By Shalene Zarate
Before I begin, I want to make it clear that I do not deny that our health is being challenged by a highly contagious virus and that many with underlying health issues have not survived its attack. It is deeply saddening and marks a time in history we will never forget.
As mortal beings, death is one of the most frightening and humbling aspects of the human condition. Coming to terms with death’s definiteness, is what, so often, brings people to a spiritual path. To deepen a connection to a higher power and purpose. So that we can heal, face our fears, and grow our capacity to love and forgive. This is why it is so important that we re-open churches and why they should never be threatened to close again, because this connection is even more critical during times of crisis.
But back to my point. I take seriously the health threat this disease poses on high-risk individuals and that could potentially take our loved ones from us forever.
Death aside, I want to acknowledge the damage that our initial response to this plague has done to those of us who have survived it. The cure has become worse than the disease. We know this, now that we have data and experience to analyze. We cannot continue this erroneous course of action. The cost is too high, and the destruction will soon become irreparable.
Many of us are becoming increasingly frustrated with the fact that there is only one narrative being given air time and socially accepted. The level of censorship, false fact-checking, suppression of information, intimidation tactics, smear campaigns, and all the other divisive strategies that have been used these past 10 months, is disgraceful, and frightening, if allowed to continue.
Anyone who has questioned the official narrative or who has alternative ideas about how to combat this is silenced, belittled, and ignored. This behavior really needs to stop, before it’s too late. This prejudice is a systemic cancer infecting our minds and hearts and it needs to be eradicated, because it severely limits our ability to solve the challenges we currently face.
Civil debate and open discussions need to happen, so that we can come up with solutions from a broader understanding and a more informed place. If some of our voices are being drowned out, we are certainly losing important aspects and details — which could ultimately hinder our success. In other words, more lives could be lost than need to be.
Recently, former U.S. Corona Task Force team member Dr. Scott Atlas voiced in an interview my own sentiments, when he pointed out that one of our biggest issues as a society right now, is our inability to have a free exchange of ideas. He posed that if we cannot have a free exchange of ideas — without rebuke, without intimidation, without having our reputations trashed — we won’t be able to arrive at truth, or science. I couldn’t agree more and that is why I am speaking out.
I would like to see our community come together in-person and have serious, all-inclusive conversations about how we are going to handle this state of affairs moving forward. So that the proposed path isn’t worse than the disease. We are not Denver or Durango. The truth of the matter is we are not in an emergency. Despite the new cases being discovered every day or despite the thousands of tourists who have visited us since this whole thing began. I believe there are other, better ways, that we, the town of Pagosa Springs, can respond. Some of the measures we have taken are counter-productive and need to be addressed immediately.
We need to create a safe space to share research and debate the evidence (or lack thereof) behind masks, lockdowns, and treatment options. In order for solutions to be discovered and hashed out, and for mistakes to be fixed, while we navigate these uncharted territories together; all ideas need to be included. All hypotheses presented and perspectives represented — not just the mainstream media, big pharma, or the over-reaching government. The quality of our lives depends on this.
Allow me to give you one example of an area we can do better – and that is transparency in regards to COVID-19 testing. Several people in town, myself included, have asked the leadership staff at the medical center to answer questions that have remained unanswered. In all fairness, this should be public knowledge because the results are driving policies. Given the number of false positives that have resulted from flawed or tainted testing methods during this worldwide crisis, and in conjunction with the increase of testing we are currently doing here in Pagosa, we all have the right to know what is being done locally to diagnose, report numbers, and classify us as being in an “emergency” state.
The most important question is how many amplification cycles are the labs using when performing PCR tests? Secondly, what is the ‘brand’ or type of tests being used for these new rapid mouth swabs? Additionally, it would benefit us greatly to be able to openly discuss the treatment plan options for those with a positive diagnosis.
Pagosa has some incredibly knowledgeable citizens here, that given the opportunity (the platform) – could help us remain safe and healthy, without keeping us locked down, masked, and afraid to live our lives. We have naturopaths, chiropractors, functional nutritionists, dieticians, herbalists, bodyworkers, microbiologists, and other professionals besides medical doctors, who have extensive knowledge about immune health, human physiology, and biology. I personally want to hear from them too. I will end by sharing some of my own ideas to lend to the conversation I am attempting to instigate. I would very much like to see less focus on restrictions, and more on how we can protect ourselves with immune support. I would also love to see more empowering, uplifting messages on social media and business signs. Here are just a few of my own ideas.
What if we:
- Allocate county funds to build another ICU room at our medical center?
- Start or expand shopping-delivery services for the vulnerable and unwell?
- Hang signs all over town educating people about immune health – empowering people rather than inducing fear and shame?
- Fund free educational workshops that inform people about the basics of human physiology and immune health?
- Encourage mediation/prayer circles to help alleviate stress and fear?
- Offer affordable counseling or support groups, guided by professionals, to help people who have experienced negative emotional or mental regression — people who are too afraid to leave their house, return to work, go back to school, to take off the masks, recover from their worsened addictions, or simply begin to return to life as normal as they can?
There are more effective ways — holistic ways — we can protect ourselves, other than masks and lockdowns. There are choices that will lead us to a healthier and happier community, now and when this pandemic is over. Actions that could make the greatest difference to our final outcome.
This has been a wild year to endure. Yet, we are so much stronger and resilient together. Thank God, we are free to choose! Many blessings to you all this New Year. We live in a beautiful place, don’t we? So much to be grateful for.
Shalene Zarate, LMT, is a CO native who has been practicing therapeutic bodywork for nearly two decades. She lives in Pagosa Springs with her husband and kids.
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