FACEBOOK has finally removed a false claim from US President Donald Trump’s page, the claim being that children are less susceptible to the COVID-19 virus.
The advice from a presidential press conference should come from Dr. Anthony Fauci and really only him.
Facebook has a right and a responsibility to remove inaccurate information, especially life-threatening, but they and the other social media platforms have a long way to go with so many medical lies out there, including the nature of the virus, the spread of the virus and especially the treatment options.
Eventually, hopefully, there will be a vaccine and it must be available cheaply and without unfounded fears about the vaccination process.
There are many lies out there, moon-landing doubters, rigged elections, Elvis sightings and even lizard people, but fortunately they are so silly no one believes them.
When the proponents are interviewed, they are even more obviously from the deranged thinking of some lost souls. This is the danger behind the misleading information from President Trump, most people have trust in their president and see the role as being a leader and a source of accurate information backed up by the best experts available.
It’s time to emphasize the right and responsibility of social media platforms to provide access to correct information and to remove falsehoods and perhaps to consider their original purpose, as Facebook was designed to connect, not to divide.
***
Playing the game
Nero fiddled while the fire spread through Rome. Trump played golf while the virus spread through the States.
Nero is remembered by his failings and self-interest and provides an example of how poor leadership can contribute to the ills of the people. How will the distant future remember President Trump and his golf games?
We live in a time of hope and hope for the time to enjoy it.
***
Truth being led down the garden path
With so much in the papers about fake news and doubts about many people and what they say, it is clear that a simple yes or no truth is rarely seen. What is mostly concerning although occasionally amusing is the way the issue permeated through every part of daily life.
A trip to the local nursery saw two items where the truth was besieged. One plant stated on a very large label “Easy Care” although a few weeks of care showed that to be misleading as the plant started to decline.
Another item stated that the mulch was “organic” sugar cane which seemed appropriate although superfluous as surely any living product is or was organic.
If the truth is difficult with simple garden products, what hope is there in the worlds of politics and the current COVID-19 pandemic?
Many people, in saying they never lie, are doing so again. Honesty should be easy and commonplace, so why isn’t it? (dfitzger@melbpc.org.au/PN)
