The first time I felt the world had taken a sharp, surreal turn was the morning after the US Presidential election in November 2016. Stunned, in disbelief, I moved through the day slowly, my mind a fog. Later, unable to make sense of what had happened, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we had entered a hard, dark parallel universe - one that should never have happened.
In the classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Jimmy Stewart’s character, George Bailey, experiences a glimpse of such a dark parallel world when his guardian angel temporarily shuttles him into the evil twin of his own cozy town. Controlled by the misanthropic, greedy Mr. Potter, Pottersville runs rampant with sad, cruel people, beaten down by their hard circumstances. This glimpse is supposed to give George an idea of what his town of Bedford Falls, New York would have become, had he never been born. Indeed, George Bailey’s evening in Pottersville makes him all the more grateful for his life in Bedford Falls, which he has taken for granted.
Similarly, in the fall of 2016, I couldn’t help but think how carefree I had been, living under what I had taken for granted to be the protection of a democracy with free and fair elections. The reality is that while I and others had enjoyed the benefits of an open, democratic society, a thriving capitalist economy, and laws established by what I thought of as mainly fair, benevolent leaders; others clearly had not. November 2016 heralded a harsh wake-up call that a large and growing percentage of the population felt disenfranchised, underrepresented, and even in despair. This twin of our country’s promises of the “American dream” had been there all along.
Three and a half years later, it’s unclear whether the disenfranchised have received any more assistance. What is clear is that our country’s free and fair elections have been compromised, and the current administration appears to be more concerned with its own image and the possibility of re-election than with the country’s best interests.
Now, in the wake of a global pandemic - the first that almost any of us, including centenarians, has seen in our lifetimes, I again feel that we have swerved onto a dark parallel track.
In my opinion, the disaster and effects of COVID-19 would not have been as widespread under a different administration. The pandemic prevention measures in place in over thirty-five countries would not have been cut; CDC and NIH spending would not have been slashed; test kits would have been ordered well in advance; efforts would have been made to listen to medical experts and collaborate with the leaders of other countries to control the spread; airport screenings and quarantines would have been issued out of caution and foresight.
In short, more capable leaders would have taken action months ago, and warned of the severe implications of a pandemic virus instead of ignorantly dismissing it as “another flu.” They would have had the foresight and wisdom to know that without prevention and preparation, our health care system could crumple to its knees, unequipped to handle the incoming cases and other critical cases; and the economy itself could shrink possibly to the levels only seen in the Great Recession and even the Great Depression.
Oddly, if you went on a rafting trip for three weeks without wifi or cell as apparently at least one group did, you might, upon returning to civilization and after recovering from your shock at the news, even be fooled into thinking that you had returned to a government run by a dictator, where disease is rampant; people live in fear; and only the dictator, his family, and close advisors are protected - both economically and physically.
In this terrible, unprecedented moment in history, we have entered a new normal, where children cannot go to school; many people in the service industry cannot work; and income and long years of savings have gone down the drain. However, I am not normally one to dwell on mistakes of the past, hold grudges, or stew about what could have been done differently. So in the spirit of moving on, I’d like to look ahead and come together with others to help out wherever needed.
As an employee in the high tech industry, I feel fortunate to be able to work from home, as does my husband. This is a luxury that many other industries cannot afford, and I am grateful for it. Homeschooling is not convenient, but it is also necessary, for now, to make sure that kids don’t lose ground and continue to sharpen their skills.
While this is a surreal time, others in history have survived World War I, the Spanish Flu of 1918, the Great Depression, World War II, plus countless other intervening conflicts and strife. In fact, many countries outside the US currently suffer far worse - daily struggles to eat, sweeping mosquito-borne illnesses, conflicts and government upsets that force them from their homes and make them fear constantly for their lives.
Maybe, like the fictional character of George Bailey, we can use this moment as a way of reflecting on what we had that was good, and how we can unite to get through this crisis together, stronger. And then, with an eye to the future, let’s figure out how we can create a better, more equitable system that benefits all, a democracy of our own making: by the people and for all the people.