SHOCK AND AWE?

“What’s that? Oh yes, we have a deadly virus.” So, putting aside all the philosophical debates ranging from this is God’s way of punishing us to those who blame some more worldly specter like a nation or an individual, the reality is that, once again, history repeats. Some more enlightened commentators have pointed out that we have had plenty of deadly viruses before and we will have them again. What we are currently enduring is child’s play compared to the Black Plague in the middle ages and the flu epidemic of 1918. Currently, we are shutting down our society and I won’t argue that is not a good thing. We should take every precaution to protect those we love and even those we could care less about. That is the definition of being a decent human. What we should not do, however, is panic. Part of the problem is that most of the youngest of our population have never had to face any kind of a crisis except perhaps graduating with a degree in English and having to live in the basement of their parents’ home at age 35. In times past, prior generations faced life and death struggles like war (WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam) and famine (the Great Depression) where more than just a hand full of peoples’ lives were on the line. One of the interesting phenoms is that here in our little town of some 3000 souls, we don’t have a myriad number of restaurants and bars. People in big places like L.A., Dallas and Houston, for example, can choose from any number of such places within hailing distance of an Uber. Ironically, however, when those places are being shut down in the current crisis, we can still go over to our local watering hole and enjoy a good meal. And a Margarita. Or some Irish whiskey. We are, of course, not immune from the virus but the odds of getting it are not as great as in a large metropolitan area. And our little town is taking precautions. Businesses are posting signs on their doors, “Don’t enter if you are sick – call this number and we will immediately terminate you with extreme prejudice (just kidding) rather “deliver what you need”, cancelling meetings, limiting visitors to the health care centers and the prison, closing schools, the theater and so forth. One of the reasons we still venture forth is because while shutting everything down is sensible, it is also devastating for a lot of hard working people. If our friend Dillon’s restaurant is closed, Dillon suffers but so too do Joey, Taylor and, well, all the other people who tend tables and

cook the food. Taking a little risk that somehow venturing over to the restaurant might invite infection is a small price to pay compared to the deleterious effect on our fellow citizens who need to make a living to survive. Contrary to some, particularly those on the Left who choose to politicize the crisis, I am optimistic that like other crises, we will persevere and overcome. Last month, I suffered from four serious health issues, including two bacterial infections, a fungus infection and a stomach virus all at the same time. During the debacle, I passed out, collapsed and ended up in the hospital with a concussion and a black eye (my first!). But when they tested me for the flu, I didn’t have it. Most who get this latest virus will survive and that is important to remember. As one of the “elderly” I say, with foolish bravado, “bring it on”–I’ll fight it if it comes and trust in God, Mommie Nature, Budda, fate, whatever. And if it is my time, so be it. In the meantime, I won’t treat my neighbors with disrespect by hoarding toilet paper. As one wag on the net explained, since she has switched from toilet paper to dryer sheets, her bottom not only smells better but it has a lot less wrinkles too!

NOW THAT MAKES ME ANGRY

 

I’ve really had it with the liberal media and their attempt to politicize every bad thing that happens to us in order to bring down our current prexy. In the midst of our latest crisis, the Dos Equis er Corona virus, some reporters had the gall to ask our prexy why he is referring to the virus as the “China virus” since that would not be politically correct. The prexy had a simple answer for them (and punks like late night “comedians” who also called him out on it): the virus originated in China. Duh. Would it have been better if he called it the “Budweiser virus” or maybe the “Coors virus” because we wouldn’t want to suggest that our neighbors to the south had anything to do with it? This is not a time for blatant partisanship. It is a time for all of us to come together to do our bit to fight this plague. I took the dog for his morning walk and the only car I saw on our streets was a police vehicle. It reminded me of a scene from Night of the Comet. Fortunately, I wasn’t attacked by zombies because the liberals were staying indoors as well as the conservatives. Traditionally, these outbreaks have been named after their place of origin. I recall that the 1918 flu was called the “Swedish flu?” Not hardly, it was called the “Spanish flu” because it was thought to have originated in Spain. And beyond that, China deserves our complete condemnation. First, you have markets where people eat disgusting fare like bats with no concern for the consequences of doing so. Second, you have a Commie regime that ignored and then tried to cover up this latest viral outbreak. Third, in a desperate attempt to save face, the regime even went so far to try to blame us, yes, the American military for the outbreak. Unfortunately for the Chi Coms, while they might be able to get away with such “fake news” in their own country, they can’t get away with brainwashing the rest of the world. Sympathy for China? To borrow one of Kid Rock’s favorite sayings, the Chi Coms can “kiss my a–!” And that goes for those in the media and the entertainment industry that are more concerned with PC than protecting our own citizens. Shame on them.