Meme Monday – New Year Version

I’ve been saving this one, and I know in some ways it may feel true. Especially the first few months are bound to be desperate ones as far as this damn virus is concerned. I do hope that things get better as the year goes on, as the vaccine comes available, as we have a more sane administration, as hopefully people can behave after the surge that is bound to happen after Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Here’s another meme, while we are bidding farewell to the year that has almost ended. Such a year. From it, I hope that we have learned a few things.

  • Wash your hands
  • Black Lives Matter
  • Police officers are given too many hats and too much power
  • Protecting others also protects you
  • We are stronger and more resilient than we may have thought
  • A lot of people are very fortunate and modern technology has proven this, as they can work from home
  • A lot of people are not so fortunate

If we have learned these things from 2020, perhaps it will have been worth it. Actually, no, it still won’t have been worth it, not for the many who have lost their lives, their health, their livelihoods. But I do very much hope it wasn’t all entirely for nothing.

I hope that the lessons that 2021 has for us are more easily learned, without death and disease and murder in our streets.

5 Comments

  • nance

    That first picture–So True.

    While we won’t magically transition to everything being All Better on January 1, I know I’ll feel a true sense of feeling All Better on January 21. I’ll feel especially better if the media give up their addiction to 45* and all of his shock value.

    This year has been the year that Technology showed its value for sure. Even it was a double-edged sword, however; fb and other outlets spread hate and misinformation, and not having personal contact in some ways added to people’s sense of isolation.

    What a strange and terrible time. I will say that I had lots of highlights still in this pandemic year. It’s sad that it contrasts so strongly with those that lost so much.

    • J

      Also, AMEN to the Media letting go of Trump. What a glorious thing that would be! The only Media I really listen to is NPR, and they talk about him all the goddamned time and it is exhausting. I blame the media for giving him such a large platform from Day 1. If they had not done so, perhaps he would not have been elected. Of course, they must do what gets them ratings/readers/etc, in order to stay in business, so the issue is perhaps more nuanced. But still.

  • J

    Nance, I know I have been feeling so much better already. Jan 5th, if we get good results from Georgia, I will feel even better. And of course, the huge sigh of relief will be January 21st. And when it is safe to go out again.

    Technology is definitely a double-edged sword. It’s good for people that can work from home, it’s good for the students for whom it works well during this pandemic. But it sucks for people for whom it does not work, and of course, you are right, it is very good as spreading conspiracies and misinformation.

    We have had some highlights this year as well, and have only suffered in not being able to travel and see family. Disappointing, but not the same as losing a loved one, or your own health, or your job, or your business. It felt like I was giving up more back in June when we had to cancel our trip to Oregon and Canada, but of course we quickly realized that it was not a big loss and we should shut up about it.

  • Joared

    How many of us have learned those lessons I wonder, based on so many followers still clinging to the Lame Duck President?

    We have to take what’s worked and worth carrying over as we’ve adapted to this pandemic and jettison the rest. The freedom to go about our daily business and travel, too, without undue worry about contracting this virus will truly be most welcome.

    • J

      Joared, oh gosh, yes, I am so looking forward to travel again. Especially since my family is not local. I missed seeing them this year, so much.

      Yes, there are good lessons from 2020, and I agree, if we can bring them with us while getting rid of the shit, that would be great.