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We will defeat this virus with faith, not fear




Ellen Gould

Ellen Gould

“This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory.” — Franklin D Roosevelt

This passage was taken from Roosevelt’s first inaugural address. The country was still in the midst of The Great Depression.

The statement is so pertinent today. As we watched the spread of COVID-19 in other countries we learned a lot as a nation. Our leaders were wise enough to mobilize our healthcare workers and suppliers so that we did not let the virus cripple our healthcare system.

Now we must have faith. It is time to believe that if we do contract the disease that there are resources to take care of us if we are ill.

This virus is extremely contagious. Eliminating the virus and expecting that it will not spread is not reasonable. Staying home and isolating is reasonable. Wearing masks, washing hands and not shaking hands is reasonable. Shutting down businesses, schools and events is not reasonable.

For the vast majority of people who contract this disease, the symptoms are what we experience every year during cold and flu season.

COVID entered our home over the summer — of the six of us still at home four of us tested positive at that time. Two of us were sick enough to warrant missing school or work for a few days. The other two had almost no symptoms. We isolated and actually felt relieved that we had experienced it and reveled in our new immune state. We continued to wear masks.

Fast forward a few months and one of the kids in our house, who did not have symptoms in the summer, lost her sense of taste and smell.

Since we were more than 90 days after our brush with COVID all of us had to isolate again. As you can imagine, I was more than disappointed at the prospect of quarantining with three teens — again. In my opinion, those of us who tested positive previously should not have had to quarantine again.

However, we did it. I will be getting an antibody test to prove to myself that this was necessary and give the healthcare system one more data point to look at.

The world is easier to isolate in. The kids attended virtual classes. I shopped via click list. We zoomed and I cleaned out the garage — again.

In a world before the pandemic we would have sent the kids back to school with the symptoms that they have. Now we don’t dare.

We have to admit that the world has changed and we all have some new rules to play by. IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY HOME AND KEEP YOUR KIDS AT HOME so that we can have a hope of normalcy.

The worst part of this disease is the fear. For us, the symptoms were not worse than what we have been exposed to and lived with year after year. There are other worse side effects of shuttering our lives if this goes on. Our children are falling behind or are neglected when schools and daycares are closed. People are suffering from depression as businesses close. We live with choices and consequences every day. We make decisions everyday about how fast we drive or whether or not to smoke.

This is America. We should be able to decide if we want to eat in a restaurant or go to a concert or movie. Let the free market dictate which businesses are worth risking COVID for. Good wholesome activities should be encouraged, not hindered by government.

If you have a health issue that puts you more at risk, stay home. You have every right to do that. The government should not legislate whether we can celebrate Thanksgiving and who or how many we celebrate with.

I received calls from two of my eight children that they would not be joining us for Thanksgiving due to COVID concerns. Of course, I was disappointed.

I was also happy that my kids read and educated themselves on the current CDC guidelines and made their own educated decisions. They felt confident enough to call and talk to me about it. They felt that the exposure was not worth the risk. The governor does not need to make those decisions for us.

We must have faith and support the people themselves to have victory over this situation.

Ellen Gould and he husband Dave are the owners of Main Street Media of Tennessee. The company publishes local newspapers and websites including – Main Street Fairview, Main Street Clarksville, Fort Campbell Courier, Dickson Post, Cheatham County Exchange, Robertson County Connection, Gallatin News, Hendersonville Standard, Portland Sun, Wilson Post, Murfreesboro Post, Main Street Nashville, Main Street Preps and Titan Insider along with magazines, websites, social media pages, podcasts and videos. Ellen can be reached at egould@mainstreetmediatn.com.

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