A Reflection on the Current Crisis (aka Rona Musings)

First, I have always believed that there is, in any discussion, more than one cogent point of view. Hence, I also believe that, in this present crisis, anyone who insists that the current social distancing is the only way to save lives and that anyone who disagrees with them is willing to kill people is failing to see that and, therefore, self-evidently wrong. There is, in fact, a growing number of doctors and virologists who are coming out with the opinion that SIP and wearing masks is making us more susceptible to all kinds of communicable diseases by weakening our immune systems. I personally don't know who to believe, but I think it is pretty arrogant and small-minded to think that your point of view is the only possibly correct one.

Second, I am not now, nor have I ever been, a conspiracy theorist. But, I do believe that there is at least some degree of danger in so readily and unquestioningly giving up our first amendment rights. No, I don't think that there is a single, monolithic conspiracy going on, but I do believe that there are always self-serving opportunists who will use any crisis to further their own interests whether it be those who try to buy up supplies of essential items and then unfairly profit from price gouging, or pharmaceutical companies who hope to make billions from getting patents on new vaccines, or governors and others in authority who have become intoxicated with near dictatorial powers, or social engineers who are using fear to further their personal or corporate agendas. The only thing I feel fairly certain about is that not everything being suggested and/or required of us right now comes from utterly good people who have only our best interests at heart.

All in all, I believe that the best thing we can do is keep a loose grip on our dogmatic opinions, be willing to reevaluate and possibly change those opinions in the light of new information (which presumes a willingness to hear and openly consider new information), and be kind and respectful toward each other and allow for a wide range of perspectives.

Comments

Unknown said…
Well said Dave. The motives of the ones who are making the big decisions are not always based on good will and prosperity for others. I always found it important to understand that people are influenced by money,fame, and control, all of which motivate self interest. I think it can be argued that in some of those decisions good will has the smallest of margins if any voice in the conversation. However, that is not to say that self interest is always ill-natured. Sometimes self interest drives a breakthrough in something that was once deemed impossible. Whether the effect of that breakthrough is felt immediately or not, we tend to benefit from the aftermath. I am hoping we have a breakthrough in the form of a vaccine. I can only imagine the how the world will change and the fame that will accompany the solution to COVID19, whatever that may be.
May 8, 2020 at 8:20 PM
WarmSocks said…
Nice, reasonable approach. Thank you. It doesn't make sense to base our decisions on information that is months old. We ought to be willing to investigate what the current data really says and modify our beliefs and behavior when appropriate.
May 31, 2020 at 6:36 PM
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