If you turned your TV on yesterday, there was nowhere to go to escape the now worldwide swine flu scare. The panic level has been raised to 4 and every other photo shows someone wearing a mask. For Mexico, it has been deadly - more than 150 have lost their lives. With the exact same strain finding its way to 50 confirmed cases in 8 states as of yesterday, only one has been hospitalized. The Powers That Be don't know why this flu is so deadly south of the border and that makes the panic potentially more fatal that the disease. in 1976 under Gerald Ford, we had a Swine Flu scare and after a public saturation of flue shot warnings, some died from the vaccine which made it even more scary.
But if I am living in Mexico and seeing everyone on the street wearing masks and my next door neighbor died form the flu... I am going to panic. Plain and simple. We human are people of quick triggers. We may not use our brains to anywhere near capacity but those tapes that play in our heads, have 100% recall.
While everyone else is is out buying hand sanitizer and googling Swine Flu symptoms, those in Lower Manhattan yesterday didn't even have the flu thing on their radar. Apparently trying to take advantage of a photo op, the FAA authorized the Air Force One backup 747 with an F16 behind it, to do a flyover the city without informing the public. Because no one had been told, from Mayor Bloomberg, down the chain, there was a panic from those who lived through 911 to see these 2 planes. I can only imagine what was going thru these people's minds watching this play out. This photo was taken by a couple who were working from home, completely aware that this was real and thinking, please let it not be true.
Video clips show people out on the streets looking up and unsure what to do. Memories of the fateful day 8 years ago that changed their point of reference forever. Imagine what you would think...and feel. Someone at the White House is in big doo doo, as well they should be.
We all have triggers that are emotion driven. They are the hardest ones to deal with. I am guessing that they are not located in the part of the brain that stores our warm fuzzies. These triggers hit hard and fast with little warning and can last a long while. Each of us have different ones and some like 911, we share in community. In theory, if we can learn to identify our triggers, we can anticipate them and be proactive. Sounds very therapy-like and doable... if we are ready.
Looks like the Swine Flu thing may trigger some issues in the days to come. I like that we as a nation are being cautious but am thinking getting the vaccine will not be in my future - I will take my chances. I've got enough triggers on my emotional plate. It looks like a buffet that goes on forever. Felony stupid - I so agree. The people of NY need an apology and those who were in charge of this photo op, need to find new jobs...
