By: Leonard Lenny Vasbinder
May 3, 2020
I saw a couple of versions of this post on Facebook and Twitter. I tried to find the original posting and author — to no avail. It did not have a title so I gave it one. I also corrected some grammatical and AP Style issues
==============================
Thanks for reading my blog and following my blog and Youtube Channels. Please consider using my Amazon Store link for your Amazon shopping. I earn a very small commission from Amazon and it doesn't cost you anything extra. https://amzn.to/3cYkMcU
==============================
I was reading some posts for and against reopening the country. One was talking about being selfish and it got me to thinking.
There are those wanting to reopen yet they’re being classified as selfish. There are those that rely on all kinds of people to supply them while they cower in fear at home. Isn’t that being selfish too?
You expect your garbage to be picked up, you expect the grocery store to be open so you can get milk, you expect truck drivers to supply the stores, you expect farmers, meatpackers, fruit and vegetable pickers all to keep food in that grocery store.
You expect Amazon to still ship all the things you’re ordering while you sit at home shopping. You expect the delivery driver to leave it on your doorstep. You expect your phone to work, your power to stay on, and your mail to show up rain, sleet, or shine.
And most importantly, you expect the doctors and nurses to be there if you need them although many of them across the country have been furloughed because their units and services have been shut down while the entire system focuses only on COVID19.
The whole premise of shelter in place is based on the arrogant idea that others must risk their health so you can protect yours. There is nothing virtuous about ignoring the largely invisible army required to allow people to shelter in place.
I know there are some of you that are screaming mad about what I just said but stop and really think about what is allowing you to stay safe in your home.
I truly believe that with some common sense on my part, I could easily go back to life as it was. I want to go to restaurants, I want to shop at the little store just up the road.
And yes, I could catch COVID-19. I could also catch the flu or a cold. I could get run over by a bus. I could get struck by lightning. We take risks every day. If you choose to stay at home, that is absolutely your choice. And please don’t start screaming at me about how I’ll just spread it. Why are you worried? You won’t get it because you’re staying in your home.
Are you going to shelter in place every time a new strand of the flu happens?
Our economy can’t withstand much more of this. If our economy collapses, so will the rest of the world’s economies. If that happens, you will see the rise of tyrants.
I absolutely don’t want people to die — from COVID or anything else. I want people to live.
But sheltering in place is not living.
My comment on the thread —
I saw a shorter version of this with an attribution — "Written by @Katherine Bennett Amirteymour," but I still can't find the original. I found her FB page but do not see this posted on her page. Ugh! She has a private FB page and there is no way to even try to add her and she says she doesn't check messages. Reminds me of the "Now, dance monkey, dance" open letter to Hollyweird a couple of years ago but I was able to track down the author of that for this blog. I'll keep trying to verify the author of this for an article.
https://www.facebook.com/circleofmamas/posts/2596202520655331:0
Circleofmamas
April 30 at 9:41 p.m.
·
I was reading some posts for and against reopening the country. One was talking about being selfish and it got me to thinking.
—
There are those wanting to reopen yet they’re being classified as selfish. And then there are those that rely on all kinds of people to supply them while they cower in fear at home. Isn’t that being selfish too?
—
You expect your garbage to be picked up, you expect the grocery store to be open so you can get milk, you expect truck drivers to continue to supply the stores, you expect farmers, meatpackers, fruit, and vegetable pickers to keep food in that very grocery store.
—
You expect Amazon to continue to ship all the things you are ordering while you sit at home shopping. You expect the delivery driver to leave it on your doorstep. You expect your phone to work, your power to stay on, and your mail to show up rain, sleet, or shine. And most importantly, you expect the doctors and nurses to be there if you need them although many of them across the country have been furloughed because their units and services have been shut down because many hospitals are empty.
—
The whole premise of shelter in place is based on the arrogant idea that others must risk their health so you can protect yours. There is nothing virtuous about ignoring the largely invisible army required to allow people to shelter in place.
—
Written by Katherine Bennett Amirteymour
