Community spotlight: When will this fear and confusion end? – The Edwardsville Intelligencer

John Cunningham Contributing columnist

Community spotlight: When will this fear and confusion end?

I am no stranger to fear. During my childhood, I died a thousand deaths. Each night I had to overcome the dark of night. I grew up with the Boogeyman, Count Dracula, ghost, the Wolfman, Frankenstein, ghouls and the Headless Horseman. There were numerous nights I went to bed with the sheets tucked in on both sides and my head covered up as I shivered in fear. I did not want to be touched by a specter in the night.

Growing up in America, I have learned to deal with school bullies, fire drills, talk of nuclear attacks, talk of home bomb shelters, tornado drills and sirens, earthquake drills, intruder drills, active shooter drills and building evacuations. While in college in Carbondale, I survived riots, occupation by the State Police and National Guard, lockdowns, curfews and restricted travel orders in the State.

Yes, I was afraid at times. I conquered these misgiving with maturity, guidance and understanding. When I screamed in the night, dad or mom came in the room, turned on the light and comforted me. I soon learned that there really was not a monster in the dark or under the bed. The shadow down the alley was not a blood-sucking vampire or a ghost. Law and order returned to Carbondale. Sometimes overcoming fear is necessary for us to mature. However, confusion is a different kind of animal.

Confusion abounds when there is no clear way out of a situation. It seems that everybody has a solution for this pandemic. People are talking from the White House to the outhouse. Should I go to work or stay home? Should I wear a mask or not? Do I need PPE? Who needs PPE? How can I tell if I have the virus? Can I get a test or not? Where can I get a test? Do we have enough tests? Do people who survived the virus have antibodies? Can children get the virus? Should I shelter in place? How long should I shelter in place? Am I laid-off or furloughed? Will I get a check? How will I get the check? Who is safe? Am I safe? Somebody help me, please! Will this nightmare ever end? Who is in charge?

The President said he was in charge. Okay, he has the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Marines and a list of constitutional powers at his command. He has an unlimited list of medical experts that he can summon to solve this problem and a pile of money. Surely, when this much power gets in a room, no problem is too big or too small to be solved. Yet, there are no federal guidelines to govern citizen behaviors or sufficient personal protection equipment to protect workers in essential jobs. It appears that the Calvary is not coming, and no one has a silver bullet or vaccine. We are told to look to the Governors for direction in this matter.

So, the buck has been passed. There are 50 State Governors and they have 50 State Constitutions, 50 legislative bodies, and a host of other obstacles to overcome. Within each State, there are county governing bodies, parishes, cities and townships. All of these bodies will have something to say about how to handle the pandemic. Hence, the questions begin again. Do we have to follow the guidelines from the Governor? How long must we shelter in place? When will my child go to school? When can I get my unemployment check? Do we have enough medical supplies? Can I get a test? Can the county or city override the Governors directions? When will the County or City reopen? Do I have to report to work if I feel unsafe? Must I be tested at my job? Who is in charge?

If no one is in charge, maybe we have to take charge of the situation for ourselves. There are over 328.2 million citizens in this country and each one of us should be able to discern which personal actions will keep us safe. Years ago, I would have told you to use common sense. Today, I am told common sense is not so common. Stay Safe (cover that cough or sneeze).

John E. Cunningham is a retired educator from the Alton School District. He resides in Edwardsville with his wife, Carmen. He has been a member and officer of the Edwardsville Branch #3014 of the NAACP since the early ninties. He has been President of the Branch since 2016.

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Community spotlight: When will this fear and confusion end? - The Edwardsville Intelligencer