Rebuttal

                I pride myself on being able to see other points of view. In fact I feel like its actually my biggest weakness in life. I bend and twist to try and put myself in another position, to the point where I’m pretty sure I don’t actually stand for my own convictions. I still stick to this, but given the current times, its becoming harder and harder to bite my tongue and not stand up for what I believe in.

                We are living in unprecedented times. There is a disease out there that will infect anyone indiscriminately. Due to the disease drastic measures were taken in an effort to protect all life. There were some horrific consequences to those measures. I know that all of the leaders who made those decisions did not do so lightly, especially given that they spanned the political spectrum. We had all agreed that these sacrifices were for the greater good, that more people would be afforded life in the end if these measures were followed.

                Today, however, the disease is seen as a hoax. It was made up for political purposes. All of the destruction that has occurred because of this incredibly serious disease is apparently a political calculation. Millions of people lost their jobs, and thousands of people lost their lives simply because people are upset with the President.  Apparently the previous statement is true. I don’t know how but from what I see it is.

                From what I read and see online, the US is a doomed country because Governors chose to do the right thing and acknowledge that COVID-19 is a real and dangerous virus. On top of that the Governors who chose to treat COVID-19 as an actual threat are anti-American. They have closed restaurants and gyms. They’ve mandated that people become aware of other human beings and asked them to wear masks, thus protecting human life.

                I understand that people have pointed to the death rate of COVID-19 as being relatively low. However, what these people refuse to understand is that the transmission rate is so incredibly high. Sure, maybe the death rate of COVID-19 is under a half per cent, but on average each person with the virus can infect 3 people. With that infection rate the half per cent becomes a huge number of people. We need to, now more than ever, do things for the sake of those around us. We cannot just think of ourselves, there is a lot at stake right now.

Given all of that, I can understand the reticence towards addressing racism. There is so much going on, and so much that requires people’s attention. There is a hesitancy to address these other issues. They have always fallen to the back burner, but have become full fledged issues. I do think that the timing has led to some of the nay saying that has gone about. The issue of race has been a ticking time bomb essentially since this country was founded. That the bomb happened to coincide with egregious conduct and the biggest pandemic in 100 years is not surprising.
                I challenge all who may read this to think: Do I politicize COVID-19? Do I politicize racism? I honestly don’t care about your answers, you are entitled to your opinion. However, if you answer yes to either, I’m sorry…