by Wendell Barnhouse
No doubt the last 48 hours have had an “end of days” feeling for many. Here’s an attempt at perspective. What we’re currently experiencing is a variation on previous historical events.
If you’re 30 or younger, 9/11 was a national tragedy that most likely you didn’t fully experience/comprehend. It was horrific, but it occurred before Twitter and pervasive social media. Imagine the impact if everyone with an outlet was firing off opinions and exchanging (false) info during those dark days.
If you’re 70 or younger, you remember the national shock over JFK’s assassination. For four days that November, the three major networks did continuous non-commercial coverage. It was our first shared tragedy and the end of national innocence.
The Greatest Generation lived through its day of infamy. The nation awoke on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941 at peace while Europe was at war. By noon, the United States had been attacked by Japan and we would soon be engaged in a two-front war in the European and Pacific theaters. The news of the Japanese attack came via the radio and newspapers.
If you had conversations with your grandparents, you might have gleaned some of their thoughts and prayers from that time nearly eight decades ago. Men in high school or college enlisted or awaited notice from the draft boards. On the home front for the next four years, those families with service members worried about receiving The Telegram and followed the war through radio, newspapers and newsreels at the local theater. For
many citizens, World War II was both intensely personal while feeling like it was a world away.
Raise your hand if you know about the Spanish flu pandemic (January, 1918-December, 1920). It infected 500 million around the world with a resulting death toll estimated between 17 million to as high as 100 million. It was one of the deadliest epidemics in human history. (And early on, our government tried to downplay the impact to prevent a
panic as World War I was concluding.)
These are scary times. That old Chinese proverb “May you live in interesting times” can fck right off. The sht got real with three major pro sports and the semi-pro NCAA calling off games.
How bad is it? The NCAA not only canceled March Madness but all spring sports championships. That includes the College World Series, which is played in early June. To me, that’s an indication that those who hope for a return to normal in a couple of weeks will be disappointed in a couple of weeks. The disease spread is likely to get worse before it gets better.
While experiencing past crises, Americans could look to the White House for calming leadership and guidance. The shock of Pearl Harbor was eased by FDR. Even overgrown frat boy George W. Bush helped us return to normal after 9/11. (Bush 43 choked away that lead and finished under .500 thanks to Iraq and the 2008 financial crash).
Donald John Trump is having his incompetence, ineptitude and inhumanity exposed. He’s also been exposed to COVID-19 but’s a scared little girl and refuses testing. His presidency has been a complete disaster, but it has required this virus to put his bumbling on full display.
The last month or so, President MQ has lied and wished that the germ would magically disappear. NPR reports that HHS secretary Alex Azar pushed Trump to ramp up testing in mid-January but President MQ feared a high number of positive tests would make his China travel ban look foolish, might hurt the stock market and ultimately hurt his chances in November. (He’s hitting .667 so far.)
With a chance to be presidential Wednesday night, President MQ made things worse. He “delivered” a “speech” (apparently written by Stephen Miller and Jared Kushner, vetted/edited by no one) that had to be corrected and clarified soon after.
Perhaps FAUX News and the MAGATs thought it was fine oratory and ignored the missteps. But it wasn’t long after that the news broke that the NBA was suspending play and that actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson – filming in Australia – had tested positive for COVID-19.
That BREAKING NEWS appeared to be the reality check everyone needed.
Coronavirus isn’t a hoax. It’s a disease that has created a world-wide pandemic. And it’s painfully apparent that President MQ and his sycophant toadies are whistling past the graveyard (literally).
Currently, infected numbers are down in the good ol’ U.S. of A., but that’s because only about 12,000 have been tested. The Utah Jazz tested over 50 of its players and staff. The state of Oklahoma – the ENTIRE FREAKIN’ STATE – has administered about the same number. (So, if you’re involved with a pro sports team, an actor or perhaps a Congressman, hooray for you.) Anecdotal reports of doctors being told they can’t test patients for COVID-19 are as viral as the virus.
As quoted in Medium Happy Thursday, President Trump said, ‘’The virus will not have a chance against us.” That’s high-level jingoism but low-level to nonexistent action. As is becoming painfully evident, measures to combat COVID-19 are being enacted at the state and local level. It’s basically, “Folks, you’re on your own.” That disjointed response will have patchwork results, but it’s better than nothing. (President MQ isn’t even better than nothing.)
I see two possible scenarios:
- As a nation, we’ll muddle through, carry on and survive without NCAA bracket pools and ceremonial first pitches to start the baseball season. COVID-19 testingwill increase, more people will be diagnosed, the nation’s health care facilities and workers will be maxed out and the death toll will rise. Joe Biden, who Thursday delivered the speech Trump couldn’t, will be the Democratic nominee.
Because it will become evident that the current administration and the GOP are no better than a mob family, Biden will lead a November blue wave that will deliver the Senate to the Democrats. True healing will begin, and sane
governance will return.
2. The stock market continues its free fall, millions lose their jobs, dozens of
hospitals will figuratively collapse because of patient overload. President MQ declares a national emergency and martial law. He postpones the November elections. Typically, that type of decision would lead to rioting in the streets, but because of increased testing, more people are sick and, you know, avoid crowds.
So, that “just swallowed a snowball” feeling in your middle? It’s a familiar human condition. Hopefully we see Scenario One. If it’s Scenario Two, consider this iteration of March Madness as a preview.