Pandemic has taught us that we are one people. I’ll wear my mask for all of you.

Thank you to all of the governors, health care workers and experts across this country who are working with such dedication to save people’s lives. A special thank you to Governor Andy Beshear and Team Kentucky who are tireless in their efforts to save mine. Balancing all of the varied human needs in this crisis is a challenge which seems almost impossible. The virus is particularly frightening with so much unknown, even to the experts. However, it is clear that they know more than I do. So, I think I’ll listen to them and follow their advice.

I am also very thankful to Governor Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams for their willingness to lay aside party politics in order to come up with a plan for safe voting taking multiple needs into account in order to forge a workable compromise. I have heard Governor Beshear say many times that he is done with politics. Me, too! For years I have longed for some glimmer of hope that our elected officials could put the needs of state and country ahead of partisan politics. It is good to have my faith renewed.

In my work to teach conflict resolution to elementary school students, I became very aware of how important it is to listen and to be open to the perspective of everyone involved in any conflict. Unfortunately, I rarely saw these behaviors modeled for my students by those in public office. While honest disagreement can be really helpful in coming up with creative solutions to problems, name calling and put downs never are. Criticizing leaders in an attempt to score political points does nothing to achieve solutions and usually exacerbates the problem. Threatening elected officials is even more dangerous. When you threaten Governor Beshear, you threaten me.

What if all of our elected leaders saw themselves as public servants and worked together with our scientists, economists and others using their energies to collaborate in developing creative solutions as yet unimagined. What if all the money spent to finance political campaigns were used to meet needs? What if all of those in positions of power were lined up waiting to ask, “What can I do to help?”

Surely, this pandemic has taught us that on this one planet, we are one people. Together, we face a virus that has no political, racial, ethnic or religious preference. It just wants us — one people, bound together in this time and space. What you do affects me. What I do affects you. I will wear my mask for all of you.

Judy Withers Burris is a mother, grandmother, former teacher and retired counselor who lives in Lexington.

This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 10:18 AM.