While speaking on the phone with the head of a local government department the other way, words were uttered that hit me like a slap to the face.
“I’ve never lived through anything like this,” said the voice on the other end of the line.
The name and age of the other person involved in the correspondence will not be revealed here, but some quick math will tell you this person doubles my time on planet Earth.
Up until this point, the event that had made the biggest impact on my life was the unspeakable tragedy that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. The uncertainty that swirled through Gilmer (Ga.) Middle School – I was a spry seventh-grader at the time – was overwhelming, to say the least.
I believe my teacher, Bill Wright, summed it up best that day. As the television in our classroom flickered on, he attempted to capture the severity of the moment.
“Pay attention,” he said. “This is bigger than Pearl Harbor.”
Fast-forward to 18 1/2 years later. Sure, there are people who lived through the Great Depression, Pearl Harbor, two world wars and subsequent conflicts afterward. Each event had to carry its own brand of unease and impact their lives.
However, my teacher’s words were prophetic enough to stick with me through the years that have followed. During last week’s conversation, I was hit with a cold dose of reality.
Often enough, we live through significant events and do not pause long enough while in ‘survival mode’ to appreciate that it is, in fact, a significant event.
The coronavirus is here. It’s all around us. Fortunately, at press time Wednesday there have been no confirmed cases in Graham County. But the sheer amount of confirmed cases and new initiatives being taken by our elected officials – at a local, state and national level – to curb the issue has information pouring into The Graham Star at such a rapid rate, it is often difficult to process everything clearly.
Don’t worry: we have been and will continue to keep the public as informed as possible. We’re not going anywhere.
But riddle me this: Faced with any of the aforementioned significant moments in history, what have we, the American people, done?
We have united. And it warms my heart that we are doing it again.
In the wake of schools being closed – sadly denying some children what could be their only meals of the day – community locations in Graham County have been established to distribute food. No child should go hungry, as several volunteers have taken to delivering the meals if transportation is not available for pickup at a distribution center.
At Sweetgum Baptist Church – one of two Tallulah posts, along with Bear Creek Baptist Church – there have been an average of 35 meals a day distributed since the work began last week.
According to the Rev. Patrick O’Dell, the pastor at Sweetgum, the location receives 60 meals each day for pickup. However, none go to waste.
“Whatever’s left, I take to people that can’t come pick up meals,” O’Dell said. “I’ll do that for anybody; they just have to let me know.”
A full list of distribution centers in Graham County appears on page 2 of this edition.
The Crown gas station became the first in town to lower its gas prices to below $2 a gallon, an action unthinkable when gas was seemingly frozen at $2.59 in Robbinsville as recently as January.
Churches all around the area have taken to delivering sermons to their congregation through Facebook live-streams. Technology has brought us this far and, for once, you hear of a rural, country church reaching its parishioners via social media and you cannot deny how the internet can be used in a
positive manner.
Meanwhile, the Graham County Board of Commissioners moved to declare a countywide State of Emergency last week. An Emergency Management Committee was established and some difficult decisions made, including the enactment of a nightly curfew, what is essentially a closure of our county borders and the closure of accommodation-centric businesses.
Yes, times are scary. Some people will lose income. I often rant about how I wish this world did not revolve so heavily around how much money is in one’s bank account, but alas, I am but a speck of sand in the scheme of things.
What is equally disturbing is a Facebook post that popped up over the weekend. I will not even dignify the identity of the creep who posted this, but what follows is a direct quote:
“Does anyone want to join me in declaring war on Graham County local government? It seems they are taking after the Nazis and have decided that tourists are the scum of the Earth. I refuse to wear my Star of David.”
Besides the obviously ignorant idea of declaring war on the local government, to akin our elected officials to a group that committed mass genocide is a level of idiocy I hope to never attain.
This is simply not the time for negativity. Graham County – and everyone else, for that matter – is simply doing the best with the information provided.
This pandemic evolves everyday. There’s no protocol in place for dealing with a worldwide flu outbreak, but the last thing that is needed is bitterness and jealously.
With that being said, has anyone else noted that all the countless criticism of “panic-buying” hand sanitizer, toilet paper and medicine has been met with exactly zero defense? It’s almost like these hoarders know that what they are doing is wrong – and just don’t care.
That may be the scariest reality of all.
All across the opinions page, you will find various takes on a very serious problem. Our health columnist, Ana Williams, encourages everyone not to be afraid during these trying times, as it could be detrimental to your well being.
Our political columnist, Roger Carlton, calls for the immediate resignation of a North Carolina senator for seemingly taking advantage of the sure-fire economic downturn we will face. Our faith columnist, Eric Reece, reminds everyone to open your ears and listen to directions when they are given (how old were we when we learned this simple technique).
Lastly, CNI columnist Phil Hudgins provides an inspirational take on the road that lies ahead.
Allow me to summarize the opinions you read:
* Do not worry. Easier said than done, I know, but over-thinking precautions being taken and the spread of the virus itself could be bad news.
* Take this pause to enjoy the more important things around you. There is much more to life than money.
* Do not be greedy. Save some supplies for everyone. Follow the proper techniques for cleanliness that we should all have memorized at this point. Now is not the time to “man” or “woman up,” so to speak.
Remember, we are all in this together. Let’s continue to help each other out.
“United we stand, divided we fall” – John Dickinson, “The Liberty Song,” 1768.
Kevin Hensley is publisher/editor of The Graham Star. He can be reached by phone, 479-3383; email, editor@grahamstar.com or on Twitter @KevinHensleyCNI.