Herd Immunity

​Last night on the radio
experts expressed their hope for herd immunity
once the infection rate has reached 50, 60, 70 percent. 
In the meantime they trust, they say, in the 
responsible conduct of 
each 
individual
to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable.
I am torn.
Is it admirable, this faith
in our civility?
Or just naïve?
These days, there are so many things
we seem to just want to
wait
out.
Bruised by our atrocious history
we Germans shy away
from severe measures.
We don’t curtail (any kind of) freedom lightly,
sometimes
at our 
peril.

©2020 Anna Witte