Whose lives matter, and what are they worth to our leaders?

I’ve been uneasy about the “balance” that our President and a number of governors are expressing between saving people’s livelihoods and rescuing our economy, on one side, and keeping down the terrible illness and death caused by coronavirus, on the other. This two-way balance was complicated by warm weather, which brought young people to parks and beaches, and so added springtime exuberance to the economic side, while increasing the illness and death side of the scale. 

I began to wonder: How much is a life worth?  Are some lives more valuable than others? 

Early on in our country’s less than five-month history with COVID-19, it seemed that the elderly were most prone to its infection. Counting myself among the elderly, I was reassured that I was able to stay at home, but suspicious that the deaths of those of us on Social Security were a little too easily accepted, as if each death was unburdening a system supposedly running out of money.

As the analysis of who was catching the virus, and under what circumstances, grew more complex, compromised immune systems became a causal factor, as did living or working in close quarters, which was why COVID-19 was raging in nursing homes and prisons.  

Recently the high rates of COVID-19 among African Americans, immigrants and the poor have made clear that, as in every other arena, “Them that’s got shall get, them that’s not shall lose,” as Billie Holiday once put it so beautifully. By a cruel irony, African Americans constitute 13% of our population, but provide a third of all nurses; as front-line workers, often without proper protective equipment, they have been particularly exposed to the virus.  

The prairie states, which house our meat packing industry, have experienced a surge of coronavirus spread by workers standing shoulder to shoulder as they chop up pork, beef and chicken. These processing plants draw their workers from our immigrant poor; half of all workers in these plants are undocumented immigrants, without either health insurance or savings, and often fearful of checking into a hospital. 

The risk these workers live with has been exacerbated by President Trump’s executive order insisting that the plants stay open and workers remain on the job. As one worker in Greely, Colorado put it: “We signed up to process meat. We did not sign up to die.” That food processing workers who are ill are being forced to come to refrigerated plants and stand next to each other as the meat comes down the assembly line so that Americans can continue to enjoy a hamburger or piece of chicken goes far beyond a careful balancing of livelihoods and the economy with safety.  

Since most of those likely to succumb to the virus are not among the young, rich, or powerful, I also need to ask: how many illnesses and deaths from coronavirus among waitresses, cooks, personal trainers and hairdressers would you trade for keeping open one restaurant, gym or beauty salon? Or, with summer coming on, how many now-healthy nurses and other hospital workers are you willing to put at risk for a nice day at the beach?   

I know the balance is delicate. With single mothers who have lost their jobs and are acting as at-home teachers for their children while trying to feed them without unemployment insurance, and whole families waiting patiently in a long line of cars for a box of donated food, not all the argument is on one side. But before we agree to a run of deaths among our black, brown, poor and elderly neighbors, we need to guarantee protection for everyone. This means a ready supply of masks and other personal protective equipment, but it also means ample testing, tracing, tracking and whatever else develops, to insure our safety.  

 

Carol Ascher, who lives in Sharon, has published seven books of fiction and nonfiction, as well as many essays and stories.  She is trained as a spiritual director.

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Lakeville Journal and The Journal does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Latest News

Busking in the Berkshires
Brent McCoy of Secret Circus Show at Berkshire Busk!
Roman Iwasiwka

While playing outside in the early post-pandemic days, Berkshire Busk! founder Eugene Carr had an epiphany: why not expand the idea of performing on the street (aka busking)into a full-fledged festival in Great Barrington?

As an entrepreneur and cellist, Carr envisioned a well-organized jamboree featuring regional talent, including musicians, acrobats, storytellers, fire-eaters, and more. He formed a team, connected with local businesses and the town of Great Barrington, and launched Berkshire Busk! in 2021. Since then, Berkshire Busk! has grown into a summer staple for Great Barrington.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Sylvia' brings heart, humor and one unforgettable dog to Sharon Playhouse stage
Jonathan Walker as “Greg” and Jen Cody as “Sylvia”in rehearsal at The Sharon Playhouse.
Aly Morrissey

What if the dog onstage was played by a person? That’s the delightful twist in A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia,” opening at the Sharon Playhouse on Aug. 29. In this clever and heartfelt comedy, the title character — a stray pup who disrupts the lives of a married couple — is portrayed not in costume but by an actor who brings insight, charm, and chaos to the role.

Stepping into Sylvia’s paws is Jen Cody, who is returning to the Sharon Playhouse in a starring role for her third year in a row, ready to bring this spirited dog to life. She’s joined by Jonathan Walker as Greg, the middle-aged man smitten with his new four-legged friend, and Jennifer Van Dyck as Kate, his wife, whose patience and identity are tested by Sylvia’s sudden presence in their home.

Keep ReadingShow less
Labor Day weekend art, design and local finds

Paul Chaleff’s exhibit at Mad Rose Gallery in Millerton.

Provided

The unofficial end of summer is here, and while some of us may mourn the shortening days and cooler nights, the culturally-inclined denizens of the Litchfield Hills, Berkshires and Taconics have plenty to look forward to.

During Labor Day weekend, visit one of the offerings below, and maybe even take home a watercolor, rug, or locally-crafted wooden bowl to ready your home for the indoor season ahead.

Keep ReadingShow less