I'm really struggling to understand the mindset of "COVID-19 isn't really that bad. Other pandemics were way worse." And quite frankly, I'm more than a little fed up with the "What's the big deal" attitude entirely.
First and foremost, just because something else is worse, doesn't mean something else isn't also bad. Just because I didn't die in an accident, doesn't mean that breaking 12 bones in my body and being comatose "isn't really that bad". Was Spanish Influenza worse? Statistically, yes. Does that mean anything else with a lower death toll is "nothing to worry about"? No.
Second, utilizing the narrative that the mortality rate of this virus is so low and simply stating the percentage chance of death, is irresponsible. Sure, while you are technically correct, the math bears out how much of a colossal asshole you are for clinging to that. Let's just look at basic figures. 4.4 million diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the United States so far and at least 151,077 deaths. Only a 3.4% death rate, given those numbers. What's the big deal? Right? Admittedly, it is very hard to properly imagine those numbers in actual human lives. So let's perform a little math experiment.
On September 11th, 2001 there were an estimated 2,606 people who were in the World Trade Center and on the ground who perished in the attacks and the subsequent collapse of the towers. I'm not sure if you all remember how incredibly angry and vitriolic we, as a nation, were because of this, but I do. This was an atrocious loss of life. An event that claimed so many American lives that we ensure that each and every year that we "Never Forget". This event literally changed the very fabric of our nation.
Now fast-forward to 2020. In our country alone, we have lost at least 151,077 citizens to the COVID-19 virus. 151,077. And the numbers aren't done growing. Let's put this number into perspective. Let's say that every single day we had an event like 9/11 happen on American soil. Every day, 2,606 American citizens died. How many days would it take to equal the current number of COVID-19 deaths? The answer is 57.97 days. Rounding up slightly to an even 58. Think about that for a moment. I want you to let that sink in to your mind as deeply as it possibly can. It would take a 9/11 event every single day for 58 days straight for us to get to the current death rate of COVID-19.
So if you think that this is just a simple little virus, nothing to be worried about, no big deal, I want you to understand the gravity of that statement. 9/11 happened and we went to war for a decade. We didn't stop until we were satisfied that the source of this atrocity was bombed into the deepest pits of hell. We joined together to fight that evil and make sure that it never ever happened again. Yet, now, when we are in the midst of an event nearly 60 times worse you shrug and laugh it off. Who cares? No big deal that all of these people died (and will continue to die). You are selfish. You are a hypocrite.
And this event in human history has really made one thing crystal clear to me. People can (and in fact, do) shift their morality based on the narrative that they want to believe. This fact is ubiquitous across all belief systems, values, and groups. If your tribe says that this isn't a big deal, I mean who cares about statistics? Empathy can be suspended as long as the hive-mind says it isn't a big deal. Who cares about human lives lost? There's a political point to be made! Well, I will leave you with this. I hope you never have to see the affects of this first-hand in your lives. I hope you can go on living without having to see anyone near you struck down by this. I hope you never have to watch a loved one succumb to this virus. But if you do, I hope that you have the courage in that moment to look down at the person whom you loved and who is slipping from existence and say, "this isn't really that bad".
First and foremost, just because something else is worse, doesn't mean something else isn't also bad. Just because I didn't die in an accident, doesn't mean that breaking 12 bones in my body and being comatose "isn't really that bad". Was Spanish Influenza worse? Statistically, yes. Does that mean anything else with a lower death toll is "nothing to worry about"? No.
Second, utilizing the narrative that the mortality rate of this virus is so low and simply stating the percentage chance of death, is irresponsible. Sure, while you are technically correct, the math bears out how much of a colossal asshole you are for clinging to that. Let's just look at basic figures. 4.4 million diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the United States so far and at least 151,077 deaths. Only a 3.4% death rate, given those numbers. What's the big deal? Right? Admittedly, it is very hard to properly imagine those numbers in actual human lives. So let's perform a little math experiment.
On September 11th, 2001 there were an estimated 2,606 people who were in the World Trade Center and on the ground who perished in the attacks and the subsequent collapse of the towers. I'm not sure if you all remember how incredibly angry and vitriolic we, as a nation, were because of this, but I do. This was an atrocious loss of life. An event that claimed so many American lives that we ensure that each and every year that we "Never Forget". This event literally changed the very fabric of our nation.
Now fast-forward to 2020. In our country alone, we have lost at least 151,077 citizens to the COVID-19 virus. 151,077. And the numbers aren't done growing. Let's put this number into perspective. Let's say that every single day we had an event like 9/11 happen on American soil. Every day, 2,606 American citizens died. How many days would it take to equal the current number of COVID-19 deaths? The answer is 57.97 days. Rounding up slightly to an even 58. Think about that for a moment. I want you to let that sink in to your mind as deeply as it possibly can. It would take a 9/11 event every single day for 58 days straight for us to get to the current death rate of COVID-19.
So if you think that this is just a simple little virus, nothing to be worried about, no big deal, I want you to understand the gravity of that statement. 9/11 happened and we went to war for a decade. We didn't stop until we were satisfied that the source of this atrocity was bombed into the deepest pits of hell. We joined together to fight that evil and make sure that it never ever happened again. Yet, now, when we are in the midst of an event nearly 60 times worse you shrug and laugh it off. Who cares? No big deal that all of these people died (and will continue to die). You are selfish. You are a hypocrite.
And this event in human history has really made one thing crystal clear to me. People can (and in fact, do) shift their morality based on the narrative that they want to believe. This fact is ubiquitous across all belief systems, values, and groups. If your tribe says that this isn't a big deal, I mean who cares about statistics? Empathy can be suspended as long as the hive-mind says it isn't a big deal. Who cares about human lives lost? There's a political point to be made! Well, I will leave you with this. I hope you never have to see the affects of this first-hand in your lives. I hope you can go on living without having to see anyone near you struck down by this. I hope you never have to watch a loved one succumb to this virus. But if you do, I hope that you have the courage in that moment to look down at the person whom you loved and who is slipping from existence and say, "this isn't really that bad".
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