Posted inMy Turn With coronavirus, we should practice ‘physical distancing’ not ‘social distancing’ Avatar by Guest Commentary March 18, 2020March 17, 2020 -- Notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, we must all focus on how we can heal our state and nation in new and creative ways after too many years of social disharmony and disunity. Profile Image -- Even in the midst of the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, indeed especially because of it, now is not the time for “social distancing.” What we need to be practicing, just temporary, is “physical distancing.” If there’s one thing the past several years have shown us is that we’ve all been seeing too much of the tearing apart of our country’s, and the world’s, social fabric. Support nonprofit journalism in California -- Notwithstanding this snowballing crisis, we must all now focus on how we can heal our state and nation in new and creative ways after too many years of social disharmony and disunity spurred by the highest levels of our government and some of our ratings-obsessed media. It is not helpful to regurgitate the ways the administration has socially distanced us from each other — and from so many of our friends in the world. -- attracted to this rhetoric of division, when so many have not seen their wages grow and cannot reasonably foresee better futures for their children. But, this recent fixation on social distancing has not improved the lives of those who have borne the brunt of economic dislocation or faced a threatened American Dream. Now, we need to be as -- For now is the time, at every level of our government and in every corner of our society, and especially in our traditional and social media, to stop focusing on discord and to recommit to caring for each other in whatever safe ways we can. Though this health crisis momentarily requires us to keep a reasonable physical distance from each other, this is actually a time to get socially closer now more than ever. This could be the true silver lining of this devastating public health catastrophe. So how do we do it? Our tech revolution has caused many serious challenges to our privacy, but our social media platforms also offer us many wonderful tools to reach out to each other for closeness and community. -- We need to support food banks, shelters and out-of-work assistance sites in whatever ways we feel most socially committed and financially able. It’s time to reach out, not to separate. And we need to take care of ourselves and our families as we face extraordinary stress and -- I awoke this morning in this strange new paradigm of isolation realizing that, though physically distanced from others, we in California, in America and in the world, have an opportunity now to get socially closer — no matter how hard some may still try to push in the opposite direction. Hopefully, like the virus, that soon will stop too. We will eventually overcome the coronavirus pandemic, and we can actually be stronger, and the closer, for it. So let’s stop calling it social distancing, and start rebranding it simply physical distancing. Hope to connect with you virtually soon.