In 1918, the Spanish Flu killed 675,000 Americans.
In 2019, 38,800 Americans died in car crashes on US roadways.
In 2001, 2,977 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks.
The commonality of the statistics above is NOT the demise of innocent people. Rather, how their demise will forever haunt the lives of spouses, siblings, children and friends, and the coronavirus fatalities are no different.
As of this writing, 42,604 people have died from the coronavirus in the United States.
Congressman Trey Hollingsworth of Indiana is urging fellow lawmakers to “put on our big boy and big girl pants” and simply let Americans die in order to protect the economy.
I wonder if the congressman was also referring to members of his own family, his friends or even himself, or just the 42,604 who’ve already died? I mean, we wouldn’t want to exclude them with favoritism.
Others are out in the streets protesting that states should lessen their quarantine restrictions so people’s lives can return to normal.
Andy Lyons, an Indianapolis protestor, told reporters, “If I get sick, then I am going to bear the consequences of my getting sick. If anybody else gets sick, they bear the consequences of their free choice without government coercion to do so. That’s what this is about.”
Please take note medical professionals – if he or anyone in his family gets sick, there’s no need to provide medical care for he’ll “bear the consequences” himself.
But where’s the compassion for the 42,604 coronavirus fatalities and their families, whose lives have been forever altered by a virus many still don’t believe has the potential to kill anyone who isn’t already sick or old.
Politicians and protestors, it must be easy to stand on the sidelines up on your soapboxes and preach to the world about rights and freedoms while overlooking coronavirus fatalities.
Now let me ask you, what would you say if one of those 42,604 deaths were your mother, your husband, your friend or God forbid, your child?
Would you simply put on your big boy and girl pants and go out and buy a new car or a swimming pool after the funeral in order to keep the economy churning?
Would you be able to “bear the consequences” of never seeing your daughter get married or celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary with your spouse? I guess you’d be fine as long as there was no “government coercion” involved.
Yes, I’m aware that people are struggling. Yes, I understand the need to restart the economy so we can get on with our lives.
But let’s not forget the coronavirus fatalities – young and old – for there’s no chance for them to get on with their lives once they’re gone.
Show a little compassion for human life, for your fellow citizens and for the families whose lives will be forever changed by this devastating loss. They are who we should be remembering not dismissing at this time.
As angry as the self-serving ignorance of Hollingsworth and Lyons makes me, for their family’s sake, I wish them more health than they probably deserve.