MORE BAD NEWS EVERY DAY
Friday, July 3, 2020
Open, shut, open, shut-again might become a mantra in many parts of the world where public opinion and/or politics overrules common sense and medical advice.
Not a day goes by lately when we aren’t bombarded by bad news, reminders that many (in some places, all) things are shut, closed, reduced, or unavailable.
However stressful it might be, someone somewhere else is having a rougher time.
This is, I expect, a similar relationship between the ration of bad news to good news – but this seems worse and more psychologically harmful. Time will tell whether it really is worse or not, but following the daily news angst, it sounds or feels a little bit worse every day. Because it is. Not everywhere. Not here, but when you look at the whole world, this is horrific in its carnage to life, to economies, and leaving yet unknown remnants of a virus in people’s bodies – people of all ages, economic status, and race. And we won’t know the real consequences for years, perhaps for decades.
Every time we get accustomed to more astounding numbers, dangerous activities, and distress, among others – it’s not us, not our family, not our community, not our company … and yet it is to some degree for everyone because we live within a recurring daily horror movie playing with the lights on. Every headline fits the bad news above the fold, or the ‘inside’ neutral section, while very little we see or read deserves the label, GOOD NEWS.
The good news is not in the newspapers, newscasts, or online services.
It’s right here.
GOOD NEWS TODAY:
- Birds are chirping, leaves are out, the grass is gloriously green
- Mountain snows are melting, rivers are flowing
- Sunshine is in ‘always on’ mode, our view interrupted by clouds and nighttime
- Fewer car crashes, fewer emissions,
- Cleaner air, cleaner water, a safer earth
BAD NEWS TODAY:
I was watching a news show recently – doctors were being interviewed about the COVID-19 impacts on children’s health, in light of reports of a significant number of children having health problems relating to the virus. One doctor stated, “With regard to COVID-19, there is far more that we don’t know about this virus than we do know.”
It is a simple statement, something clearly correct – but shocking to the ear because it clarifies, WE DON’T KNOW VERY MUCH YET.
Recent spikes in cases, outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths in the U.S. have exacerbated the situation – because too many places re-opened too soon. As well, too many of them didn’t close down fast and early enough.
Yes, a lot of people are dying, politicians are stretching half-truths that would make Pinnochio blush, and we cannot predict anything other than the sun rising every morning.
Weather reports are usually dodgy-advice at best, but they’ve gone way up the respect-scale for me. Even economists are being heard.
But doctors, scientists, and professionals in keeping populations safe – their advice is ignored by the most powerful person on the planet because he’s focused on legal battles that never quit and an election in the fall.
One might argue, “How much damage can he do in that time frame?”
The answer to how long it takes for bad news, bad people, and adverse circumstances to overwhelm and destroy so much in its path. The disasters known as COVID-19 and Trump aren’t relenting.
The difference from other disasters of nature and of man is that these could have been prevented – and both appear to something that can be eradicated. But not without herculean effort and not without continued losses, both human and financial.
For some more good news: please tune in tomorrow!