There are many moments in the movie “Stripes” that capture Americana.

In one of them, Russell Ziskey, played by Harold Ramis, is being ordered by Drill Sergeant Hulka, played by Warren Oats, to scrub garbage cans as punishment because he left the base without permission. Sgt. Hulka looks at Russell’s best friend, John Winger, played by Bill Murray, and asks, “What do you think of that?”

Winger, who had left the base, too, but won’t admit it, coolly replies, “I think it sucks.”

That scene is meant to be funny.

There’s nothing funny about COVID-19. It’s contagious, dangerous, difficult, heartbreaking and so many other adjectives that include — it sucks.

Many people have been laid off, put on furlough or had portions of their jobs cut. The number of reported cases seems low, but people are getting sick. Sometimes the worst has come out of people. People have hoarded toilet paper, Lysol, soap and cleaning supplies. 

There has yet to be appropriate financial support for workers who have no jobs. Not just those who can apply for unemployment, but consider people like bartenders, waitstaff, cooks, day laborers, skilled tradespeople, etc., whose jobs may not be fully on the books. 

How many undocumented aliens, who have diligently been cleaning rooms and making beds around the nation in the most posh hotels, are no longer being paid?

It’s part of an American’s DNA to work through everything. Look at our average workweek vs. other first-world countries. Americans work their tails off with fewer benefits or rewards at the end of the tunnel than their western European counterparts.

A few weeks ago it was easy to be sarcastic about COVID-19. China misled the world about its test results and the danger involved with this novel Coronavirus. We as a society, after hearing about SARS, bird flu and H1N1 pretty much thought, “Those never got here, COVID-19 is just like them.”

Each day, however, things have changed. Certainly the numbers of positive-testing infected people are low, but we’re not testing all the sick people.

I have friends all over the nation — just like most of you. My friend in Duluth said his daughter became ill last Wednesday presenting all the symptom of COVID-19. They called their local health provider and asked if she should be tested. They said, “No, we’re only testing people with breathing problems or those who have traveled recently.”

Now we’re hearing out of China that those who have already had COVID-19 are getting sick again and testing positive for it a second time.

I went to all four of Monroe’s major grocery stores two weeks ago on Friday and found them literally gutted of essential products. I recall reading a plea from a health-care worker coming off a 48-hour shift, who said she went from work to the store to buy her family groceries and found virtually zero — in fact no essentials. I had seen the stores and knew they had been cleaned out.

Yet a week later, March 27, I visited the grocery stores again. Toilet paper, Lysol, alcohol cleaning wipes, and cleaning products were all either gone or in short supply. However, the food supply had bounced back. There were all of the essentials and few shortages. You might not get the brand you wanted, but there was milk, eggs, cheese, frozen pizza, fresh veggies and fruit. It was a whole different ball game.

Not only have I seen a bounce back, I’ve seen a flicker in the flame we call the “American spirit.” That comes from average people helping their neighbors, being good citizens and caring for each other. There is a major new positive affirmation of all our health care workers, EMTs, police and firefighters. This spreads to municipal workers, restaurants taking call-in orders and people supporting them. 

Most importantly, workers we’ve treated the poorest — grocery clerks, day care providers, teachers — have had their importance reaffirmed.

We’re far from free of COVID-19, and I don’t know what the future brings. I only know that positivity and proactive behavior will keep us together. 

We have done our part so far, but each day it seems we have longer to go.

Take heart in your family and friends. Make them happy, healthy and confident.

Keep up with handwashing, cough etiquette and “Safer at Home” protocols. It will be a long time before COVID-19 turns around, and until then, we have to remain vigilant and safe.

— Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.