It's fall, the kids are back in school, and the warnings are already out regarding the second outbreak of the swine flu. There are media reports about cases of swine flu and the much promised vaccine isn't ready yet, and so a flurry of media reports on how to best prevent catching the dreaded bug come out. We should wash our hands after coming into contact with EVERYTHING! Then there was a report that questioned the effectiveness of washing hands as a preventative measure. Oh, and don't forget the study that suggested getting a regular flu shot made one more susceptible to the swine flu. Or was it the other way around.
It's getting out of hand. Now, the Olympics Committee is advising athletes to avoid handshakes and high fives. Rather, fist bumps will be the way to congratulate fellow competitors. No more butt slaps?! And of course, no more hugs. Wow, what a way to kill that celebratory mood.
Then yesterday at church, the minister suggested fist bumps as an alternative to shaking hands when passing the peace of Christ! All right, that's going a bit far. I actually didn't see any do "props" (as Devlin has told me that's they're called) to pass the peace. And, isn't a clenched fist suggestive of a fighting stance, rather than peace?
What really got me was that after the suggested fist bump passing of the peace, there was Communion. The bread was already cubed and placed in a tidy bowl. Nope. it was torn by the bare hands of the server and handed to you to be consumed. I think I'd be more concerned about flu germs being passed this way, than by passing the peace. Really. How do I know this server washed/sanitized his hands recently. Or that the loaf wasn't sneezed on by some other server? Or that the minister had recently sanitized his/her hands before breaking apart the bread? I'm sure I saw the minister shake several hands prior to service commencing.
Okay, what I'm really irked by is the hype about the flu season. Yes, it's uncomfortable and misery to those who get it (I had it last year), and yes it's deadly for some. But so are many things. And frankly speaking, illnesses and viruses are part of life. Deal with it. To envision a life without, is to dream. I don't think any preventative measure on earth will eradicate the flu virus for good. The common cold virus is still around, and will be for many years.
Sure, practice good hygiene. Get the flu shot if you desire. But don't believe it will stop the virus for good, or believe that it will protect you from all bugs. I'd rather see the government spend the money on promoting preventative health in general. Like promoting exercise and sensible eating, doing more the stop the masses from smoking, promoting the importance of early prenatal care, and funding better support systems for the mentally ill.
As a mother of young kids, I've accepted that illnesses will happen no matter how many preventative steps you take. And no, you can't catch a cold from not wearing a jacket but you still say that to the kids.
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