Coronavirus: What will our legacy be?

 A cursory Google search on August 7th 2020 reports 19 million cases of corona virus worldwide and 712,000 deaths. In the United States 4.9 million cases have been reported and 162,000 deaths. These statistics have driven social change and unrest, the bankruptcy of many businesses, travel restrictions and compulsory face mask mandates. These closures and mandates have resulted in record unemployment levels and the biggest recession in the history of the United States. To some, this situation seems catastrophic and unprecedented, but this isn’t the first time the US has confronted fatal threats and responded with personal sacrifice for the greater good and the promise of a better future. Just over a hundred years ago the United States sent 4 million active duty officers to serve in the conflict notoriously known as The Great War or World War I. The US involvement in WWI resulted in 116,516 casualties. Perusing these numbers lead to the realization that as a nation we have suffered more casualties from corona virus in approximately eight months than we did fighting in a world war over the space of four years. Now, I’m no expert, but that seems noteworthy. 

Our fight against corona virus has more similarities to WWI than just statistics. The threat of unrestricted submarine warfare drew people together in the early 1900's leading to collaboration among foreign nations; we too must work together to collectively address the threat of corona virus. The upsetting of normal life and future plans is not unique to our generation either. In harrowing numbers the soldiers in WWI gave their lives in the fight against German aggression, their plans for college, marriage and independence were thwarted, businesses and universities were faced with financial ruin as war played out on a global stage. Today we must also sacrifice for the greater good of humanity but we do it by wearing masks and social distancing. We limit our freedoms to provide future freedom for others. 

Now that we know we’re not the only ones who have ever faced a global catastrophe, we can draw strength from those who were strong before. When uncertainty and fear reigned, they responded with service. How will we respond? 

Sources

https://www.google.com/search?q=worldwide+covid+deaths&rlz=1CAZBMY_enUS821&oq=worldwide&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0j46j0l4.1871j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf

https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/09/world/world-war-i-fast-facts/index.html

https://www.livescience.com/covid-19-did-not-start-at-wuhan-wet-market.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahhansen/2020/05/08/heres-how-the-coronavirus-recession-compares-to-the-great-recession/#36f4399f57a7

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_isn%27t_free

https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/looking-back-100-years-u-s-enters-world-war-i-on-april-6-1917/#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20entered%20World%20War,American%20entry%20into%20the%20war.