That Much Good

H.Q., John Cupp, Jim Hammond.

As I grew up in Chattanooga, and throughout my 32 years of law practice, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and the larger than life men who have served the voters and citizens in that seat have inspired me with their dedication and hard work. From time to time during my career, these gentlemen have coached me, counseled me and taught me.

Our current sheriff possesses over 50 years of law enforcement experience, and I know he and his team worry 24 hours a day, seven days a week, about the safety and well-being of county residents, students, visitors and inmates.

Sheriff Hammond possess not only ordinary law enforcement skills, but he is also a distinguished international instructor of military and terrorism counter-measure training.

Countervailing terroristic threats involves seeing around corners, anticipating invisible threats and chasing ghosts that become instantaneously real. Like an invisible virus.

My friend Sheriff Hammond is quoted as having said the following in a TV interview earlier this week:

“My personal thoughts, I’m not convinced the masks are doing that much good. ”

My question and my worry:  Does one gesture require “THAT much good” in order to be appropriate during a pandemic?

What if wearing a mask does “almost“ that much good? What if hand-washing and good hygiene  does “almost“ that much good? What if social distancing does “almost“ that much good? What if avoiding large gatherings does “almost“ that much good?

And the question that follows - What if the collective, sum-total of wearing a mask to protect others, good hygiene practices, social distancing and avoiding large crowds collectively result in the Sheriff’s benchmark standard of “THAT much good?”

We all want to be on the downside of the Covid-19 pandemic and all of the illness, suffering and economic destruction that it is leaving in its path.

There is no single solution, answer or magic bullet. There exists a series-a collection-of small gestures and steps, any of which may not offer “THAT much good,” but which, when taken and done together, provide our best community chance for success. I know in my heart that our Sheriff wants us all to succeed.

God bless all of our first responders and medical professionals for the work they do and for the risks they are taking every day in order to achieve “THAT much good.“

Michael Mallen