March 21, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, March 21, 2020 Opinion Page The mommy gene our grown children the same attention. And we all treated “ElkCituNews Glynda Lomax is a Chris- tian author and podcaster way — fussing and worrying I stopped and smiled. We do over them as if they were truly become our mothers. still small. And I realized Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 who resides in the Ozark Days later, I was still something else — once that Mountains of Northern Ar- thinking about it. Why had I Mommy Gene is turned on, kansas with her two very done that? Why was I wor- you can’t ever turn it off. San Francisco Chronicle bossy dogs. She wrote her first About Life column in tied about my grown child’s That was why when my 2003 for a newspaper in diet, when they were intelli- Mom was 86 years old and CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Dallas. She is planning her gent and perfectly capable of I was nearing 50, she was STAY AT HOME 6 Bay Area counties order nearly 7 million people to shel next book. minding their own diets? I remember every time I still telling me to drink my Glynda Lomax orange juice. That explained you, let them do it. Take the As a child, I was always would take my children over why Grandmother tried to food with a smile and be mystified by those girls to visit my lovely Grand- feed me every time I went mother in their younger to her house. Grandmother grateful you still have them who always wanted to play “Mommy” or “House.” It years, she would always ask had given birth to 11 chil- with you, because some- just never held the same al- us if we would like some dren and raised 8 of them to day you won’t. Eat the food lure to me. Sure, I liked Bar- fried pies. We always said adulthood. She babied every even if you’re not hungry. bies, but I was pretending No, not wanting her to go to child who came anywhere Let them fuss over you to they were flying around the any trouble, just wanting to near her. their heart's content because world or solving mysteries, spend time with her. But she Now, decades later, I real- they can’t help doing it. In White House issues —, not having babies or getting never failed to ask. ize Grandmother had looked fact, surprise them by asking tougher guidelines married to Ken. — Ericka I have two small, very disappointed every time their advice on things. It will Anews stand in Millbrae, Calif., displays the Souter bossy dogs that I fuss over, we had said No to her fried make their day. front page of the San Francisco Chronicle cook for, dress up and pam- pies. I never tasted Grand- Someday they will be on Tuesday. Photo by Rong-Gong Lin Il. I remember years ago vis- per. They keep me company mother’s fried pies, and I gone, and you will long for iting my beautiful mother in in my quiet isolated life and wish now I could. Knowing the care home and as I was I shower them with love. what I know now about the those soft hands that once leaving, her telling me to One sunny day, I was Mommy Gene,I would give fed and took care of you. We could learn a be sure and drink my milk pushing my little dogs in anything for her to ask me There may be such a thing and orange juice every day. their stroller down a nearby one more time but she went lesson from 1918 I walked out smiling to my- street and I realized I had, in on to Heaven in 1999 and I as a “mom gene,” accord- self. I was nearing 50 years effect, become their Mom- lost my chance. ing to a research study out By Don Munsch, Editor of age and Mom was still my and that I pay just as Now that I am an aging of Rockefeller University in Many people recognize the city of St. Louis by its Gate- worried about me drink- much attention to their diet Mother and Grandmother, New York. Their conclusion: way Arch, while others know the city through its baseball ing my milk and orange and activities as I would a I realize why Mom and Some of us are born with the juice. Though I assured her child if I had any at home to Grandma kept trying to feed unrelenting need to mother team, the Cardinals, who have won 11 World Series titles. I would to stop her worry- watch over. me and worried over my diet and some of us just aren't. But the city is getting some recognition these days be- ing, I knew she would have The Mommy in me was because I also do it to my Of course that doesn't mean cause of how health officials there dealt with the Spanish been horrified to witness my alive and well. As I began children and grandchildren. actual diet. observing other mothers There’s no Off switch on the those without it are not ca- flu epidemic in 1918. As noted in a Monday St. Louis Post- More than a decade later, — some young, but a lot of Mommy Gene. pable of being loving, nur- Dispatch story, leaders that autumn imposed a city-wide turing moms. We can be and T caught myself telling one them older like me, I real- So the next time your Mom quarantine, and many business and schools were shuttered. of my grown children to be ized we all needed some- nags you about your diet or we are. It’s just not so... in- Later that fall, a stricter quarantine was implemented, and sure and eat this or that, and thing to shower in love and Grandma offers to cook for nate. — Ericka Souter just a few businesses remained open. St. Louis was one the largest cities in the country then, the Post-Dispatch story reported. The results of these deci- Peace and social justice demand more sions? “Thanks to the quarantine, St. Louis’ death rate in 1918 coming together, not more distancing was lowest among major U.S. cities,” the story said. “In by Kevin Martin soldiers and one British sol- Taliban popular in parts of regional security objective. Philadelphia, where bodies piled up on sidewalks when “Social distancing” (or dier by said militia, which Afghanistan and also make Presidents George W. Bush the morgues overflowed, the death rate was nearly twice maybe more properly “ap- was likely retaliation for the the Afghans deeply and an- and Barack Obama eased as high.” propriate physical spacing”) US assassination of Iranian grily distrust and reject the US economic sanctions and Flash forward to now. Businesses have not been ordered is something people every- military leader Qasem Solei- deal between Trump and the restrictions on humanitarian to close in these parts, but if authorities required them to, where need to practice in the mani, which was likely re- Taliban? aid to Iran following devas- I'd support closures to slow down the spread of coronavirus near term to get through the taliation for...and ad nause- The US and South Ko- and prevent sickness and loss of life. am. Apparently, while there rea wisely postponed huge tating earthquakes there in Covid-19 crisis. And it likely won't be the last time, un- are conflicting reports, the military drills, originally 2003 and 2012. St, Louis provides a great example of how a city can pull fortunately, that a pandemic strikes also killed Iraqi three scheduled to begin later In the current situation, together and at least minimize the impact a deadly, com- threatens us. Iraqi soldiers, two police of- this month, out of Covid-19 President Trump (who fool- municable disease can have. But in a broader sense, ficers and a civilian worker, concerns. Postponement ishly ended US participation Still, some people aren’t convinced of coronavirus’ lethal isn’t “social distancing” a and hit a civilian airport. So, is good, but cancellation in the multilateral, highly potential. Nope, not yet. serious, endemic problem? the US is the latest to kill in would be better, and might effective Iran anti-nuclear I'm still hearing opinions that the pandemic is media We're too “distant” from this fool’s game, setting it help spur a revival of peace most people other than fami- up for the Iranian deadly re- talks with North Korea, as agreement and then threat- hype or that everything will simply blow over. ly and close friends, in terms sponse. even President Trump has ened to commit war crimes) Maybe it will “blow over,” but there should be concern of understanding, respect, How is this endless cycle acknowledged the war ex- should do the same, to help about the havoc it’s causing now and what it could do. Coro- solidarity and empathy. of violence promoting US ercises are expensive and Tran’s medical system ad- navirus is described as being 10 times more powerful than (We’re also too distant from or regional security? Simi- provocative. Just this week, dress the crisis. Perhaps the seasonal flu, although many sufferers from coronavirus other species and our natural lar strikes nearly led to the the Pentagon announced a we could learn from Iran’s will experience mild symptoms or a few will have none at world, our Mother Earth.) outbreak of war with Iran curtailment of the largest experience, as pandemics all. Still, older people or those with underlying conditions The dominant culture “oth- just two months ago, and a military exercises in Europe know no borders, and differ- are vulnerable to COVID-19. So why expose them to any ers” people of different skin region already in constant in a generation, and again, colors, countries, religions, turmoil, largely due to US cancellation would be bet- ent countries may have rela- potential risk? Plus, the estimated number of coronavirus classes, sexual orientations, militaristic misadventures, ter. Russia certainly knows tive strengths or successes deaths in the U.S. could reach six or seven figures. can ill afford more. we can all learn from. gender identifications and how fearsome the US/NATO. A little hardship during these times — such as missing other characteristics that Nor can we. Nobody ever military alliance is, we don’t Let’s get all US troops time at the bar or workouts at the gym — is worth it to mini- strengthen, rather than di- asks, but what did these mil- need to demonstrate it at out of Iraq and Afghanistan, mize everyone’s risk of getting sick. You can drink in your vide, the human family. itary strikes cost, and how huge economic, human and make peace with Iran, and living room or man-cave if you need alcohol, and as for the Let’s get through this crisis, will we pay for them? Surely environmental costs. address the real threats to hu- and then let’s decrease the the price tag is a pittance As the world faces the gym, well, you can talk a walk in the park. These actions man security like pandemics distance between us, let’s frightening Covid-19 pan- compared to the 6.4 trillion take some sacrifice, something Americans have been called and the climate crisis. More overcome the walls we erect dollars the US has squan- demic, we need global coop- to do in the past when the country was experiencing trying between us. dered in Iraq and Afghani- eration, not military escala- war is never a good answer, times. And in various times in our history, people were be- While this certainly ap- stan over the last few de- tion. Resources wasted on and it makes even less sense ing asked to make tougher sacrifices. plies to domestic tranquil- cades, for no good outcome continuous, fruitless mili- at this time. The economic shocks sound scary at this time — 20 per- ity, it also can guide the way considering many if not tary conflict are desperately Kevin Martin, syndicated cent unemployment? — but lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to positive, badly needed most Iraqis want us gone, needed for human health, in by PeaceVoice, is President are considering a stimulus package of $1 trillion to help the changes in US foreign and and as we try to construct a the US and globally. of Peace Action Education military policy. fragile peace in Afghanistan. US economic sanctions are nation, including businesses and families. I have no idea Fund, the country’s largest Last week, the US en- How badly does it have exacerbating the severe Co- how all of this will work, but I dread to think what could gaged in tit for tat bomb- to be bungled, after all, to vid-19 crisis in Iran, which is grassroots peace and disar- happen if the government does nothing. ing against Iranian-backed cause Iraqi feelings of nos- just cruel and likely a crime mament organization with As some people have been saying lately, we’re all in this militia in Iraq, in retaliation talgia for Saddam? How in- against humanity, again more than 200,000 support- together. So please take this pandemic seriously. for the killing of two US ept does it get to make the serving no legitimate US or ers nationwide. Have something to share? Send your editorial to [email protected]