EDITORIAL
The greatest definition of fear, we believe, was described
by Franklin D. Roosevelt during his first
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.16 COM | MARCH 13-MARCH 19, 2020
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We must do more to prevent
coronavirus from spreading
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inaugural address in 1933.
People recall his famous line that we have
“nothing to fear but fear itself,” but his words immediately
thereafter perfectly describe the impact of fear
as being “nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror
which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into
advance.”
It’s easy right now to fall into the trap of fear. Coronavirus
has cultivated a culture among many afraid of
an invisible, microscopic enemy that can cause grave
illness.
The fear has seeped into our economic markets; the
Dow Jones plunged 2,000 points Monday, causing financial
losses in the trillions of dollars.
But it’s incredibly important for all of us to keep things
in perspective. It’s natural to be fearful, but it cannot put
us, as FDR said, into a state of retreat or paralysis.
Nobody wants to fall prey to coronavirus; the health
risks are indeed high. Thankfully, the city and state are
doing what must be done to contain the threat in our
midst.
Public and private institutions are taking the overly
cautious approach, which is the right call right now.
Even so, most New Yorkers are going about their daily
lives, albeit with abundances of caution.
It’s important that we continue to live our lives so
long as we use common sense.
If you’re feeling ill — if you’ve got a cough, a fever
and/or shortness of breath — stay home and get medical
attention. But if you’re healthy, keep doing what
you’d normally do — just make sure to clean your hands
frequently to protect yourself.
As for the stock market, we will be tested economically
yet again the way we were in 2008, the worst financial
crisis in recent memory. The Dow Jones recovered
and soared during the Obama years and went higher
beyond them.
Recovery will happen again once we resolve to end
the panic and move forward toward relief.
The de Blasio administration has launched programs
to help small businesses impacted by business
drop-offs. Similar programs should be enacted on the
state and federal levels to do the same.
But it’s also important that individual New Yorkers
also receive financial aid to get through these tough
times. City, state and federal lawmakers must not leave
them behind.
Together, we can overcome coronavirus and financial
crises. We’ve done it before; we will do it again.
READERS WRITE
As coronavirus continues
to spread across the country
and New York state, Governor
Cuomo has declared a state of
emergency.
Now, why don’t all public,
parochial and private schools,
as well as all colleges and universities
throughout the state,
immediately close in order for
their facilities to be disinfected
and cleaned thoroughly to further
prevent the spread of this
virus?
Parents may soon begin to
start keeping their children
home because of what they are
hearing on the news, and many
businesses may also start closing
and requesting that their
employees work from home.
Sports arenas and theaters
may start to have very few to no
people coming to events.
Restaurants and hotels will
start to see significant drops in
people coming to eat or stay at
their places.
Churches, synagogues,
mosques and temples may
start to see fewer of their congregants
in attendance.
These steps to halt the
spread of this dangerous virus
should be taken immediately,
not down the road. Time is precious
and it cannot and must
not be wasted.
Our medical and government
officials must be totally honest
about the coronavirus and how
it will affect everyone.
John Amato,
Fresh Meadows
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