Keep Calm and Carry On. No, Seriously - Calm Down

Earlier this week, I wrote of the efforts of many dedicated members of the public to help save the Chester Zoo in England.  Similar efforts have taken place around the world, with local communities railing to save their zoos.  That, combined with the outpouring of support we've all seen as zoos share more and more content online while they are/were closed, has been very touching.

However...

There is a subset of the public which has been a bit, shall we say, plaintive, lately.  It's come as zoos are reopening, or contemplating reopening, or refraining from opening based on the restrictions in place by the state or local government.  Some people are angry that things aren't open right away.  Some are angry that things are open, but not all of the amenities and attractions, especially ones which make social distancing difficult or impossible.  Some are angry that admissions are timed and metered, meaning members can't just pop in and out whenever they want, which is one of the main perks of a membership.  And don't even think about broaching the subject of masks...

Look, we get it.  This stinks.  Literally no one is having fun right now.  We would love for everything to be the way it was, with everyone coming and having a great time with no restrictions.  We would also love for you not to die... or at least not to bring home a souvenir from your visit that sickens your elderly relatives.  We're all in uncharted waters here.  We have a responsibility to behave ethically and cautiously.  Besides, a lot of the decisions being made are out of our hands, instead being made by political leaders and health experts.

So everyone, take a step back and calm down.  We're all trying our best to make it through a global pandemic without every aspect of culture and society being lost in the progress.  Just breathe.  It's a bumpy ride, but we'll get there...