Contributed by Huhnkie Lee
I was wondering whether I should title this article as it is, or as ‘corona la la land’.
It is because I was driving down the street and it was empty, like Alaska once was and I liked that.
But at the same time, I went to Walmart and couldn’t find a kitchen towel and I didn’t like that. But it was interesting though, like, zombie apocalypse or something.
We Americans are, surely enough, really enjoying this corona news of the day, it’s like addictive.
So, what’s going on here? Are we like, being in an amusement park, on a rollercoaster ride, or are we watching a horror movie, craving for a vicarious danger or simulated harm, knowing that we are all safe and sound behind the seatbelt and harness, behind the silver screen or something? Are we faking the fear just for the sake of having some exotic fun like, enacting the secular doomsday prophecy?
The sad thing is that we don’t get to see politicians these days quoting Mr. President F.D. Roosevelt’s, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” So why don’t politicians say it?
One blind spot of democracy is that politicians fear people. It could be a good thing or a bad thing. So, when people fear coronavirus, politicians fear it too, because politicians fear people. Ergo, politicians would never say, “Hey, coronavirus is nothing to be afraid of,” because if they say so, they will be unpopular and they will not be re-elected in the next election cycle. Politicians, they act like, a scared employee. A politician, whether s/he is a Republican or a Democrat, whether s/he is the President of the U.S. or a city council wo/man, a politician is always mindful of what people think of s/him. In other words, in democracy, a politician is not a leader, but a leadee, who get led by people, by the majoritarian, mainstream, by the herd, by the wagon to jump in and chime right in.
So… What should we do about this coronavirus? Anybody? Hmm?
If you ask me, I say this, “What should we do about coronavirus?”
Nothing. Yes, absolutely nothing. Why? Because, there is nothing special about coronavirus. So many Americans are afraid of coronavirus because they’re scientifically illiterate. Even so called “scientists” are afraid because they don’t know how to apply their knowledge to the real world situation, or they’re just afraid of the people en masse, just like politicians are.
So, let’s do some science. A virus is like, a very small quasi-organism with a protein coating that encapsulates a piece of DNA or RNA. A typical virus looks like a moon-landing space ship in a college biology textbook.
Fortunately, our human bodies, as well as plant or other animals, have immune system. We have white blood cells that produce so-called antibodies. An antibody is a protein complex that molds itself against a protein that is foreign to the host organism. When an exotic material comes into a person’s body, s/his immune system respond by producing antibodies in order to capture and surround that extraterrestrial matter. So an antibody is like, a custom-made handcuffs, so to speak. To capture that piece of strange protein foreign to a person’s body, it takes some time to learn and adapt for our immune system to prepare against a brand new pathogen. Coronavirus, it’s just latest.
So, what should we do about coronavirus? Nothing. My recommendation, just live your life as before. Go to work, do healthy diet, do regular exercise, do personal hygiene. Yes, do clean the bathroom, do the laundry, vacuum the carpets, bathe your pets, etc. Then you will be fine.
All these politicians in NY or CA… They are like, fearmongers, right? Shutting down the entire state? Stay at home?
Like many of us in the U.S., I think that’s not a good idea, forcing people to stay at home. Because, biologically speaking, your immune system weakens if your body is inactive. If you stay home 24/7, you will not be as healthy as you go out in active fashion. Health is all about blood flow in your body, a good rest, lean and fibrous nutrition from beans, veggies, etc.
Like many people in the world, I am blessed to have experienced some difficulties in my life back in the days, which roughened and toughened me. I’m a veteran of the U.S. Army and have been deployed in Afghanistan. I’m also, so privileged to be an Alaskan! I’ve been living in this fantastic place with fantastic people. We, we Alaskans are like, the last Americans. We’re like, the last free people in this country.
We’re tough people, you know. Coronavirus? Ha ha ha. That’s what I’d say. It’s a joke. Come on, guys and gals. It’s all in your mind. There’s nothing special or different about coronavirus. It’s all from fear of the unknown.
Then please, know. Learn biology. Stay in school, go Wikipedia or other websites. Learn about exercise, diet, hygiene. Ok? //!-)
