“People have their opinion about my reaction to things. I consider myself more a realist than an alarmist,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci on CNN.
I know what he means. I’m also a realist. I accept life for what it is.
To me, the glass is neither half-full nor half-empty; instead, the glass is merely filled with water and it probably tastes refreshing. I believe that my actions and perceptions are based on the sum of my experiences. If I can’t use my own resources to solve a problem, then I assume the problem cannot be solved. (That rarely occurs as I find solutions to nearly everything.)
Political scientists affirm that realism plays a part in pandemic survival.
“The virus quickly spread across the globe through all levels and sectors of society from nursing homes to aircraft carriers. The pandemic has truly left no place to hide, though sheltering in place has been one attempt to do so.”
“Perhaps it is not surprising that realism now is benefitting from a revival of sorts: first, as a response to the conditions of global complexity and precarity that preceded and contributed to the COVID-19 crisis, and now to the crisis itself.”
– E-International Relations, June 2020
It can be argued that the only way for a country, state, or community to protect its citizenry and defeat the virus is through self-reliance, a key tenet of realism.
“How states responded and continue to respond to the pandemic turned out to be textbook realism. While occasionally paying lip service to regional and international cooperation, the defining characteristic… has been self-help. This is evident from militarization of borders, to the quest for artificial respirators.”
– The Jerusalem Post, March 2020
As government mandates and business guidelines are enacted on the importance of wearing masks, the benefits of social distancing, the hygiene of hand washing, and other science-based measures to fight the virus, I don’t think it’s helpful to be overly optimistic or pessimistic.
Either you accept the science and believe people who share scientific evidence — or you don’t believe them. If the latter, please be safe.