“Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.” — attributed to James Lane Allen, American writer, late 1800s. I’ve never been one to welcome dark clouds so I could find the silver linings or wish for a handful of lemons so I could make lemonade. I would opt for blue skies and sweet oranges every time.
The coronavirus has brought the darkest of days and most bitter fruit, but the silver linings and flavorful lemonade are all around us if we can open our eyes to see them. The character of most everyday Americans has been revealed as one of willing sacrifice, selfless service, and generous souls. Medical professionals risk themselves each day to heal the sick and support the healthy. Fire and police personnel continue their essential services at greater risk than ever. Teachers labor long hours to provide help for at-home students. Food employees and delivery drivers allow many to find and consume essential food. Even workers in hardware and auto stores take risks so we can maintain our homes and vehicles.
At the same time, new donations and services to help these workers, and others in need, show appreciation that is long overdue. I hope each sign saying “Thank You!” remains far beyond the end of social distancing and stays in our hearts for years to come. People in the helping professions, (and I include all those working to keep us safe, sane, and supplied) deserve our gratitude, and more importantly, a living wage now and in the future.
Parents are standing on their heads (some literally!) to keep their children learning and engaged with their families, classmates, and others. Most have accepted the challenges with creativity and energy. I believe that this period will be remembered by all children and that it is a prime time to help them mature into healthy teens and young adults, with values that focus on an economy and government that works for all.
I hope one thought from this period endures. A variety of ads, organizations, and people have said, “We’re all in this together” or “Together, we’ll get through this.” The strength of a unified community, state, and country has met and conquered the greatest crises of the past. It has made the USA a great nation.
Sadly, the Trump administration has done everything in its power to make sure we are not in this together, and that we continue to be angry and divided. Trump himself compares the pandemic to a “war” and our references to workers on the “front lines” recall images of wars at least as far back as World War I.
What commanding general (or leader of any large, complex organization) would respond to the question of “Who’s in charge of our plans to fight this threat?” with a symbolic wave of the hand and the answer “Oh, 50 different people.” Leaving governors to compete for supplies, and establish and enforce their own rules and guidelines is negligent at best, and borders on criminal. I realize that “one size” doesn’t “fit all,” but the federal government should authorize and support guidance from the most advanced virus-fighters in the world at the CDC to indicate what size does fit different states and areas.
And if this is a war (and 80,000 deaths in two months seems to qualify), then President Trump has committed war crimes by sowing dissension and confusion among our own people (troops) and undercutting the authority and orders of the governors (commanders) he has left in charge. Suggesting that protesters (some armed) “liberate Michigan” or Minnesota, Virginia, or Pennsylvania fits the definition of sedition during war or peace. True leadership involves making tough decisions, not just popular ones, and standing by them because they are the best for the people, even if we are all tired of restrictions and worried about our social and economic world.
There is an election coming. We need a leader who will bring us together in any crisis, not one whose character has been (again) revealed to be selfish, angry, and dangerously supportive of chaos rather than order and unity.
Allen Woods is a freelance writer and author living in Greenfield. Comments are welcome here or at awoods2846@gmail.com.