I heard it again. The announcement in the most solemn tone of voice. It’s the tone one hears when imminent death is expected. That moment when the doctor says, “I’m sorry, there is nothing more that can be done.” The heart sinks. At some point the thought of funeral arrangements briefly passes through the mind.

If you thought the announcement was inoperable brain cancer you’d be … wrong. But I would’ve expected that conclusion or something similar.

The real announcement: Covid Positive

Society has been programed to think the worst. The absolute fear associated with this diagnosis rivals any terminal illness. And the constant reinforcement of fear is staggering. For instance:

“If you visit family at Thanksgiving you’ll be visiting them in the hospital before Christmas”

“Everyone who catches covid should send #AmyCovidBarrett a letter letting them know what they went through, how it impacted them financially, who else got sick and what happened to them.”

“As an atheist I take no issue whatsoever with people of faith practicing their faith in a way that doesn’t impact me. We’re all free to believe in whatever number of gods we want. But when you insist it’s your right to hurt and kill others, your faith impacts me. #AmyCovidBarrett“

“Amy Coney Barrett is doing some major mental gymnastics to call herself pro-life while letting religious groups knowingly spread a deadly virus.”

I call BULLSHIT!

Besides the ridiculous thought that while we can’t visit family at Thanksgiving we could visit in the hospital and then trying to blame Justice Barrett for spreading covid (it was a 5-4 decision) … a Covid diagnosis does not automatically require hospitalization nor is it a death sentence! The above statements are nothing short of attempts to reinforce or are examples of the fear mongering surrounding Covid-19.

Propagating fear that is disproportionate to the risk is simple political manipulation, masquerading as a public health concern. So for what purpose is the public being manipulated? There is a lot of speculation and none of it is good. And why should it be good? Manipulation is bad, period. If there isn’t enough truth to convince society that manipulation becomes the mode there is something wrong. Very wrong.

Grandma was well aged when the family gathered at her home for a celebration. She came down with a cold shortly thereafter that turned in to pneumonia. She couldn’t shake it and passed away. Everyone was sad that Grandma died but no one blamed the cold or the person who may have had the cold. Viral illnesses are a part of life.

Every death is tragic yet death is certain. With great gusto we may try to postpone it but eventually we will all be visited. Perpetually hiding in our homes is to avoid calamity is not living, might lower our immunity, and increase the negative outcomes from illness.

So let’s stop spreading the BULLSHIT!