Americans are embarrassed by Americans too.
Although the news will highlight our idiotic president, foolish lawmakers, COVID party college students and the many covidiots screaming about masks and conspiracy theories, reasonable folks are out here too.
We’re washing our hands, wearing masks (around our noses too!), socially distancing and sanitizing the shit out of things we touch.
Personally speaking, I have traveled more than I anticipated after moving in March and again in July so I am even more cautious. I hand wash and dry my mask thinking of a colleague whose little boy has cancer. I restock my hand sanitizer praying for my cousin who lost her grandad to COVID. I keep on that mask when it’s hot and sweaty and uncomfortable and think of my cousin working shifts at a Texas hospital on the COVID unit.
We know that the worst among us are the best news fodder, but they are not the only Americans.
As one of the 42% of Americans with a passport, I hate that we have been banned from visiting your beautiful counties. I mourn the fact that my friends and clients don’t feel safe to travel to America either.
Even as I acknowledge that our government has failed, our leadership is weak, our healthcare system is broken, and our economy is faltering, I understand these choices have consequences on the world stage.
Trump made the choice to ignore reality, lie about risks, scoff at science, hide information, play golf, and consign hundreds of thousands of us to death.
And they were choices. But we are out here engaging with the truth as well, trying our damndest to convince fellow Americans that COVID is not a hoax, masks do work and social distancing is the responsible thing to do.
However, change is difficult.
Voters continue to believe the bullshit that we cannot possibly have a living wage, healthcare, paid time off, free education or a government safety net that provides dignity and care. Oh no, not if it means taxing some billionaire named Jeff.
I promise that as you shake your heads and wonder what’s wrong with those damn Americans, we know. We fight against the ignorance and conspiracies all day long.
While the president should have never made masks a political symbol, it turns out they are quite appropriate to indicate that one:
- Believes in science
- Listens to experts
- Cares for the well-being of others
- Is willing to sacrifice some comfort to protect lives
Let’s just agree that America needs a course correct and while it feels like turning the, already hit by an iceberg, Titanic we are trying our best.