Notes From Jackson Street: Local Heroes emerge during pandemic
By John Winters, Publisher
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, BUT the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” – Arthur Ashe
One of my favorite quotes comes from a story whose main character is a mouse. At one point, the narrator says, “you know that a hero doesn’t appear until the world really needs one.”
If we learn anything from this coronavirus pandemic, I hope it is that true heroes don’t necessarily wear capes, play sports in massive arenas or stadiums, nor pretend to be someone they are not on the big or small screen. And they sure aren’t influencers.
They are the doctors, nurses and first responders, obviously. But they are also the cashiers at convenience and grocery stores interacting with hundreds of people each day. They are the truckers bringing in food, lumber, and other necessities, while at the same time finding it incredibly difficult to find a place to eat on the road and have to use port-a-potties at closed truck stops.
They are the people who deliver the mail. They are the teachers and professors creating “virtual” classrooms out of, literally, a cloud. They are the moms and dads trying to deal with young kids at home:
All.
Day.
Long.
They are the essential workers. They are the non-essential workers. They are, we hope, you. They are all those focusing to “git er done.”
Finally, to borrow from an excellent column in this edition, The Journey by Samantha Brazie, be kind.
Everyone has a view of the do’s and don’ts during this pandemic. Your view is yours. Another person’s view is theirs. Respect each other’s decisions, even if you don’t agree.
Be kind.
Stay safe.
