Our country’s collective conscience could not be more divided on the Covid-19 virus. Whether your most vehement opinion is based in science, politics, economics or personal freedom, there remains the undeniable truth that the Covid-19 virus has no regard for the opinions of people. It simply exists and to date has taken the lives of nearly 100,000 Americans in a roughly three month period.

Some people say it’s not that serious, that only a small percentage of the population is at risk and that the state-by-state responses and restrictions are uncalled-for. Others argue that our nation as a whole isn’t exercising adequate social distancing, masking and self-isolation to the degree necessary to contain the virus. Regardless of opinion, we can roughly compare the loss of 100,000 American lives to the combined populations of Cathedral City and Palm Springs. That’s roughly 100,000 citizens, friends, families, neighbors taken from us in just three months’ time and the death toll’s still rising.

There are two undeniably proven realities of this virus with the first being that the practice of masking and social separation has flattened the curve and the second that unprotected social gatherings have created spikes in the virus’ spread. These are facts, not opinion and both are easily verifiable through virtually any scientific institution or news source.

It’s simply not a matter of opinion. It’s a question of conscience. What each of us decides to do makes a real difference in people’s lives for better or worse. With the Memorial Day holiday behind us, I can’t escape this one haunting question. That so many made the ultimate sacrifice in war on the promise of protecting our constitutional rights, our freedoms and our very way of life as Americans, that so many people during this pandemic refuse the practice of masking and social separation so that thousands not die needlessly, on the premise their freedom’s being taken.

When you compare the past sacrifices made in times of war, how does one defend the view that masking and social separation is a threat to our freedom? Does postponing a visit to your favorite bar or restaurant for a beer and a meal really outweigh the risk of loss of life for others? This is not a matter of opinion. It’s a question of conscience and for better or worse our actions matter.

 

Image Sources

  • Conscience: Shutterstock