Coronavirus Crisis: America Needs Sympathy & Empathy

American civil society long ago lost any illusion of being “civil.” Hostile, unproductive, tribal partisanship infects every debate in this country — and it has only been compounded by the devastating arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I wrote several years ago about how the nasty tenor of our political debates was undermining our ability to relate to others, especially those who think and vote differently than we do. It’s not surprising that this problem has been exacerbated by the present pandemic. But where in normal times, tribal animosity and distrust coarsen our culture, in the coronavirus crisis they could literally kill you.

PJ

About the Author

Pradheep J. Shanker

Pradheep J. Shanker is a radiologist who focuses on health policy.

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American civil society long ago lost any illusion of being “civil.” Hostile, unproductive, tribal partisanship infects every debate in this country — and it has only been compounded by the devastating arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I wrote several years ago about how the nasty tenor of our political debates was undermining our ability to relate to others, especially those who think and vote differently than we do. It’s not surprising that this problem has been exacerbated by the present pandemic. But where in normal times, tribal animosity and distrust coarsen our culture, in the coronavirus crisis they could literally kill you.