Two years into this pandemic and, while there is ample criticism of the government and other institutions for failing to implement measures that make it easier for people to be safe, I don’t see enough criticism of those who are dying.
Despite two whole years to prepare, many continue to have pre-existing conditions like cancer or being Black even though these are well known factors that increase the odds of dying from COVID-19. Others refuse to vaccinate because the people and platforms they trust to inform them have been filling their brains with made-up nonsense for two years.
It’s simply ridiculous how many people are convinced this disease isn’t a big deal. How is it that we are two whole years into this and people are still dying? Don’t they know that the hospitals are full and the medical staff are exhausted? A recent poll of those in health professions found that one-fifth of them plan to leave the medical field in the next two years. Why would anyone burden them further by requiring intensive care, then dying anyway?
It’s deeply inconsiderate for people to die, and I’m sick of pretending it isn’t. We as a country need to move forward from this pandemic, but the people dying from COVID-19 are holding us back. If we as a nation want to remain competitive in the global economy, we need our people to take a hint from those in much of Europe and Asia by not dying anymore.
Jeffrey Brown is a former Arts Editor for the Daily Cardinal. He writes for The Beet occasionally and does some drawing and photography too. He is a senior majoring in Sociology. Do not feed him after midnight.
