TRIBALISM IS IN OUR DNA

TRIBALISM IS IN OUR DNA

I grew up in a farming community in South-Central Pennsylvania dominated by four groups of people. These folks were mostly defined by their religious beliefs and the churches they attended. Some of them also differed in dress and farming methods, but all were Protestant and were of the same race ("white").  The first 18 years of my life were spent in this agriculturally centered community.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a tribe as "a group of persons having a common character, occupation or interest." By that definition the 4 groups I grew up with could be defined as tribes.

The four groups included the Old-Order Amish, the Mennonites, the Lutherans and the Presbyterians. I started school in the Fall of 1945 by attending the local one-room red brick Concord School. Concord was my school home for 5 out of my first 6 years of public education. When I started I was the only student  in first grade. My classmates included Amish, Mennonites, Lutherans and Presbyterians (I was Presbyterian). All eight grades were taught by a Mennonite lady named Mrs Yoder. Older students often acted as assistants by giving tests, etc, but she ran the show.  I appreciated the education she gave me.

School was the ONLY place where the four tribes actually spent much time together. In school we studied together, visited together, and played games together; but once we left school grounds, we went back to the tribe.  The Amish to their horse and buggy, no electricity and German language; the Mennonites to their plain clothes, white bonnets and black cars; the Lutheran and Presbyterians back to their "English ways" of cars, electricity and tractors.

Anyone who visits a large city on this planet can readily observe that Homo sapiens are tribal.  We collect with people of a similar religion, language, culture, ethnicity, race, etc., because we are more comfortable around "people like us".

This United States is an amalgamation of hundreds of tribes from around the world.  From our beginnings in the 1600's to the twenty-first century, this land has been and continues to be a beacon of opportunity.  My ancestors came to America in the 1700's from Scotland and Germany and along with many others, helped settle what was then known as the frontier in central  Pennsylvania. Because this land was so vast, and the opportunities so great, people from all over the world have come here. Today, no other country on the planet has the wide diversity of humans that we do.  

For thousands of years the tribe has been our identity.  We were Christian, we were Jewish, we were Muslim, we were Hindu,
we were African, we were English, we were Japanese, we were Indian and it is a very long list. In the USA of today we are struggling with how we can all be identified as Americans. 

It is a work in progress. We are being tested like never before. The challenge we face is---can we retain the values and culture we cherish as a tribe and still be Americans? Can a nation with such wide diversity survive and prosper in the twenty-first century, or is the effort going to be abandoned as just too hard?  Our children and grandchildren will grade us on our success or failure.

COVID-19 IS GIVING US A RIDE LIKE NO OTHER

COVID-19 IS GIVING US A RIDE LIKE NO OTHER

In the year of 2020 the coronavirus called COVID-19 is in control of the human species.

What is a VIRUS? Viruses are part of the web of life that has  existed on Planet Earth for billions of years.  They exist on the edge between living matter and inorganic chemicals. A virus is considered a life form, but not a living organism. If we define a living organism as an entity that can reproduce itself, the virus does not qualify---it can't. A virus can not be called a chemical with a distinct formula such as ammonia or methane because it contains living matter. These mysterious entities act as parasites on many  forms of life and are able to attach themselves to the cells of other living things. They are then able to use the resources of those cells to reproduce copies of themselves. One virus particle is thus able to replicate itself exponentially, leading to diseases such as the one we are currently experiencing.  

The COVID-19 virus presently ravaging the human race is called a parasite because it uses us humans as its host, but does not usually kill us.  More than 90% of people who have had the disease caused by this virus have survived. Although this pandemic is killing thousands of people, the fact that most humans survive is a positive outcome; and would seem to portend good things for the human species's longterm survival. 

As a scientist I have found this pandemic to be a fascinating phenomena to observe. Here in the year 2020 we are seeing a tiny microscopic life form, the virus, bring the most advanced creature on the planet, the humans species, to its knees.  It is just a remarkable turn of events.

When asked what happens next, most knowledgeable people will tell you the COVID-19 VIRUS controls the future.  I believe this tiny life form is taking us on a ride like nothing this planet has ever experienced.

SCREEDS

NOTE: My son Andy calls my writings SCREEDS, which I believe is a cross between a scream and a rant. I am 80 years old, so I think I deserve  the opportunity to SCREED once in a while. I appreciate all of you who take the time to read my messages.  If any of you are offended  by what I write, I am sorry and if you do not want them sent to you, please let me know. 

RECKLESS VS CAREFUL, CAREFUL WILL SURVIVE

RECKLESS VS CAREFUL, CAREFUL WILL SURVIVE

From the environs of Lebanon County to the halls of the White House, our government leaders have demonstrated the meaning of the term RECKLESS.  In recent weeks both the  President and Vice-President of the United States, our highest public officials, have acted in defiance of their own government health officials by not wearing masks or social distancing from others, while in public.  

Across the country as the weather warms and pandemic restrictions are eased, people are flocking to beaches, parks and venues that had been forbidden for months. Unfortunately many have relaxed their guard and have not taken the necessary precautions to avoid COVID-19. The reckless behavior modeled by national leaders is a tragic mistake and will lead to needless illness and death for thousands of Americans. 

Locally the Lebanon County Commissioners Bill Ames and Bob Philips, along with state representative Frank Ryan and  state senator David Arnold  collaborated with other public officials in an effort to "open Lebanon County" before the state pandemic guidelines would permit. I was very disappointed that these public servants would be drawn into such reckless decisions.  They demonstrated poor judgment and did not set a good example for the public to follow. 

COVID-19 is killing us by the thousands and you give the "finger" to efforts to protect us. Shame on you for such arrogance.  I believe you and all that act as you do will pay a very dear price for what you have done, as the true nature of this pandemic unfolds.  

Social distancing and wearing a mask when near others in the public square are acts of love and consideration for the other person, as well as an act of self preservation.  

Recently, a colleague of mine visited a local market here in Lebanon County and noted with concern that none of the employees were wearing masks.  Upon inquiring about the STATE MANDATE for wearing masks and why the person was not using one, the employee said "God will protect me". 

According to a recent press report a local church was planning a regular church service with NO MASKS OR SOCIAL DISTANCING required. Also a local sit-down restaurant was advertising that it was open in violation of State COVID-19 GUIDELINES. This kind of arrogance and oppositional defiance will get people killed. 

You dare COVID-19 and it will find you.  This virus is relentless and will track you down if you act in a reckless fashion and it will show no mercy. 

Maybe God does NOT protect the reckless.