The essential church

 

By RENETTA W. HOWARD

IN CINQUE

 

We had no idea how COVID-19 would affect our religion, but there is always something to ponder over. Can we imagine the president of the United States telling Americans to go to church during this pandemic while his leadership on every accord is not the kind of thinking people would follow? He told America to go to church and he went to play golf.

The doctors suggested that we continue to stay home as much as possible, but the president said to open up the economy. Therefore, many of the governors of the states of the United States initiated a 25% opening of essential businesses. It did not include places where social distancing would be difficult to maintain.

With announcing 50% open economy, many people are seen out with no mask while we are seeing a surge in the number of people contracting COVID-19. Have we embarked upon a suicide mission? It appears that there are too many people who do not have a care about their health or they just feel that when the president can go about the country, the world, without a mask and tweets that he is taking a drug which scientist say has no positive effect upon the coronavirus except it may cause the disease to become fatal, may be the underlying cause of not taking science seriously.

Of course, when individuals decide to take Lysol and Clorox to kill the virus and make themselves sick because they listened to President Trump, it is not difficult to understand. It would appear that when educated scientists make a suggestion regarding a treatment that it would have more credence than the opinion of a businessman whom has suffered more than one bankruptcy. I must say that this kind of thinking definitely says something about our educational systems in this country if the choice of followings is a reflection of teaching.

Educational institutions in this country have never been equal and more than likely, never will, but if the basic essential learning takes place in any of them, this still should be a country where the majority of the population has a common sense response to the things that affect our lives and livelihood. We must get ‘in cinque’ and make wise choices and keep them in mind on Nov. 3.

 

Renetta W. Howard is a former social worker and educator. She is the author of Julia’s Story, Feathers in My Hair and writes a monthly blog, IN CINQUE. She can be reached through http://www.rhowrites.com.