It’s the nineteenth of April, and I will now perform a public service by summarizing what we know to date about the novel coronavirus and Covid-19, the disease it causes. As an former medical professional, I believe that I am uniquely suited to this important task.
- It may have come to the U.S. earlier than we first thought, or maybe it didn’t
- It might be possible to re-catch it, but probably not
- There might be a drug that is effective, but maybe it isn’t
- A vaccine might be coming this year, or maybe not
- It might be soon time to re-open things … but probably it’s too early
- Masks might not be helpful for most of us, but we should wear them anyway
- Unlike STDs, you might be able to catch it from doorknobs and toilet seats … or perhaps this isn’t true, and we should relax and go to a movie
There now, don’t you feel better?
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One of my favorite Buddhist stories came up recently at a recent online AA meeting, one where we were discussing pre-existing attitudes and how they colored what we saw and experienced.
The story goes like this.
A man was walking along a dusty road and saw a village off in the distance. At the side of the road a blind man was sitting peacefully with his begging bowl and bothering no one.
The traveler asked the blind man:
Are you from that village?
Yes, I am
What kind of people live in that village?
What kind of people live in the town you are from?
Oh, they were terrible. Grasping and greedy, gossiping and lazy.
Well, I think you’ll find the people in my village are much like that.
The first traveler grimaced and continued on his journey. A second pilgrim then came down the road. When he saw the blind man, he asked the same question.
What sort of people live in that village?
The people in the village you are from – how would you describe them?
Oh, they are lovely. Kind and generous of spirit. There are no lengths they wouldn’t go to in order to help a sufferer, even a stranger.
Well, I think you’ll find the people in my village are much like that.
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I will close today with these observations by Andy Borowitz, a man cursed with an unclouded vision.
Dr. Oz Fears That Coronavirus Comments Could Hurt His Credibility as Expert on MagicBeans
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Little Home In The Valley 