I keep hearing people use the phrase “the new normal,” and wondering if any such thing exists. I don’t know that the new everyone is talking about will ever really feel normal. Not to most of us anyway. I’ve begun to think (pessimistically for me, sadly) that we will never get back to what we once defined as normal or even close. So what changes should we “just get used to” and learn to accept?
Social Distancing
I guess handshakes and hugs and other forms of physical contact with others are just gone. This really bothers me a lot. I tend to be a touch/tactile person. I need to feel some human contact every now and then! It seems weird to lose that. And even the term bothers me. Since when is being distant from others socially supposed to be a good thing?
Masks
I guess the whole world has become a bunch of germaphobes. Why? Haven’t we always been surrounded by an endless supply? Now, I don’t mind the extra emphasis on hand-washing, and improving general hygiene is a good thing, but the masks don’t feel at all normal. And honestly, if you’re not using a medical grade device, you're probably doing more harm than good (according to the CDC). And if that’s the case, aren’t we really just talking about a new fashion accessory? An uncomfortable one at that! Oh well, maybe it won’t be so bad when the weather turns cold.
Lockdowns/ Shutdowns
You do realize that cold and flu season is coming, right? And whether it’s the flu or the common cold, every time somebody sneezes, everyone within a block is going to freak out. And the lockdowns are normal now, right, so now every time the disease of the month affects a higher number of folks than the average, we all have to stay home and businesses have to shut down and the whole country’s economy has to suffer? What a crock!
Hateful Politics
Okay, so this one actually predates the virus, but now even health issues have become part of the ugly world of politics. And I guess there is no such thing as civil discourse anymore. And why are people so ignorant about the way government works? You do know there are actual mayors and governors who have a lot more control over your daily lives than the politicians working in Washington DC. And the vile and nasty things said frequently about the leader of our country by political opponents and the mainstream media continue to get worse each and every day. And sadly, the Office of President apparently deserves no respect anymore. Most of you, I hope, understand what I’m talking about. The actual position, not the man, should be granted the respect the title deserves (regardless of your opinion on the current holder of the office.)
Professional Athletes and Celebrities as Political and Social Activists
I am a firm believer in freedom of speech, but the idea that somehow pro athletes or movie stars or pop singers are considered experts in regard to politics or social issues is just crazy. Especially when, as a group, they tend to be so extraordinarily uninformed. If all you can do is repeat the media talking points and blast that out to your millions of social media followers, you certainly have that right, but it would be nice to see you put some of your (considerable) money where your mouth is. And I don’t mean by contributing campaign funds or bailing out protesters.
Violence in the Streets
Or what the mainstream media and the Democratic Party like to call “Peaceful Protests.” Despite the daily efforts by the media to portray the violence as the fault of the President, you do know that it is the Left who are doing all the burning, looting, and destroying of property, right? And you can justify it all you want, but opposition to another political party or their elected leaders does not excuse the nonsense that is happening. (Sponsored and paid for by some serious Anti-American organizations!)
Don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to consider these things normal.
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