Last week I wrote about getting rid of the itch. This disease is sort of like getting rid of ISIS. You felt like you had gotten rid of it only to discover next week that it was back in full force. Such was my battle in the 1940s with the itch infections. Now, here we sit and listen with a worried feeling as our President tries to explain how we managed to turn our “victory” in Afghanistan into a sudden loss. Just like the itch. Afghanistan is back. A time of shame for our country. A week of regrets for the thousands of citizens who served our armed forces during that long 20 years of war. A time of concern as we try to figure out how to get our citizens and those friendly Afghans that were helpful to us out of that unhappy place.

This last week or so we have been submitted to an almost non-stop series of Biden inspired news conferences. These were set up to keep us, his public, informed about what has happened, why, and if it had to happen and how can we fix up his mess. President Biden has come out looking confused, scared and incompetent. How we, the “victim-Americans” come out of his mess is anyone’s guess. His “helpers” who are nearly constantly on the news stations and seem incapable of shutting up are less than clever in dreaming up glib answers to astounded news people’s questions. But everything they say simply digs their holes a little deeper in this Biden made faux pas.

George Will commented this week on the unending amount of endless and useless advice with which Biden is being deluged. Will recalled what Britain’s Clement Atlee said to one of his political opponents regarding the man’s abundant advice to Mr. Atlee. “A period of silence on your part would be welcome.” Of course, it’s too late and its tragic for our President. His political history is already severely damaged. But if he thinks he has it bad, you will have no problem figuring out how the American citizens trapped right now in Afghanistan now feel.

Biden, being president, has to also deal with natural disasters, such as Louisiana hurricanes. More Afghan suicide attacks? Probably and soon. And Mr. Biden has taken a tough stance on governors and other leaders who have jammed up the nations fights against the Covid. But so far, it’s just another battle American is losing. This leadership will require many governors and school superintendents to also step up and reexamine their own decisions on vaccines, face masks and probably they will have to make some unpopular decisions. Will they?

People expect this and statements such as “I don’t want to step in where parents or individuals want to make their own decisions” will have to be put aside in the interest of public health. Weighing everything they say on the scales of politics will not help us to get past this pandemic. They are just going to have to “man up” and do it. Like in Afghanistan, bad decisions have already been made by many of these “leaders” and we, the public are having to reap the fearful consequences.

Some of these Covid problems are on us. The average citizen needs to give the “shots” and “mask” issue a grownup look. Head of house? You need to set your politics aside and get yourselves and your family the shots and good health they deserve. Also, it’s embarrassing for me to note quite a few of the people who have taken a negative stand on this are professionals. You know, college graduates such as teachers. Even nurses.

Now, Labor Day weekend is upon us. Now let’s all be safe and watch after the safety of your families. And be sure and go to church Sunday. It’s a good place to be.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com