Still not taking COVID-19 seriously? You’re better than that, young South Carolinians
It’s ironic that the best scene in the boxing movie “Rocky Balboa” isn’t in a boxing ring, but on a darkened city street.
In the scene Rocky — world-weary and beaten down from all of his setbacks yet still seeking some way to overcome them — chastises his unfocused son for having a passive sense of complacency about life and the real world.
“You’re better than that!” an impassioned Rocky tells his son.
Given how the Columbia Fire Department was recently called upon to break up a grossly overcrowded pool party held by students in a local apartment complex — and how USC has been forced to suspend 15 students and six Greek Life organizations for violating safety rules designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 — maybe the time has come.
Perhaps the time has arrived to direct Rocky’s heartfelt words toward the many young South Carolinians who remain far too complacent about the real-world threat of COVID-19.
Come on now, y’all.
Come on.
You’re better than that.
Doing great things
So many of you are doing so many inspiring things.
So many of you are raising your voices for constructive and meaningful change — and, if necessary, going to the streets to demand it in peaceful fashion.
So many of you are performing difference-making work in our communities — from mentoring and volunteering for organizations to launching and creating your own initiatives.
So many of you are working hard in classrooms and tackling your academic duties with passion — a fact easy to observe just by traveling the streets of any college town in our state and seeing so many of you walk with determination and purpose from one campus building to another.
In short, so many of you are doing so much great stuff.
Take it seriously
But all that said, what is it?
What is it?
What is it about COVID-19 that makes so many of you become far too lax when it comes to viewing this virus as the serious public health issue it continues to be?
No, you may not be as susceptible to contracting and dying from COVID-19 as other individuals who are in higher-risk categories — such as the elderly and those with existing health challenges.
But, yes, actually, you can still get the virus.
It’s still a respiratory-based illness that continues to elude a cure.
And, yes, you can still face major health challenges if you do contract COVID-19.
And, yes, it is still possible for you to die from COVID-19, as shown in a recent spike in coronavirus-related deaths among young Floridians.
So would you just take COVID-19 seriously, already?
And if you’re allowing older people to convince you that COVID-19 isn’t a big deal anymore, could you just stop listening to them?
Do it for you
You’re better than that, young South Carolinians.
We know you are.
But, really, this isn’t about proving it to us or anyone else.
The time has come for you to prove it to yourselves.
The time has come for you to prove it for your own well-being.
The time has come for more of you to stop taking COVID-19 lightly — and to start taking your obligation to fight it with the heavy sense of responsibility it deserves.
We know you have what it takes to meet that challenge.
Now show it.
This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 8:40 AM with the headline "Still not taking COVID-19 seriously? You’re better than that, young South Carolinians."