The face of our nation has been recently made over in this world of change. It has been distorted by the distinct features of war, economic recession, and terrorism, but one has been truly detrimental to our nation’s health above all. It cannot be named by several issues but only two words: swine flu (legally termed the H1N1 Virus).
As hundreds of delegates traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina on June 27th 2009, rumors of the disease and urgent precautions to prevent it from occurring traveled to this week’s Conference as well. Although the precautions taken are most completely necessary, the hype of swine flu is becoming a blemish on the face of America.
The precautions being stressed at this week’s Conference include washing hands frequently and using excessive amounts of hand sanitizer, as it was encouraged in Sunday afternoon at the Opening Session. For many, this was not any change in their personal lifestyle. “I do wash my hands consistently,” commented Delegate Tyler Govek of Wisconsin, “and when there was no soap in my room when I first got to my Conference, I actually used shampoo to wash my hands.”
Hygiene is certainly an important practice this week. But what is more important is to not pay attention to rumors of spreading symptoms nearby. Proposal number 463 suggests “a new strategy to properly prepare our country for pandemics,” stated proposal author Lester Asamoah of Oklahoma, “giving our country a way to properly inform a steady response of any pandemic situation.” In First Committee Sunday afternoon, delegate Kyle from North Carolina agreed the “media plays [swine flu] up to be deadly.”
Delegates from enjoyably voiced their opinion on the steps of Lee Hall when questioned about the situation on Sunday afternoon; it was obvious that geographical location and media coverage had affected a delegate’s position. Some from South Carolina seemed to be more worried than others, especially Michael Prowse and David Dunlap. “We’re afraid to cuddle in public because of the H1N1 virus,” they jokingly claimed while still giving all an arguable stance on the issue. Pennsylvanian delegates seemed to be skeptical about the issue, where as delegates from New Jersey thought that the H1N1 virus should be treated of equal or less concern than the Influenza virus.
Various strains of the Influenza virus has been found in our nation for decades with about 36,000 deaths per year, which is why Nick Renard from Wisconsin has authored a proposal mandating a flu shot to all individuals who remain in the U.S. for six months or longer. Renard’s proposal, number 88, conveniently paired up with Maggie Li of Connecticut. Li is the proposal author of proposal number 237, a proposal that creates further precautions for pandemic situations.
As these three different proposal authors present commendable precautions in response to pandemic solutions, a delegate can only ask themselves where they stand. Is the swine flu something to worry about? Or is it all the media hype? But, only one answer should resonate within: no matter the situation, pandemic or not, the face of America should not be blemished by a viral outbreak or a media outbreak; the face of our nation should stay clean.
By Steph Luczak, Connecticut