Yes, you read that right.
I’d just like to throw my two cents worth into the ring.
During this time of unease, fear, and butt wipe hoarding, I find that I am getting more upset about our human condition each and every day.
I stood in line at Costco AND WinCo here in Coeur d’Alene over the span of the past few days; not to fill my garage with hand sanitizers, or toilet paper, or baby wipes…but to simply stock up for the next few weeks on the basic necessities of life.
Food was our primary motivator. Especially if we have to self-isolate, as the CDC wants everyone to do, for 2-4 weeks. Guy’s gotta eat something besides antiseptic wipes, you know?
But, I digress. Back to the subject at hand!
So, here I was with the family, standing patiently in an ever-growing line, engaging in small talk with those around us. Most were very accommodating, with the silent understanding that this was going to be a long, sometimes drawn-out process to the checkout lane.
And yet, there were those who pushed people rudely out of their way, intent on getting to that last jewel still left on the shelves, whether it’s was a pack of ramen noodles, or the gem of a can of chicken and noodle soup, or (insert craved-after item here).
THESE are the people of the spamdemic…and yes, I call it SPAMdemic because we are being bombarded from all sides by articles from the media…titles like “Is God Mad at Mankind?” or “Panic Pandemic!” Supposed newsworthy tidbits that are nothing more than spam pieces, catching the attention of the worrisome populace and send it into a total, cash-spending freefall.
This, my friends, is just like the stomach-churning, bath salt eating “zombie” craze of the past few years, or the madness of the impeachment trails of President Trump, or the fiery (literally) rise and fall of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Each one of these was a super-hyped event, and yet failed to live up to the excitement of its newsworthiness. Each one crashed and burned miserably.
So, we watched, in amusement and uneasiness, as these spamaholics barged their way down aisles of empty shelving, looking in vain for anything to fill the empty spaces in their cars…and my heart went out to them.
My friends, these are the people of the new era of mass media…those who have an empty space in their hearts, and allow it to be filled by misinformation; by half-truths; and by panic-induced fear. They are the people who believe EVERYTHING the media tells them. People who think more of themselves instead of their neighbor; who practice “social distancing” to the nth degree and live in their own bubble instead of popping that thing and seeing the real, living world outside.
We, as a society; as a world, need to band together and stand together and fight this virus called COVID-19 and defeat it. TOGETHER. We need to call our neighbor and see if we can help them out, whether it’s getting groceries for them, or sharing bottles of hand sanitizer with them that we have hoarded; or heck…even giving them a few rolls of that precious commodity called toilet paper.
It’s time to wipe that crappy attitude of “me first” and get into the mindset of “we first.” WE meaning as one people of this wonderful planet we call Earth.
Together, we WILL come out on top. There are enough people working on an immunization that we will have one soon. And, after a few months, this thing called the coronavirus will fade away into our subconsciousnesses; we will remember it like a bad dream, and let out a collective sigh of relief.
And, who knows? We might even have a few rolls of TP left in our stash when all is said and done. 🙂
Stay healthy, my friends!!
Slice of Home, Slice of Life 