This Mess Isn't Unique to Our Age

As the C-Virus Mess (as we dubbed it over a year ago) returns in many part of the country, we turn from getting back to "normal" to putting much of life on hold again - at least for some of us. Where I live masks have appeared like the first kernels of pop corn in the hot pot. Will this, like popcorn, begin slowly slowly then accelerate? Time will tell.

One thing time has already told us: There are forces out there who have nothing but a purported vaccine to offer as an alternative to Mess. Their message: If only more of you had taken the jab, we'd be done with this Mess by now. It's the malingering un-vaccinated that have caused things to drag on. Indeed, they pose a threat because they both catch the virus and spread it. At least that's what comes out of one side of their mouth.

Out of the other come reports that those who've already taken the shot also catch the virus and spread it. The natural question that should arise when one hears the bifurcated message would be: But didn't you say the jab was "safe and effective"?

Oh, yeah. But what we meant was that it would mitigate your symptoms and reduce your chances of dying when you caught COVID again - which we now admit happens (although we don't like to say too loud). Which then implies the jab-less are the ones who will suffer and die - at least suffer and die more than the jabbed. 

If you spend enough time observing and thinking about this evolving dialogue, a natural reaction would be deep skepticism. Count me as such a skeptic.

Recently I came across something that reflected a lot of what's happening. Here it is:

THE days are dark, and hearts are heavy with forebodings as to what shall be the end of the questions and problems of our time. Labor and capital, wealth and poverty, stand over against each other with lowering faces ; murder is in the air, and the spirits of evil are abroad almost visibly as it were. There are rumors of threatening disease and want, and the mind at times shrinks back affrighted from the days that seem coming on the earth. What does it all mean, and who shall bring the remedy to the evils of the age?

The hint that this wasn't written yesterday is rumors of threatening disease. The rumors dissipated over a year ago. The disease is here and it's real. 

So obviously this was written some time in the past. In fact, it was at the inception of the 20th century, around 1904. The times were similar to ours. Wealth imbalances (rich getting richer that the rest of us), social divisions, crime - all of which are evil. (The source was a religious work, so calling it evil comes naturally.)  

Is it any consolation that we humans, we Americans have been through all this before? Perhaps it might be. What happens after these dark days will determine how consoling it could be. Back then, the darkness passed - eventually. Living through it wasn't pleasant, but it passed. 

How about this go-round? I'm not holding my breath that it will pass soon. We could be stuck in this Mess for a while. 

Hang in there.