Misery is inevitable when people are forced to leave loved ones, for whatever reason. We fail as a nation when we force such separations rather than finding ways to help people stay together and safe. Irving Berlin’s song from a century ago speaks anew to our current misery over forced separation.
Coronavirus Headlines: Rising Sun
America’s rush to put everyone back to work is dangerous and cruel. Much more thought needs to be given to how we can best go forward and how we can put needed funding into making everyone’s present and future safe. I took the liberty of reinterpreting what the House of the Rising Sun might be. The folksong isn’t clear on that, but there is a book that examines the topic in depth, Chasing the Rising Sun, by Ted Anthony.
A repurposed folksong
As a folklorist, I have been dismayed at how our current administration here in the US has passed along misleading information, falsehoods, and vain beliefs about the pandemic now rampant in our world. The failure to lead, the ready acceptance of myths and wild speculations, the casual relating of false information—all of these are attempts to placate with tall tales rather than help our citizens find a way to cope with this devastating virus. Professor Geoffrey Joyce wrote an article for The Conversation July 8, 2020, titled “5 COVID-19 Myths Politicians have repeated that just aren’t true.” I adapt his “ 5 myths” here and call out the current administration for offering our people tall tales instead of the truth.