Regarding the catastrophe of this pandemic—the anger, insecurity, and fear of the unknown is bringing out the baser behavior in man. The difficulties of no income generates a fight-or-flight response in us, which can help us survive. Conversely, a misfire could cause us to respond to the perception of threat inappropriately in violence and in reckless behaviors. Witness the gun-toting mob protests and refusals to mask and maintain social distance.
The pressures to resume business could open the floodgates of illness at a time when quarantine has almost tamed this wild beast of a disease. Who will be well enough to work to generate commerce if we drop our current management strategies?
We have to accept that our way of life, commerce, and social interaction are forever changed. We need a clear eye to view what needs to be done as we cautiously proceed in jump-starting commerce so we can grow out of this dilemma and not plunge the world back into the Dark Ages.
We have the intellect to proceed. We need to engage that intellect and not succumb to mere instinct.
Colleen Campbell Murr
Santa Maria
This article appears in Jul 9-16, 2020.
