discord and distrust. Their goal is not community, but to drive people apart.
