They Sicken Me

Posted byFractured Faith BlogPosted inA Fractured FaithTags:, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The weekend has brought more sunshine to the United Kingdom. Yet, dark clouds are gathering. Thousands breached rules on social distancing to hold street parties to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Some of these scenes were screened on television news outlets to almost universal dismay. Many others flocked to parks to picnic, party and essentially do whatever they wanted despite their actions risking their own lives and those of loved ones.

They talk of a lockdown but, in my mind, it is increasingly in name only. Adam, Rebecca and I visited our local park yesterday for our daily exercise. Adam and I ran some interval drills as part of his ongoing ACL rehabilitation programme while Rebecca cycled round the perimeter of the pitch. We were adhering to social distancing guidelines and the plan was to be back in the house within the hour.

When we arrived, four twenty something males were kicking a football around the pitch. Now I could be horribly wrong but they didn’t look as if they belonged to the one household. They weren’t following social distancing rules. And as for daily exercise? They seemed more interested in smoking and drinking beer than the football which they were half heartedly kicking back and forth. My two teenage children were appalled by the example being set to them by so called adults.

This is where we are at. The death toll in the U.K. stands at over 31,000 and rising, only second to the United States, where over 80,000 are now dead. But who cares in today’s vacuous, self obsessed, privileged ‘me me me’ society. Our society ‘celebrates’ the sacrifice and selflessness of fallen war heroes by getting drunk, dancing the conga up and down the street and doing their bit to raise infection rates within their community. They sicken me.

Published by Fractured Faith Blog

We are Stephen and Fionnuala and this is our story. We live in Northern Ireland, have been married for 17 years and have three kids - Adam, Hannah and Rebecca. We hope that our story will inspire and encourage others. We have walked a rocky road yet here we are today, together and stronger than ever. We are far from perfect and our faith has been battered and bruised. But an untested faith is a pointless faith. Just as a fractured faith is better than none at all. We hope you enjoy the blog.

71 thoughts on “They Sicken Me”

  1. I understand your feelings an d I feel it too. Fortunately the only parties we saw were in people’s front gardens and the neighbours joined in from their own front gardens, properly distanced. The streets were empty basically. So I felt quite encouraged, but I bet it was different in the cities.

    Like

    Reply

  3. I’m afraid it means that the UK will be in lockdown for longer than should really be necessary. While other countries in Europe are seeing significant reduction in numbers, the UK will be much slower to get back to normal. It’s a shame (as we are very much looking forward to coming back, both to see our families and for holidays), but it’s another case of the few spoiling it for the many.

    Like

    Reply

  5. We had a neighbourly get together in our front gardens on VE day but stayed within the confines of our gardens thus keeping the 2m distance. A lot of people around us are elderly and remember VE day so it was nice to see all the bunting up, Union Jack’s, etc and it all felt like a great community spirit. However like you say many crossed a line and it has rightly annoyed most of the country. Im embarrassed by this island’s culture of a bit of sunshine on a Bank Holiday equals excessively drinking and moronic behaviour. At first I thought it was a generational thing with early 20s ignoring the warnings but this weekend older people who should know better broke to rules and that’s disappointing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Pingback: They Sicken Me — Fractured Faith Blog | THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON...

      1. It’s ridiculously confusing. Some people are going to willfully see that as excuse to further do as they please. Already on Facebook there are people openly saying they are going to go to Wales because Boris said they could. Some people need simple, clear direction and strong leadership. I’m not sure that is happening and it scares the life out of me.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  9. I live in the US-New Jersey and I am losing my mind slowly! We’ve been in lockdown since the beginning of March and it’s now been extended through June! Just speaking on New Jersey and not the whole US… people are committed suicide! No job- no money! Can’t feed their family and closing down owned family businesses they have had forever but yet Walmart is open but isn’t even shocked. No graduation for the seniors! So many people’s mental health is being affected greatly!

    Like

    Reply

    1. You make a good point. There are more ways to die than a virus. Where we are in the US during the time of the lockdown suicides, shootings, domestic violence are all up. I can’t speak for the twenty-somethings acting like jerks, but I have tried to keep in mind that don’t know everyone’s story. Someone buying four cases of toilet paper might be buying it for all the seniors in their apartment complex. Now that there’s antibody testing, the people walking around with no masks could be immune non-carriers. They may be survivors who are outside a hospital for the first time in weeks and are going a little crazy, or maybe they’ve lost their business or lost a loved one and this is how they cope. (Not that I think it’s the BEST way to cope )
      Personally I don’t know how I would have handled all this if I didn’t have a God that I trust with every moment of my life, so I also try not to judge those who are absolutely terrified. But I do try to point them to the One who gives me peace, joy, and hope.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  10. I understand totally. I cannot begin to tell you how any people came through my line yesterday and on Friday planning large mother’s day gatherings. Grandparents having their grandchildren over. I am waiting am sure that we are going to start to see explosions of cases. Everyone thinks that because there has been an easing an easing not an outright revocation of the practices our Government put in place. There are 2 extra stores open in the mall and people are standing in line for an hour or more to get in and walk around a mall that has nothing open. One entrance and one exit. I am so at a loss. More and more traffic is being seen on the roads. I am worried as I have said before I really hope that this is it but somehow I do not believe it is. And like yourself I am sickened by it.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

      1. Some how I am beginning to think not. Over the weekend in B.C. people were gathering and no social distancing as seen in the pics yesterday. Here in Manitoba everyone thinks an easing of restrictions means everything is going to go back to how it was. No it is not. This is not something that we can ignore. Yesterday we had two new cases. Waiting to see if there is any fallout from mother’s day and the gatherings that occurred here over the weekend. Stay safe. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  11. My hope is that those who are doing this kind of behavior are not going home to their grandparent’s house. My children and grandchildren and being careful not to expose us. Many at risk people will die if they aren’t thinking about that.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. That is so thoughtful of your family. I have heard about other countries where people respect the elderly so much that they would not even think of doing something that would put that age group in jeopardy. Those countries are doing a lot better having fewer cases and fewer deaths. We have to be considerate of others, especially the elderly.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  12. Oh, my yes. It’s as if they think “Well, we’ve done our time…” Viruses do not acknowledge time nor boundaries. Our “shelter in place” has been extended to mid June. Still, people walk into stores and pull their masks off, or walk in and half assed cover their faces with the neck of their t shirts.
    I get it. We want to get out, to meet and mingle, to be with people we love. We want the old normal back. We aren’t getting it.

    Like

    Reply

  13. Even though we’ve had a lot of success against Covid-19 here, there are still many idiots who flout the lockdown rules and make it less safe for everyone. You’re right about it being totally selfish thinking. It seems too much to ask for people to consider how their actions will impact others. If we are unable to think beyond ourselves then we are all doomed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. With people already breaking lockdown as they have been I really don’t think Boris should ease the lockdown as so many are treating the lockdown as a bloody holiday.
    I’ve come across some great kindness during these trying time and I’ve also come across some selfishness too. In an ideal world people would follow the rules and be kinder to each other. It does seem to be the younger ones in my area that are breaking the rules and being selfish.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. In the US, it’s very interesting to see how stores are handling the pandemic and even more interesting who’s wearing a mask and who isn’t. A virus that is apolitical has become really political in some ways. It’s ridiculous. I look for the encouraging people.

    Like

    Reply

  16. I agree with you totally. On the one hand I understand that people are hurting without jobs. However, this is a worldwide pandemic and it will NOT go away unless we sacrifice something. People are dying. This is not a joke. My daughter’s healthy, athletic boyfriend contracted this nasty, nasty disease. He was very seriously ill for three weeks. It has now been over two months and he still does not have his health back. It is extremely upsetting to see this happening. Not continuing with the social distancing does not help joblessness. It just prolongs it. It’s selfishness pure and simple.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. If you read history you can only keep people quarantined for so long (the word derives from 40 as in 40 days) so this is predictable, and inevitable. It always happens. They are not unique.

    For some people the need to act normal, or blow off steam, or play with their friends is a way of handling and confronting the very same fear that causes so many to condemn them.

    It is human nature to be defiant, and if we lose that than we are not human. All of civilization is an act of defiance.

    And life is always about risks and taking them. When we drive over 5 miles an hour, we are risking ourselves and the lives of others.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. So true. Here a republican politician wanted old people over 65 to sacrifice their lives for their children and grandchildren to go shopping! It is so crazy to see, and the only people getting regular tests are in the White House. Just bonkers that the world is so restless. But, that’s how it is, and I just stay inside.

    Like

    Reply

  21. Me too, Stephen. I wear my mask when out and about – I can see the intolerance and ridicule in the eyes of those who do not mask up. It is, as you say, total self-absorption.

    Like

    Reply

  22. I am so desperately sad with everyone just doing what they please here in USA and there in uk. I’m happy to know you are one of the safe people to help encourage those of us who are weary of staying home.

    Like

    Reply

  23. Here in the US the leadership is encouraging those who ignore the guidelines. It makes me very sad for many reasons, not the least of which is that I’m a high risk and will have to stay in until there is a vaccine because of these people.

    Like

    Reply

  26. Massachusetts ranks 3rd in the U.S. Much like NY and NJ, MA hospital Intensive Care Units are overwhelmed. With many people on mechanical ventilation.

    Despite Governor Charlie Baker insisting on mandatory masks to be worn by all out in public, many college students continue to travel in groups of ten or more and are ignoring all social distancing guidelines. Which includes not wearing masks. It’s a disgrace and also has frightening implications for all of us.

    Like

    Reply

      1. I get out everyday with my kindergartener, weather permitting to find spots where there are no people. We hike and go on long walks. Sometimes we just play. I’m teaching her how ride a bike. I love nature so sometimes I take photos. Stay well my friend.

        Like

        Reply

  27. Cosham happens to be just down the road from where I am, it’s been crazy to see how many people were in that street. Where I am, people were having their street parties but actually staying the 2m distance….. absolute craziness

    Like

    Reply
  29. Pingback: They Sicken Me | Welcome to the Inspirational Blog- Windows From Heaven.Gifts for all occasions,Book Ordering,and real life Photography.May 2020

Leave a Reply

Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

%d bloggers like this: