Rising to the occasion in 2020, the year of COVID-19
When the world learned early Friday morning that President Trump and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 there were predictable reactions registered all over social and terrestrial media and they were very much in keeping with the spirit of 2020.
There were gestures of support from many corners but sadly there was toxic jubilation which bubbled up from many who despise Trump — sad, but par for the course in these times.
However, and refreshingly, there were some notable personalities who put their politics aside and expressed their feelings from a place of humanity.
MSNBC host and passionate Trump critic, Rachel Maddow, tweeted: “God bless the president and the first lady. If you pray, please pray for their speedy and complete recovery — and for everyone infected, everywhere. This virus is horrific and merciless — no one would wish its wrath on anyone. We must get its spread under control. Enough…god bless the president.”
Maddow did not have to afford Trump such a solemn consideration. Among her fans she would have been very popular had she used the occasion to send off a snarky missive about the president’s disdain for masks and how this was a justified karmic moment.
But she didn’t. She set aside the easy thing and did the hard thing. She eschewed selfishness for selflessness.
Obviously, these are just words and are often a requirement of professional protocol but we need to see and hear these words to combat the dark pall of negativity hanging over this country.
Similarly, Democratic nominee Joe Biden expressed his concern for the president and first lady on social media.
“Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family,” he tweeted.
Likewise, Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris sent a similar message, tweeting: “Doug and I join Joe Biden and Dr. Biden in wishing President Trump and the First Lady a full and speedy recovery. We’re keeping them and the entire Trump family in our thoughts.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi offered Mr. and Mrs. Trump, “prayers for their health and well-being.”
We should be glad that there are people with power and influence who still have the capacity to show grace and compassion in such divisive times.
It is fair to say that we have proven, well beyond a reasonable doubt, that we are capable of using our words to harm our cultural and political foes and we too often indulge in such petty recreation though our moments and days are finite.
Many among our readership and many more across the country and the world have lost loved ones to the coronavirus. This is a serious ailment and though the president and first lady are likely to recover, there are no guarantees.
We are grateful that influential people like Maddow have chosen to broadcast messages of faith, love and good tidings to those stricken during the pandemic and perhaps when we are on the other side of this event, such gestures will have sown seeds for a more united country.