The beauty of what is unfolding across the country right now could very easily be missed, amid the inescapability and anxiety surrounding Covid-19. Certainly we are approaching the most conventional errands differently than we did mere weeks ago. Industries and businesses are managing workflows with more questions than answers. Our education system is leaning upon our teachers heavily to relocate classroom learning online. And heroes are being born as our healthcare system drives limited resources to sustain our population. Yet, as we take a step back from the panic buying of toilet paper, the response to Covid-19 should stand out in our minds as a galvanizing moment in our country’s long history.
We are witnessing people everywhere, acting mostly independently, to shut our country down in a way that will create an economic impact. Nonetheless, doing so will give the weakest among us a chance against this novel virus. Brotherhood aligns us in the distressed landscape and provides a single resonating goal. This collective act of unprecedented community spirit is a fundamental symbol of our unity. As we join together to flatten the curve, we feel the solemn call to arms that emboldens us.
Pay attention and you begin to see things that you would not otherwise see. The anxiety of this moment in time is real, both for ourselves and for our families, friends, and community. Despite what is known about the virus, the sense of dread is warranted. This is why taking such drastic steps should be celebrated. Even before the federal and state leaders began ordering closures and cancellations, small business, local mayors, and individual leaders began taking bold steps to prioritize the collective health of our communities above motives for profit. This sudden and unexpected light switch moment is inspirational.
Some American’s alive today have never experienced a nationwide unity of this magnitude. Yet, the oldest of our American family remember the victory gardens and scrap metal drives that connected communities, in both industry and sacrifice, to buoy a spirit of support for World War II. Baby Boomers can intimately recall the collective mourning for John F. Kennedy, as word of his assassination rocked the country to its core. Many of us remember the encompassing heartbreak when the twin towers plummeted to the earthen floor after 9/11. Someday, future generations may recall the unprecedented spring of 2020, when the coronavirus taught us that exponential spread could be reduced if we would, and did, prioritize the weakest among us.
The path ahead will most certainly be fraught with challenges. How our leadership handles the economic toll, how industries manage in pandemic, and how individuals may be harmed while battling this virus, makes it even more important to pause and reflect on the sheer magnitude of what we are now doing together. Many of us may feel isolated, limited, with barriers at every turn. People are finding creative ways to manage their lives and to affect change for their brothers and sisters in the community, with a six foot separation…a separation that brings us together in focus. While distance is now our sword, we are exhibiting choice for an accountability and collective experience that we will share for a lifetime.
