The Short Version

Be calm, be reasonable, be respectable, be kind, be helpful, be generous, be a good example of a world that will be good for all of us, rich and poor, old and young, educated and not, healthy and not, working and not, religious and not. All of us. Thank you.

The Longer Version

Friends, I think it matters not who is right or who is wrong. Everyone is doing what they think is the right thing to do, and we should honor each other as such. But these are some things I need to say.

Make no mistake that there are those who will benefit greatly from this pandemic and from whatever cure is decided. For those of you who are on the receiving end of this misfortune, I hope you will share your profits with your employees, the needy around you, and with education and research, which is never sustainable. And for those of you who have worked hard all your lives to build a retirement plan that will sustain you and your family, thank you. That, too, is a sign of generosity.

Make no mistake that there are many who will get this virus. Who can maintain a healthy attitude and practices that help them ride out the storm? Can our health care providers learn more and more, not only from the practices of the science, but maybe from the practices of those who have survived?

Make no mistake that there are many of you who are already suffering great loss and uncertainty. I hope you will reach out to those around you with gratitude, and let yourself be helped and embraced in the same way that you would help if you had plenty. Many of those who have plenty give what they have in secret, so that you can retain your dignity. Let’s all give what we can.

Make no mistake that there are those who are working to capacity, worn and tired, while others are being paid to stay home as if they are on vacation. Be assured, this is no vacation, to be told we cannot help or go to work. If there is something we can do to help, I hope you will also reach out with gratitude. You have capable people sitting at home feeling helpless.

Make no mistake that there are those for whom staying at home works just fine. Be assured that these are also doing their part, helping those around them, providing help where they can.

Make no mistake that some politicians are better leaders than others, but that is why we have a government of the people. We are in this together, we are the educated, the uneducated, the wise and the foolish, the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the religious and the secular, the left, the middle and the right, and we all have something to say whether we’re at home or out and about. We expect politicians to represent all of us, being kind and concerned about every person and every thing. If you can’t do that, then please get out of politics.

Make no mistake that it is a good thing to discuss issues of politics and religion, but if any of you are using your politics or religion to bully anyone else, please stop. It does not help anyone, and hurts your own soul the most. Remember always that you are teaching the children to live in the world you are creating.

Please, everyone, be gracious, be professional. Ok, you can be funny too. Too many are angry, and too many are crying. If the only thing you have to share with others is laughter, joy and good will, thank you especially for all of that!