9/11

I can tell you exactly where I was standing 19 years ago this morning, when I got a call that the first tower had been hit, and turned on the TV in time to see the second tower. I was in college, and the events of that day totally changed my life trajectory, and of course had a huge impact on the United States. After the losses of 9/11, Americans banded together, united against a common enemy. People enlisted in the military. They willingly endured minor - sometimes major - inconveniences, like having to go through security checks and x-rays to enter public spaces; only being allowed to carry special clear bags into some venues; or taking their shoes off and decanting all their liquids into small bottles, followed by a detailed scan or close-contact groping, to board an airplane. (These acts, by the way, are often ineffective - look into "security theater" if you're not already familiar with the term.)

If you average all the COVID-19 deaths in the last six months, the United States has experienced the equivalent of one 9/11 every three days. We surpassed the number of 9/11 deaths back in April. And yet many people refuse to take even the most basic, simple, minorly inconvenient precautions that are scientifically proven to help protect those who are at risk, those who don't know they're at risk, and those who don't have any other choice. In fact, some people are claiming that the whole virus is a hoax, or overblown.

In March, I expressed my hope that humanity would once again be able to unite against a common enemy, like we have so many times in the past - and I think that is why I've been especially disappointed in the response by many to this situation.

I'm not trying to minimize the losses or victims of 9/11 by comparing them to something else. But here is our chance to prevent people from experiencing that same type of loss, are we using this opportunity effectively? If you are spending any time in remembrance of the victims of 9/11 today, I hope you also take steps now to prevent future victims of COVID-19.