Reflections on our need to dramatize

As soon as I heard the word "pandemic" coupled with the news that some "new flu" was going around, I knew we were all in big trouble. What I didn't know was that trouble would come in the form of utter overreaction and unfounded hysteria.

Don't get me wrong, 'swine flu' is nothing to sneeze at, pun intended, but the level at which this end-of-days-wanna-be virus has been overplayed in everyday life, it's hard to tell who's nervously wringing their hands or merely using too much anti-bacterial gel.

The final straw for me came in the form of an e-mail I received from the Palatine soccer higher-ups regarding my son's upcoming game. We were told that at the conclusion of the game, the boys should refrain from the good sportsmanship ritual of shaking hands with the opposing team. (This was to stop the flu from spreading, of course, on the off chance that it was somehow unable to spread during the hour or so of roughhousing, yelling, laughing, kicking, high-fiving, tripping, rolling around and general FUN that kids have when playing team sports, not to mention the soccer ball that every kid at some point had contact with ... oh the horror).

I explained to the kids as best I could why we weren't going to shake hands, and they understood as best they could. There were a few confused faces, and I know why. Sometimes parents do silly, silly things.

Ken Anderson

Palatine