In the Old West, as people were moving to the West Coast in their Conestogas, they would often “circle the wagons” as a way of pooling their resources and setting up a quick defensive barrier against a common foe such as a pack of wolves or hostile natives. The larger the wagon train, the bigger the circle and the better these settlers were able to defend themselves.
The “America First” policy is based upon this same concept. It works if you agree that America is without friends and alone while the rest of the world is “out to get us.” From a planetary perspective, it is a relatively small circle.
But now we’re faced with a world pandemic (the tautology is for emphasis). COVID-19 is threatening all of humankind and the circle we should be drawing is worldwide. The “America First” policy is isolating us from sending and receiving vital medical information that benefit us all. Confining testing and the response to the virus to isolated pockets only serves to prolong the pandemic.
It seems that viruses like COVID-19 are tailor-made for oxymorons. We need to “come together” as a community with our ideas and willingness to help our neighbors, yet we also need to practice social distancing. We also need to support our local businesses, but not congregate in stores or restaurants. We need to cooperate with our government authorities (national, state and local) but still exercise good judgment in a calm, rational manner when those authorities place politics above medical precautions.
There have been some serious delays in our approach to this pandemic, but finger-pointed should be saved for the fall and not done at this time.
This is the time to think about the people in need in your community. We need to work together (meaning: in a coordinated fashion) and follow the excellent medical advice that has come from our health care experts.
Dr. JAMES FIESEHER
Dover