It’s hard to measure the gulf in class between a real leader like Jacinda Ardern and the mendacious moral vacuum masquerading as our Prime Minister, but this manages it.

Ardern cancels own wedding https://t.co/0GTmjXP1Pk

— Samuel West ? (@exitthelemming) January 23, 2022

Who’s right, and who’s wrong?

I am slightly confused.

New Zealand is placed under their highest level of Covid restrictions, and the NFL celebrates the playoff season in full stadiums.

Great Britain ends mask mandates, and China locks down entire cities because of a few cases.

I have been staying at home for almost two years and seeing pictures of folks traveling around the world on Instagram.

But who’s right, who’s wrong?

Honestly, I don’t know what to say anymore. My entire life, I used to take risks. My mom was always worried about me. And now, times have changed. Roles have changed.

I sit at home. I am worried. I am scared. But it feels quite lonely at the moment.

Even my buddies who took the virus seriously in the beginning started to argue in favor of openings. Some folks say that Omicron isn’t that bad, and we all just need to get it.

I am not sure about that. I am worried about Long Covid. I am worried for my loved ones.

But I see folks traveling. I see them change their mind. I hear their frustration. I am also frustrated.

Maybe we need to find a middle ground? But isn’t that impossible? We can’t do half a lockdown. Oh wait…that’s what we actually did for almost two years.

Let me explain.

Do you remember when we were all cautious in 2020? Well, it wasn’t all of us. There were many folks who rejected face masks. Do you remember early 2021, when the rollout of the vaccines started? It’s not that all of us got our shots immediately.

Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have never agreed on taking the right steps. We always had folks who denied the danger, shared fake news, and insisted on going out. There was always a group of people who didn’t comply—and that group is still growing in numbers.

And… #Cowboys fans leaving ATT Stadium just as quick. #49ers #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/eOmWsMHhZs

— K.L.A.W. Podcast (@TheKLAWcast) January 16, 2022

But it doesn’t make them right. At least, in my opinion.

If we are lucky, I am wrong. But if not, what then?

What if we find out that Omicron isn’t as mild as we thought? What if there is a new variation of the virus? What if half the staff in hospitals can’t work because they are in quarantine? What if every second person ends up getting Long Covid?

“Come on, Robert. Don’t be so pessimistic.”

Well, I don’t know. Maybe I am wrong. And I really hope that I am wrong.

But how about a little more caution?

Maybe it is okay to watch the games at home with our boostered friends, but I am pretty sure that a full stadium is not what we need right now. Maybe the spike in new cases is not as bad as it looks, but I am pretty sure it’s not the end of the pandemic.

I also want to return to something we call normality. But let’s be realistic, that won’t happen this winter. If we are lucky (and smart), we might have an awesome summer ahead of us.

But let’s do our best to get there.

I am with Jacinda Ardern. How about you?