By Heather Buch
Throughout my life, whenever I found myself in an especially challenging place, my mother would repeat to me those wise, graceful words, “This, too, shall pass.”
It would apply to nearly every obstacle.
Those who have lived through times of great change did not know what awaited them on the other side, yet they tempered the highs and lows of the journey with deep patience and their knowledge that this, too, would pass. In an era of constant, magnifying hype, their experience is one we should bear in mind. We will come through on the other side of this crisis. But what awaits us might not be what we expect.
For many people, this pandemic is the single greatest life-altering event they have ever experienced. Virtually every aspect of our daily lives has changed. Many have lost their jobs, their businesses, their opportunity for education, their housing and any stability they once knew — not to mention any semblance of normal human connection.Those on the front lines have experienced more than their fair share of tragedy. Some have sacrificed everything, including their own lives, to save our friends and neighbors. We are forever grateful to them.
As governmental agencies scramble to piece together some sort of return to normal, I am reminded that the future will be permanently altered. It will not be the same as it was, nor should it be. This extraordinary time shines a bright light on many troublesome policies and shameful inequities in the world. As we are required to be in this standstill, it should be a time of deep reflection locally, nationally and globally.
It is only natural that we will see things a bit differently once we emerge from the first global pandemic in generations. We will not be the same people we were when this began. Many people have learned hard lessons and experienced great loss. Recovery will take some time, and we will have to do things not only in ways we’ve never done them before, but in ways we never thought of doing them before. We need our entire community to help us get through it.
If there was ever a time for people with diverse backgrounds and political beliefs to come together, it is now — for the sanctity and preservation of life around the world. Many historic differences that we fought about in the past now pale in comparison to the current crisis. We need to put those differences aside. They will be there later to debate. For now, we must help our neighbors in great need.
Lane County is an exceptionally resilient community. We are very familiar with natural disasters like wildfire, snowstorms and floods. This disaster will be different; nonetheless, we will get through it and see the other side. It will take us all working together to lift our neighbors up, help when we can and serve when we are called upon. Many of you are doing this already and we thank you.
Just as my mother always promised, this too, will pass. When it does, what do you want our community to look like? What do you want our world to look like? In quiet moments between boredom and despair, dream big. Do not settle for normal, aspire to do better. If we can envision something better rising from the ashes of this tragedy, it may just make it easier to bear in the meantime.
Heather Buch is chair of the Lane County Board of Commissioners and represents East Lane County.
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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