Dear Editor,
As we move through the COVID era, three states of mind have emerged. Roughly speaking they are: Irrational fear, Rational fear and Common sense.
Irrational fear is imagining the worst that could happen and believing it to be so. Rational fear is recognizing there are dangers and precautions must be taken. Common sense is trusting our experience of what is likely to happen – and what is not.
As an example: several music teachers planned to offer a Music Camp for kids this Summer. We waited for the provincial government to give the ‘go ahead’, which it eventually did; we read the 3 pages of COVID safety protocols and were prepared to meet them. Then, we went in search of a location for the camp. And that is where we were stopped dead in our tracks.
One door after another firmly shut – we were confronted with irrational fear about COVID and the certainty that something terrible would happen and everyone would be sued. Rational fear would have suggested that we be asked how we intended to abide by the COVID protocols. Common sense would have looked at our 20-year history of running summer camps and the people of responsibility in charge.
Not everything is like this. Within the past month, eighteen music students performed two outdoor concerts for the residents at Heritage Lodge in Vankleek Hill. With the active support of the workers at Heritage and following all the rules, we let common sense be our guide. Our only danger was the hurricane-force winds which took our music to Alexandria and music stands to Grenville. No one got COVID.
We have arrived at a place where we have to reject irrational fear, recognize realistic dangers, take reasonable precautions and regain our Common sense.
If not, then we are in danger of never emerging from a pandemic of the fearful mind.
Sincerely,
ian hepburn,
Vankleek Hill
