RATIONAL or IRRATIONAL? A Perspective by BARNEY MOORHOUSE For Reproduction Rights Call Access 1.800.893.5777
It seems one’s behavior is either rational or irrational and much of it is a reaction to one’s perception. Consider the following.
In 1914 World War 1 spread globally, like a virus. In to-day’s terminology some might say it went viral. For four years people suffered in various unimaginable ways. Perhaps there was a sigh of relief, and certainly one of joy, when the war to end all wars came to a conclusion in 1918. But it was almost as if WW1 was nature’s sucker punch for it was followed by the Spanish flu pandemic that killed more multitudes. As a milk maid my maternal grandmother discovered entire households that had succumbed to this deadly virus.
The world survived and carried on in relative calm until October 29, 1929 when the stock market crash plunged the world into a global depression and the resultant financial chaos. Some, who lost fortunes, committed suicide. Others, such as a friend who said his father was a teacher, never suffered at all. “My dad had a regular income,” he told me.
My mother used to talk of joining her father, my grandfather, in the bread lines. Unlike to-day, there were no social nets available.
Gerald Moore, on The Ridge Farm, told me years ago that during the depression “we were self-sufficient, using our own food, water and firewood but only the firewood had any value.” There was no market for his beef cattle so they had to knock the calves on the head and throw their carcasses away for the wildlife. “Hired hands willingly worked for room and board.”
Gerald told me that his brother lived in Peterboro and just before Christmas he sent Gerald a letter asking for meat and firewood. They shot a buck deer and hid it under the firewood since deer season was over. A neighbour in Peterboro insisted on helping unload the firewood, noticed the buck and commented, “Nice horns.” The accompanying photo shows Gerald, the boy with the bowtie, next to the lad with the slate, in his school’s photo which was taken co-incidentally on October 29, 1929.
In an historical blurr World War 2 plunged the world into further chaos. Keith Pigeon recently told me how his father, a vet from WW1, re-upped for WW2.
My dad, his brothers and my uncles signed up for the various services. My mother became a buyer for Dominion stores in place of the man who went overseas. Upon his return she returned to her domestic duties. My mother-in-law drove ambulance in England and shared many sad stories of returning injured soldiers.
During WW2, gasoline rationing went into effect and Canada was introduced to ration books and food ration cards. Returning service men faced the challenge of finding meaningful employment. My father was lucky. The firm, Moore Corp., regarded his war service as company service and he remained a loyal employee for 49 years before cancer intervened.
In the early 1950s Dr. Jonas Salk developed a “killed virus” vaccine for Polio, another viral disease. As I recall we lined up at West Acres Public School for our oral vaccination. A liquid dose of the vaccine was infused in a sugar cube which we placed in our mouths. As I understand, Dr. Salk provided the patent free of charge for the benefit of humanity. Different times.
Since that time there have been many challenges to human health including AIDS and SARS. All of which have challenged human behavior. Now in wave three the COVID-19 virus continues like a tsunami to ravage human-kind. How we react, whether it be rational or irrational, depends upon our perspective, the way we see it. For example, the light at the end of the tunnel can be positive or you might see it as a freight train coming your way! Hopefully this finds the reader well.
Photo – courtesy Layne Moore.
To share your thoughts goto: barney@thetimetraveller.ca.