As I observe the never ending flow of information about COVID-19, I continue to see how the spirit of fear is being generated throughout our country. And yet, if one stops to think for a moment, all the worry in the world cannot control the future.
What are some of the symptoms of this spirit of fear: Anxiety, worry, depression, isolation, and fear of getting sick or dying? Some now fear every person is carrying an infectious disease and should be avoided at all costs or a least everything they touch sanitized. People are paying a pretty high price for this spirit of fear.
At the inauguration of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the midst of the Great Depression he said: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
If government continues to perpetuate this spirit of fear over COVID-19 we can expect more people to suffer from depression, anxiety and loneliness.
It seems governments are doing their best to destroy social relationships and the human spirit in our country. I know people who are still locked up in their ‘security bubble’, fearful of getting COVID. They have, for all intent and purpose, stopped living.
People need to realize loneliness and emptiness can become a self-dooming trap that can only be broken by leaving the comfort zone of fear and realizing that being social with others is one of the keys to staying healthy.
I’m sure there are advantages to self-isolation, but one needs to be careful about the side effects that come with it. One being it allows the spirit of fear to thrive.
Lately the spirit of fear has been fueled by the question: is it safe to return to school? Asking the question over and over instills fear and anxiety into our children, their parents and our teachers. It has the same effect as hammering away at the COVID numbers every day which elevates fear and anxiety in some people.
A July 29, 2020 news release from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children says, “…strict physical distancing should not be emphasized to children in the school setting as it is not practical and could cause significant psychological harm. Close interaction, such as playing and socializing, is central to child development and should not be discouraged.”
While tunnel vision has captured the political and media minds, it seems illnesses that contribute to higher death rates are being ignored. The Heart and Stroke Foundation notes 72,000 people die from heart and stroke disease every year in Canada. The Canadian Medical Association Journal states 82,000 die from cancer every year, and 225,000 new cancer cases are expected in 2020.
COVID is real and wearing masks in certain situations is helpful, but if masks are as effective as some would lead us to believe, why did the government shut down our economy rather than telling us to wear masks? Oh, I forgot, science is an evolving thing.
One thing we know for sure about masks is they remove facial expression and identification. The smile that once brought joy to those who are shut-in, lonely, or just looking for a friendly face is no longer available. Covering our faces with masks removes individual identity. We no longer recognize others.
Humans are social beings by nature, and yet somehow politicians are sold on more social distancing. Even though the COVID curve has been flattened some grandparents have not seen their grandchildren in months; some of our young people have not seen their friends. People in hospitals are not allowed visitors, unless they are dying. And long term care residents are limited to a few designated visitors. We need to realize social contacts have a stimulating effect on the mind and personality. It’s our contact with others that challenges our minds and helps to develop our character. It’s also healthy in many other areas of human development and well-being.
The spirit of fear is alive and well and being fuelled every day. If we’re not careful we will allow government leaders to affect our well-being under the guise of what they like to call the ‘new norm’ and our safety.
Politicians contribute to the spirit of fear through their own actions. The House of Commons and provincial Legislatures did not sit full house over the last several months because of COVID-19, yet the very politicians think businesses should open under government guidelines, young people and teachers should go back to school, and people should register to go to church. It makes a person wonder if government really knows what it is doing in making regulations or providing guidelines. Just another example of how the spirit of fear is fuelled. Politicians should lead by example.
We need to step back and take a look at what is really happening. We’re being hammered with information that is destroying the very fabric of human relationships. Gradually the spirit of fear being created by our governments and the media is taking away what once were considered basic freedoms and rights.
Are we not intelligent enough to know how to protect ourselves and still live a healthy lifestyle?
If you’re living in a bubble or continually living behind a mask, please understand that someone misses seeing you. We also miss seeing our elected representatives sitting in the House of Commons and Provincial Legislatures.
A.W. Allan
Moose Jaw
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
