[Martian]

I like to think that in days gone by, people would have looked to the government to provide solid consistent guidance in what we should do in the pandemic.

At this point, I think that the advice would have been something like, "This is a new virus and the science is not clear about what to do and how to minimize the risk. Therefore, in the meantime, while we research and develop methods to control or stop the spread of the virus, here are the things we currently think should be done".

Instead, in today's political environment we are bombarded with misinformation - from BOTH sides - leaving everyone confused as to just what should and should not be done. One day a scientist is hailed as the voice of reason and sound guidance, then suddenly he is a liar and everything he said for the past 7 months is a lie. Seriously?

So, things like wearing a mask, become a political dog whistle, instead of an inexpensive thing that can be done easily by everyone to at least help - not cure, not solve, not make the virus go away. Just help. You know, Americans helping Americans. If we can do enough things to HELP maybe more of us will get through this alive.

But, not today, not with the hate and division. Just this week a person not wearing a mask in a Walmart was confronted and in response pulled a gun on the person telling them to put on a mask. Seriously, threaten to kill someone over wearing a mask?

I suggest everyone take a deep breath and maybe, just maybe stop calling the other side terrorists and traitors.

Maybe if every time you feel the urge to call someone a derogatory name, you substitute American - and see if that might just help tone down the vitriolic rhetoric? And let's give this "America Love it or Leave It" dog whistle a rest. This is America, we are Americans. One of the things that have ALWAYS made America great was that we could disagree with each other, but still be Americans first and Republican or Democrat, or Conservative or Liberal second.