Social
Distancing???
We should
consider the words with which we have abided to some degree for the past few
months. Chief among them is social
distancing. What does that mean?
Some would
say that physical distancing would be more accurate for we are social
creatures and surely, we are not to be disconnected from each other, are we? Are we? We just need to spread out more, right?
I propose a
new term: human distancing. That’s what we have been asked to do, put
distance between humans. We are now
defined as carriers
of contagion. People have been
through thousands of years and countless diseases and contagions without having
to live their lives at double-arms interval.
The guidelines
that emerged this year are dehumanizing and we accepted them. The other extreme of dehumanizing is packing people
in like cattle such as in a crowded subway car.
There should be some sane limits applied, but not to the extent of
having to look at every person like they had the cooties.
The discussion
and arguments about which lives matter rage once again. Black Lives, Blue Lives, All Lives seem to
have taken center stage at some point in this unique year. Always left voiceless in the background are
those yet to be born but still thriving
in their mother’s womb until they are not.
We paused
momentarily to recognize those working the front-line medical services, but did
we realize that we were being conditioned to dehumanize each other?
As we divided
and subdivided which lives mattered, still at work was the model that no lives
mattered. Life and lives existed for the
manipulation of the few seeking to seize or retain power, many of these not
being elected officials. Life in the
aggregate had become a commodity to be bartered.
Social
distancing was proof that fear was a powerful tool. Suddenly, we were afraid of each other. Mass manipulation was not only possible but
easier than anyone would have thought in a land formed out of independent will
and pioneer spirit.
So now the
discussion is moving towards how do we get back to work and to school. I say let’s do it without using the term social
distancing. If we are going to
separate people by distance, we should be required to use the dehumanizing
term, human distancing. Let’s remind ourselves that we are treating
ourselves as carriers of contagion instead of creatures made in the image of God.
Should we
wash our hands more? Absolutely. Should we stay at home when we are sick? Yes! That goes for keeping your kids at home when
they are sick as well. Should we keep an
abundant supply of hand sanitizer? Why
not, and maybe some moisturizing lotion for when our skin begins to crack.
And yes,
even you teachers and supervisors need to stay at home when you are sick. The world will survive without you for a
couple days.
There may be
some work-at-home models that continue because they were good for both employee
and employer and not because they saved the world from a mostly impotent
contagion, at least as far as things declared to be plagues go. There may be some adjustments to sick leave
policy for working parents with sick children.
The employee
who produces a great return for his employer will be worth this perk.
Let’s kick social
distancing to the curb. Let’s not
accept its first cousin physical distancing as a fill-in. Let’s use the term human distancing so we are
reminded that what we are doing is dehumanizing.
People use
the term New Normal a lot these days. If
the New Normal does not improve the quality of human life, I say let’s kick it
to the curb.
Let’s not lose
our humanity in this façade presented to save humanity.
If you are
sick then stay home.
If you are
vulnerable, then be on the lookout for where you are at risk.
If you are
ready to live life to the full, then don’t let the propaganda hold you back.
You, we, are
more than carriers of contagion, and our humanity matters.
Humanity
Matters!
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