In "Calypso," David Sedaris explores the concept of selective attention during crises, highlighting how society often fixates on singular, localized cases rather than the broader impact of a health crisis like Ebola. He illustrates this with the example of a single Ebola case in Dallas, which drew extensive media coverage, overshadowing the many lives lost to the disease in Africa. This reflects a tendency to prioritize individual stories that resonate emotionally over broader statistics. Sedaris uses this narrative to critique media sensationalism and societal reactions towards health threats. By focusing on one person in a highly visible location, he prompts readers to consider the implications of such narrow viewpoints and how they can lead to a skewed understanding of larger issues. Through his reflection, he encourages a deeper empathy for all those affected and a more comprehensive view of the challenges posed by epidemics.

In "Calypso," David Sedaris explores the concept of selective attention during crises, highlighting how society often fixates on singular, localized cases rather than the broader impact of a health crisis like Ebola. He illustrates this with the example of a single Ebola case in Dallas, which drew extensive media coverage, overshadowing the many lives lost to the disease in Africa. This reflects a tendency to prioritize individual stories that resonate emotionally over broader statistics.

Sedaris uses this narrative to critique media sensationalism and societal reactions towards health threats. By focusing on one person in a highly visible location, he prompts readers to consider the implications of such narrow viewpoints and how they can lead to a skewed understanding of larger issues. Through his reflection, he encourages a deeper empathy for all those affected and a more comprehensive view of the challenges posed by epidemics.