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“Why do people shut their brains off when it comes to Covid?”

I think much of it is because we have become a risk-adverse society. We have shielded ourselves and especially our children from the tooth and claw law of the jungle. Everything is antiseptic, sterile, peaceable and safe. When an unknown virus pops up—and health “experts”, the press, celebrities and politicians all panic, we do too. It reminds us of all the apocalyptic movies we have watched, not to mention the Spanish Flu stories. We demand the problem be solved immediately and since folks no longer approach God for help, they look to the next great power: the government, which is more than willing to exercise its power, regardless of its competence. And our brainless reaction to Covid just encourages governments everywhere to find dangers time after time to hold onto and enhance their powers.

I am not optimistic the general public will engage their brains anytime soon. My niece has three healthy children, ages ten, six and two. She lives in Kentucky and they are still living in fear of Covid. They are all fully vaxxed but only go to the grocery store. No recreation, no vacations, no family visits, no church. The older two go to school but they are the only kids there to wear masks. She is counting the days until the baby can get his vaccines. She is otherwise educated and sane but Covid has put her and her family on the edge of sanity.

The risk avoidance trend has been going on for some time. The old stories and fable intended to teach harsh lessons to children have been rewritten and produced by Disney to ensure everyone lives happily ever after. Children’s playground equipment has been redesigned to ensure no one gets hurt. If, heaven forbid, someone gets an ouchie, lawyers will find a cause of action and demand damages. We now have totally ridiculous warning labels because of litigation. Until we accept that bad things can and sometimes do happen, that panic isn’t always warranted, that life can be unfair, we will remain a society of children afraid of our own shadows.