Yes It’s True: Virus brings out best and worse in us

“There was a virus goin’ round, Paw caught it, and he died last spring… And Momma doesn’t seem to want to do much of anything.” — Bobbie Gentry, 1967, “Ode to Billy Joe.”

The Coronavirus pandemic crisis provides us with a teachable moment, a chance to find out who we really are as a collection of Americans.

The events of the past several weeks have shown who are the best and worst among us, and there’s plenty of room for in between.

A few examples of the worst:

• The selfish ones who have purchased massive amounts of toilet paper and hand sanitizer and them hoarded them.
• The young folks who have continued to party down on the beaches in Florida, noting they aren’t at great risk, but if they visit Grandma they might kill her.
• The jerks who take advantage of peoples’ fears and sell certain products at outrageous prices, also known as price gouging.
• The five U.S. Senators, four Republicans and one Democrat, who unloaded their stock investments ahead of the economic downturn, likely because they had inside information.
• The too numerous Facebook users who spread the virus of misinformation, suggesting this crisis is just Democrats trying to bring down Trump.
• Facebookers who tell us we should go about our business as usual, ignoring warnings to practice social distancing. Just look at what happened to Italy.

Again this reminds me of documentarian Adam Curtis’ suggestion that politicians no longer are willing or able to solve our problems. They’re too busy working on behalf of their wealthy donors. As Bill Moyers perceptively noted, the United States political system has deteriorated so badly over the years that it’s simply a legalized bribery racket.

Among the examples of the best of us:

• The public school districts and their volunteers who have coordinated programs to provide breakfasts and lunches to students while they’re not attending school, revealing the unpleasant information that too many children have to rely on such meals.
• The continuation of the monthly Feeding America Free Food Truck program at the United Church of Wayland, which attracted 124 needy households and 403 people Friday and prompted some of those seeking the food to roll up their sleeves and help with the distribution.
• The Gun Lake Casino being a good corporate neighbor by closing its doors until April 13 and still paying its employees wages during the down time.
• Local restaurants offering drive-through meals so patrons won’t face health risks by dining inside.
• State and federal government making humanitarian moves such as delaying the deadline for filing income taxes and putting a hold on student debt.

So, I suppose the government, aside from deteriorating into a legalized bribery racket, has been able to do a little something for the unwashed masses. But heed the words of Naomi Klein, author of “The Shock Doctrine,” in which she insisted that a crisis can produce a new and improved country, or it can lead to dictatorship. The winner is the one we feed.

For those who believe we’ve never been through anything like this before, I submit the following historical 1918 and 1919 accounts stolen from the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr:

• Dr. E.O. Hanlon, local health officer, has announced a decision was made at a state-wide health convention that an absolute quarantine be imposed to stop the spread of the influenza virus. He remarked, “Breaking quarantine by any person is a violation of state law.”

• Wayland school officials are recommending that because of the recent influenza epidemic cutting into students’ attendance, they have been advised not to send out report cards. “Teachers will strive earnestly to assist those who need more time to catch up in classroom work.”

• Dr. Ira Slater, village health officer, told the Wayland Village Council he recommended “schools and everything of public meetings be closed” because of continued difficulties with the spread of influenza. So the council decreed, “all schools, churches, pool rooms and public places with 10 ore more people be closed and all residences have placards placed indicating presence of the disease. However, the council, in emergency special session the following day, rescinded the action.

• Editor-Publisher George Mosher reported the church people appreciate the opening of the local houses of worship last Sunday after a hiatus because of the influenza epidemic.

• Frank McOmber, chairman of the Allegan County Board of Supervisors, in cooperation with Gov. Albert Sleeper’s proclamation, is urging people in communities not to gather in public places because of the influenza epidemic. He is asking all communities to shut down all meetings, churches and schools for a 10-day period to slow or halt the spread of the virus. Also recommended is citizens to get a serum treatment.

• The Village Council agreed and asked all churches and schools to close for 10 days and businesses be open only until 6:30 p.m.

• Editor-Publisher George Mosher remarked, “It seems rather quiet with all the public places closed.”

• Wayland now has scored 119 points for the season to the opponents’ 34 and will take on Allegan next month for the county championship. This Saturday’s game against Otsego, however, has been postponed because of the flu.

• The Wayland Grange plans to meet Nov. 2 if enough members are well enough to attend after the influenza epidemic.

• A large number of soldiers at Camp Holibird in Maine are suffering from influenza. Rollo G. Mosher is one of those stationed and he is preparing to ship out and go “Over There.”