The Coronavirus Perspective On Life
The Coronavirus Perspective of the Pandemic Lockdown of 2020 goes thus: We all ain’t seen nothin’ new under the sun.
(I have no clue why I’m talking like that. Is it a symptom???)
This piece was inspired by someone on FBook. I am not supposed to give their name so I won’t. I was also instructed not to change a consonant or a syllable, but that I couldn’t adhere to; it’s in my genes or something, but you gotta be a dead author to get that privilege. The person who re-posted it said it’s okay to publish it here, though.
So, relax and let’s get to it: ( I really wish I had a curtain to open with a flourish)
“It’s hard to discern what is a real threat and what is simple panic and hysteria. For a small amount of perspective, imagine you were born in 1900.
On your 14th birthday, World War I starts. It ends on your 18th birthday. 22 million people perish in that war.
Later in the year, a Spanish Flu epidemic hits the planet and runs until your 20th birthday. 50 million people die from the flu in those two years.
On your 29th birthday, the stock market crashes and the Great Depression begins. Unemployment hits 25%, the World GDP drops 27%. That runs until you are 33. The country nearly collapses along with the world economy.
When you turn 39, World War II starts. You aren’t even over the hill yet. And don’t try to catch your breath. On your 41st birthday, the United States is pulled into WWII. Between your 39th and 45th birthday, 75 million people perish in the war.
When you turn 50, the Korean War starts. 5 million perish.
At age 55, the Vietnam War begins and doesn’t end for 20 years. 4 million people perish in that conflict.
On your 62nd birthday the Cuban Missile Crisis happens, and is a tipping point in the Cold War. Life on our planet, as we know it, should have ended. Great leaders prevented that from happening.
When you turn 75, the Vietnam War finally ends.
Think of everyone on the planet born in 1900. How do you survive all of that?
When you were a kid in 1985, you probably didn’t think your 85 year-old grandparent understood how hard school was, or how mean that kid in your class was. Yet they survived everything listed above.
Perspective is an amazing art. Refined and enlightening the older you get. Let’s try and keep things in perspective. Let’s be smart, help each other out.”
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Excellent!!
I really liked it. Thanks, David! (Will said, “Don’t forget polio,” which was a biggie of the 50s.)
Don’t forget the Polio epidemic of the 1950s.
That’s true. I’m surprised he did forget it. Roosevelt had that.
My mother was almost that person. She was born in 1914. (That was before women could vote btw) And lived to 2017. So had Sept 11 added to that list. Or for another perspective, her mother was born in 1884 and lived to 1974. So she went through most of your list. Grandma always said the world has been going to hell in a handbasket forever. You have to ignore that and live your life. Stay safe!
I think something similar whenever some dweeb starts talking about how the US is going “downhill” and why. Do they realize we’ve been hearing that for 90 years or more?