Reflection in Pandemic Times

In these pandemic times, if we had eyes that functioned, what would they see? Would they see people protesting against public health measures put in place to protect everyone from illness, the collapse of our healthcare system, and possibly death? Would they see first responders and medical professionals in desperate need of artificially constrained supplies of PPE? Would they see what has been touted for decades as the WORLD’S BEST healthcare system falling flat on its face when confronted with a novel coronavirus it had known about for many weeks yet failed miserably to take appropriate steps? Would they see their only means of livelihood disappearing simply because people who chose to live in cities are dying at unacceptable rates while they prospered in their lower density rural and quasi-rural landscapes and yet were forced by dictatorial politicians to be unemployed? Would they see their freedoms taken from them by unconstitutional acts of the same officials? Would they see the damage done by covid-19 has been exacerbated by an incompetent government response, constraints on our civil liberties, and an escalating geopolitical war with China? Would they see that South Korea kicked our ass in “flattening the curve” while the CDC and the FDA sat around and choked the chicken? Or would they see the Trump Administration reacting swiftly and confidently to control the threat of a global pandemic?

It may be that another interpretation of what has transpired should be considered. Perhaps none of what is being “seen” depends on our vaunted organs of vision. Rather it may be that what is seen depends on the observers’ previously adopted ideological point of view and not on their eyes. I believe many hardline conservatives are predisposed to see one thing regarding the pandemic while people on the left are predisposed to see another. I believe what was seen depends in large measure on the filters positioned in front of our supposedly sighted organs, our eyes. I believe that it wasn’t the eyes that were in action but the filters we are loath to acknowledge and even more unwilling to understand.

The truth is few people are genuinely reflective about their condition in life or about the different filters that affect them in so many ways. Ever since Socrates/Plato uttered that famous dictum—The unexamined life is not worth living—some 2,400 years ago, it does little good to rail against that so very human a failure. Human reality is what it is and nothing we can do will change that. People who are reluctant/unwilling/unable to examine their lives and puzzle about how and why they might understand what is going on around them are the rule rather than the exception. Railing against armed people who hoist Confederate flags while protesting transgressions against their liberties regarding covid-19 guidelines is very much like railing against the weather. Nothing will be changed by either course of action. It is far better to try to communicate with those whose filters are not brightly colored by one and only one ideology than to try to reason with an ideologue. Forget it. It doesn’t work now and never will. Don't waste your time.

The best thing we can do is to put the famous dictum originated by Socrates/Plato to good effect in our own lives. It is critical to recognize the proposal that we all should reflect on how closely our ideals and behaviors coincide is not elitist but a way to live with a clear conscience even if our actions do not always sync seamlessly with our ideals. After all, no human is perfect; we are all flawed. We don’t have to drink the hemlock if our political ideals are not always mirrored in our every action.

Reflection is a journey, a way of life, not a destination that can be achieved. But it is a journey that is highly recommended, especially if you are trying to make sense of American politics in these pandemic times featuring crowds of armed,  marginalized folks waving Confederate flags who strongly prefer continued covid-19 suffering and death in the general population to their own unemployment.