I amazed at all those who say that the pandemic is not real. I recently passed by a vehicle that had bumper stickers on it saying that COVID was just a bad cold. A handmade sign on the highway between Calgary and Red Deer declares that COVID is just BS. These ideas just boggle my mind. As of the writing of this article, 600,000 people have died and over 15 million people have become ill. Yet some don't believe it exists. Some see it as a political plot. Some see it as a plot by Bill Gates. Some see it as a threat to their civil rights. And during all this, the numbers grow and grow.
Chuck Woolery is best known as a TV Game Show Host- Love Connection was one of his big shows. In recent years though he has become a host/contributor/commentator of a right wing radio talk show. On July 12th, he tweeted that COVID was a hoax. It was an attempt by the Democrats and the Media to undermine President Trump. Things changed though the next day. Woolery's son was diagnosed with COVID. Woolery backtracked on his views about COVID. He now said it was a very serious issue and that people needed to stay safe. He deleted his twitter account (or at least made it very private) after saying these things. For Woolery, he had to see the devastation of COVID first hand before he believed it.
Last week someone posted on Facebook a question. Do you know of anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID or anyone who has died from the virus? A few answered that it was just a plot. Others believed in the power of the virus but were blessed enough to say that no they had not met anyone who had become ill. Some, like myself, wrote of one or two friends who had contracted the virus. Some wrote of one or two friends who had contracted the virus and subsequently had died. A few lived in hotspots for the virus and said that they knew several people who had become ill and died. Some people have lived in a fortunate bubble where the disease has yet to touch them. Others have faced traumatic loses. Some can pooh pooh COVID because it hasn't touched them. Others know all too well what COVID can do.
We all learn differently. Some learn not to touch a hot oven because they are told not too. Others have to burn their fingers first before they know an oven can burn you. If someone you know has had COVID already, I am sure you know how dangerous it can be. If you have been lucky enough to not personally be touched by COVID, hopefully you don't have to learn with experience with COVID. COVID's lessons are blunt and harsh. Maybe it is time to search for the names of people who have become ill. Make a few phone calls. Reach out to long lost friends. I am sure it won't be long before you find out that yes, someone you know is part of the numbers. Also if you have been lucky enough to have everyone in your innermost circle stay healthy, search out experts who will give you advice to stay healthy. These experts have training. These experts have credibility. These experts don't have easy fixes. These experts write their findings in medical journals and not Facebook posts. Stay safe. Blessings.
