“We live in uncertain times.”

Well, shut my mouth, Matilda. You are incredibly lucky to get this news. Many thanks to the TV advertisers and news media for their extraordinary insight and vaunted intellectual prowess to state the obvious and state it incessantly. For weeks now, you’ve been thinking about how lucky Americans were who lived in the “certain times.” The times from 1861-65 were definitely certain as 620,000 soldiers died in the Civil War and the South burned to a crisp. But TV wasn’t there to tell anyone how they should feel about it. The 1918 H1N1 virus pandemic killed another 670+ thousand Americans. Some cities shut down movies, schools and other gathering places as, simultaneously, World War I raged in Europe — as two million U.S. soldiers fought the virus of fascism. But TV ads and media pundits weren’t there every single day to hand out fatherly advice and sympathy. Just before WWII, the certainty of the Great Depression put millions out of work, driving families into poverty and deprivation. But as people suffered and persevered on their own, TV talking heads weren’t around to express sentiments of compassion, charity and comfort. The adults who lived through WWII, Korea and Vietnam knuckled down to build families, grow cities, tackle civil rights, confront the drug culture and endure Jimmy Carter’s Misery Index. But you didn’t hear advertising mouthpieces or government officials express condolences and advise you how you were supposed to cope. Nobody gave you daily assurances. Nobody felt your pain. What was certain in a certain world? Nothing. There was no stimulus, no handout. More important, Americans didn’t ask for it. Didn’t expect it. Didn’t get it. Thankfully, the new Millennium changed all that, changed the heartless, self-reliant attitudes and ushered in a new era of charitable feelings. Very quickly, America embraced a new sensitivity. Students everywhere sought out organized, safe spaces. Universities outlawed offensive speech. Helicopter parents adopted a health and safety obsession, shielding children from risk and failure. The daring mentality of youth gave way to caution and restive entitlement. And behold, what should step onto this already apprehensive, skittish landscape? None other than COVID19. The response from Media, advertisers and government authorities was predictable. We must treat America’s adults like grammar school children. Feed their uncertainty with Pollyanna, feel good messages. Feed the people neighborly platitudes. TV Land Channel led the way with its saccherine theme “Alone Together.” Reynolds Wrap declared “When we can’t be close, we can still be close.” How sweet (and silly). Since you are so acutely fragile and flustered, politicians must continuously tell you what to do, when and how. “Stay in, Stay home, Stay put.” Advertisers put it another way. They capitalize on the PR opportunity: “Stay safe. Stay home. Stay with us.” Then, in direct violation of The Constitution, Governors tell people what businesses can stay open and which must close. They allow abortion clinics to end life. And prohibit churches to live life. If it has done nothing else, CV19 has revealed something far more sinister than a pandemic. You now have a clear look at Big Brother. You have a sharp taste of what individual liberty truly means. And what it would be like to lose it. Better face it. Most Americans would accuse you of exaggeration, at best; or at worst, melodramatic fear mongering. Better face it — you do live in uncertain times. And it has nothing to do with bat spit.