Despite A Pandemic…
In the last several weeks on social media, I have seen a birthday party with like forty people all in one house with no mask, then it came with a comment that read something like; “thanks to all those who risked their lives to celebrate my special day”, are you even kidding me? I believe people like this should be fined heavily. And if they are famous or have lots of social media followers & like to post about it then the fine should be doubled for allowing your followers to witness such ignorance.
If you are in a leadership role at work or in your career, should you be allowed to lead? Because in my eyes you are not a leader if you feel rules don’t apply to you! What other rules are you willing to break behind closed doors? I’ve seen people going on vacation, and not quarantining with no respect for others. The worst part, people applauding this behavior on social media while people are dying. Then the audacity of the followers saying things like CONGRATULATIONS!! Are you serious about what? For helping to spread COVID and having no regard for another human life. First shame on the person posting and but also shame on the ones liking these posts.
In my household this year we didn’t have a party for my daughter who turned 21, and that was a big deal, we just got takeout and ordered a cake. As I wanted my kids to understand the severity of all this and how we could do our part. Then came many other birthdays throughout the year and we just texted or called. However, I saw many people just had to celebrate with large groups of people. Not to mention Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner this year for my family it was just the 4 of us. We had our dinner via facetime with the rest of our family. Even our gifts were mailed or dropped off and we opened them via facetime. We even canceled our vacation to PR. And now this coming May my daughter will be graduating from Kutztown University, which is a BIG freaking deal to us, and it may have to be celebrated online because some people just think they are extra special.
When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, those people had no water, no electricity, no money, no work, nothing. Yet many of us have all these basic items plus all the luxuries at home and we can’t stay home to save our lives. All that is being asked is to stay home unless you must get groceries or work and practice social distancing and wear your mask properly & constantly wash and sanitize your hands. Then you open social media and are shocked by some people’s behaviors because they are not setting the right example. I call it the social media popularity contest and it’s sickening to me because in the real-world people are dying, let’s get our crap together. My family is not perfect, but we are trying our hardest to do what’s right, so I don’t care if I get 2 POST LIKE or 400, post don’t make me, I make me.
I’m worried about our community and I’m waiting to see when other leaders are going to step up and do something, but wait, they can’t because they are also doing the same things and applauding the same people that like their post.
I constantly promote local businesses but if you are a business owner who likes to party on weekends then on Monday open shop, don’t expect me to support your business. If you don’t care about my safety and the community’s safety then I don’t care about your pocket, PERIOD!
This isn’t an “I’m better than you article, this is a WAKE-UP call that we are no longer in high school, we are grown adults, yet we are applauding others ignorant things on social media just to feel like we are part of them, or to feel cool”. I’m sure I’m not the only one that sees it, just the only one brave enough to say it because I’m not a follower!
People we must learn to be leaders ourselves, and that starts by being or setting the example.
Rosa Julia Parra
