This is one of the famous lines in a contagion-based game called "Plague Inc." where the player manufactures a disease, mixes and matches some components about how it works and watches the outcomes to see if humanity can survive the illness. You always know it's pretty serious when you see the scrolling message "President of USA Taken Ill." But here is the thing.
As engrossing as the strategies become for playing it, the premise of the game is awful.
Today Pres. Trump and the First Lady both tested positive for COVID-19 and the president has been moved to a hospital facility for monitoring. I do not believe there is a human being on this planet who is as triggering and upsetting to me as Donald Trump. I know I may lose some readers here, but I hope that this can serve as a springboard for productive discussion about civil discourse. I am not going to call him names. I am not going to lie or exaggerate what he has done--although I would be hard-pressed to try and exaggerate at this point. What I will say is this: Donald Trump has never been fit to serve as the president of the United States and his toxic rhetoric has led to feelings of mistrust and doubt from all parties in this country and all countries across the globe.
I will not attempt to document all the actions and words of the president that have set my teeth on edge and slithered under my skin as I try to educate myself on the current proceedings in our country. Too many instances of bullying, shaming, endangerment, negligence, and downright meanness have demonstrated to me that Donald Trump never intended to play by the rules. He has broken rule after rule unchecked and unchallenged. But now facing the rules of mother nature, it is clear that these are rules that cannot be broken.
Today I have felt a deep sense of conflict when hearing about the president's positive test. At one time I have felt that I would do almost anything to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office for a second term. His public shaming of people such as Joe Biden or Elizabeth Warren (although at the time he was using an offensive term to describe her) for wearing "masks-big masks. THey wear the biggest masks, it's so stupid," makes it hard to feel empathy for his situation. As his campaign has brought droves of people together in crowded settings, leading to multiple, preventable outbreaks and deaths of American citizens who he excused from wearing masks citing his 1st amendment rights--it is hard to feel empathy. Hearing his words from February that he knew this a dangerous virus, but hid it from the people he has sworn to protect...it goes on and on and just makes it hard to feel empathy for him.
But also. He is human being.
What does it say if we have come to a position of "He deserves this!" or "It's about time he got it!"
No. I won't do that.
I am ashamed for our country at how we have portrayed ourselves since the 2016 presidential election. I am ashamed and frightened at the lack of federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am terrified for our future if Donald Trump remains in office. And at the same time, I will not cheer on a virus that is impacting the leader of our country as we continue to spiral in our economy, healthcare system, and race relations (among many other salient issues).
"These are the times that try men's," and women's, "souls."
Yeah, they really are.
Let us choose to dig deep, express our dissent and disapproval without dehumanizing one another. It can be hard with so many important issues rattling to the bones of our very core, but we are all of us good people. I will continue to say it over and over again. People are good, people. So although I will never respect or agree with our president, the people wishing him a less-than-desirable fate do not speak for me.
For anyone fighting this insidious virus, know that my thoughts are with you. And in the future...we need more than thoughts and prayers.
Let us allow the rules that have molded our legacy be rebuilt and reformed so that we as a nation can continue to evolve through any difficult situation. Otherwise, the next scrolling message from "Plague, Inc." will be "COVID-19 Has Eradicated Humanity."
We do not need to be dead for humanity to be dead.
But we must be alive for the tenants of humanity to be restored.
Prepare, don't panic,
-Allison
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