Op-Ed
An Evolution in Our Way of Life has Begun
Let us not
forget where we have traveled and moved from during this Corv19 pandemic? Stay
at home, 14-day quarantine, testing, social distancing, creating new ways to
communicate, personal protection equipment, food shortages, loss of jobs,
violent behavior (theft, shootings, rape, abuse, neglect), creative ways of
teaching children at home, etc. This is all new to us but is required to move
out of the abyss this country has been experiencing for the last few years. Cov19 has exposed our weaknesses and extremely
dangerous social norms exhibited by some of our society.
Over time we
have experienced lots of changes in this country. The founding of our country
required a revolution to free us from England and the King, the resistance was
strong with many challenges but we made it. The Civil War that freed slaves and
indentured servants, Women’s right to vote, equal pay for all, no child left
behind, eradication of gerrymandering, and many other events have led to changes.
In all situations we have made the nation a better place for the next
generation. We have made changes resistantly simply because it is new and takes
us out of a comfort zone. Cov19 has impacted our lives that we can never turn
back but move forward and creating a new vision of the whole community.
National and world unity for the first time is on its way.
National and
world unity is another period of change that is going to cause mental and
emotional pain and endurance. Cov19 has shown our vulnerabilities, weaknesses,
character towards those in different economic classes, and minority racial
groups. Cov19 ha hit hard minority communities extremely hard. Cab drivers, sanitation
workers, assembly-line factory workers in the food industry, waiters, bus
drivers, cleaning attendance, maids, consumer workers in stores, flight baggage
attendance, and much. Native Americans have felt the inequality. The treatment
of people of color differently in our judicial system and encouragement of
separation and disenfranchisement has long been a problem and stain on our
country.
We must
change our behavior and create a new social-cultural identification, a balance
equal, and a fair society for all.
It is time
for a change, a new and challenging way of thinking with new leadership at the
local, state, and federal levels. Leaders that see the whole community, not as separate
parts based on lobbying and money. It is time we provide Universal health care
to all regardless of the ability to pay, to control salaries for medical
professionals, and to begin a national higher education system for all after
high school like regional colleges and universities designed to specialize in
different career paths. Mail-in voting and electronic voting by computer.
Judicial
rules design for every judge to use in making standardized decisions and a
Judicial review committee overseeing their work and adherence to the rules of
law. We should require a balance on the judicial bench both at the federal and
local levels. Universal police force monitored daily, environmental protection
of our air and resource and reduction of plastics and other dangerous materials
which include gas emissions and the use of chemicals in plants.
Do not think
you can be silent and stand on the sidelines. It is time to make significant
changes to how we live our lives and how we see each other as a value to this
country. We must bring other countries along and not see ourselves as the dominant
country but as a partner for the good of the whole world. No more war or
threats but working towards understanding and working together towards a better
world.
This all
requires everyone to participate in round table discussions as representatives
of the whole community not just one or two parts of the community.
I vision a
community not trying to get back to things as they were but looking towards a
better social society for the entire world. My mom would say “You cannot change
the past it is done and there are lessons to learn at each step you take”. You
can be better if you take those lessons and improve yourself and the community around
you.
