So, the task at hand for all of us, is to normalize social distancing and being responsible about reducing transmission, by making new norms quickly that resonate across social and cultural lines. Who is telling a story that’s bigger than our cultural divides?
There are many people who are motivated by civics or responsibility — “be a good neighbor!” or “let’s all look out for each other!”. Receptive to those messages basically depends on how you feel about the person or institution saying them.
We could save millions of lives if we can get people across different communities to agree to make behavioral changes quickly. After major emergencies, we have even succeeded in doing that, sometimes. But *before* one? I can’t recall us having done so.
Just speaking as an American, it is mathematically likely that, by the fourth of July, all of us will know someone who died. At that point, people will commiserate across lines of politics, religion, race, class, etc. Can we see someone else’s behavior change as a kindness *now*?
