Welcome to Pandemic America

By Robin G. Jordan

A recent Washington Post article, “Coronavirus may never go away, even with a vaccine” tells us what we need to hear while saying what we do not want to hear. We prefer to listen to those who talk about “post-COVID-19.” As I observed in an earlier post, they are whistling past the cemetery, trying to stay upbeat in what is a dire situation, hoping for the best possible outcome.

While medical science has made tremendous strides since the nineteenth century, what may prove to be the best measures that we can take against more COVID-19 cases and deaths are the measures that humanity has been taking since ancient times. These measures including quarantining those who may be vectors of a disease and avoiding those who may be infected with the disease.

In a number of ways the COVID-19 era represents a return to the past—a past when outbreaks of cholera, typhus, yellow fever, and smallpox were a regular occurrence in the United States. A major difference is that we have a better grasp of how such infectious diseases spread and what we can do to prevent their spread. It is quite apparent from the reactions of one segment of the population that there is a pressing need to educate the public regarding such matters.

In some places the COVID-19 pandemic is revealing the strengths of the American character but in other places the pandemic is exposing its weaknesses. What we are seeing are not the actions of mature adults but the kind of bravado, recklessness, defiance, and poor judgment that one associates with immature teenagers. What we are not seeing is any concern for the safety of others.

Frustration with government mandated protective measures and subsequent business closures does not justify the kind of protests that we are seeing in a number of states like Tuesday’s hanging of Governor Andy in effigy here in Kentucky. Politicians are making matters worse by downplaying the seriousness of the pandemic and egging on the protestors. Fringe groups are also exploiting these protests for their own ends.

COVID-19 is not a disease that we can take lightly. It is much more serious than the flu which it is often compared. Taking a laissez faire attitude toward the virus as some would-be influencers of public policy argue will not save lives. It will increase the toll of suffering and death caused by the virus.

Countries that may cope better with COVID-19 may be those that have a greater sense of social responsibility than does the United States. Americans are prone to the attitude, “You do your thing; I’ll do mine.” They see protective measures like sheltering in place and wearing a face mask as a personal choice. They are unwilling to see a link between their actions and the consequence of their actions for others. This attitude, however, is itself a threat to the health and safety of the community. Our actions are not divorced from their consequences to others. If we become infected with COVID-19 but choose not to isolate ourselves because we are not feeling sick, we are contributing to the spread of the disease as did the out-of-town visitor who was the first confirmed COVID-19 case in my county.

As we are being confronted by the challenges of the COVID-19 era, serious issues are being raised. When does the constitutionally guaranteed right of free expression of religion give away to the need to protect the community from a dangerous, highly infectious disease? While individuals and groups have rights under the Constitution, so do communities. They include the right of a community to protect itself from the acts of individuals and groups that are endangering the health and safety of the community. In the COVID-19 era what we may see is a balancing act between the rights of individuals and groups and those of the community. Partnering with the community in protecting the health and safety of the community may be the best way for churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples to maintain this balance. In this way religious organizations will be seen as allies in the fight against COVID-19 rather than contributors to its spread. They can model social responsibility for the rest of the community.

One might hope that COVID-19 might engender in Americans a greater sense of social responsibility. But I must admit that I am not optimistic. If Americans are to be successful in mitigating the effects of COVID-19 in this new era, they will need a greater sense of social responsibility—a “we are all in this together” attitude rather than “everyone for himself….” We are on a new frontier but it may not be a frontier where rugged individualism serves us best.

I believe that churches can help to encourage a greater sense of social responsibility. Jesus emphasized love of neighbor and treating others the way we would want to be treated. He also exemplified self-sacrifice. In this regard churches will need to become countercultural. They will need to go against America’s me-centered culture.